The Surgical Technology Associate of Applied Science (A.A.S.) degree program is dedicated to preparing students for success as employees in the operating room setting. The Surgical Technology Program aims to provide didactic and clinical experiences/instruction that will enable students to enter the work industry as competent entry-level personnel, satisfying the urgent need for surgical technologists in local and regional communities/areas. 

 

Instruction shall include:

  • Congitive, psychomotor, and effective domains of learning.
  • Meeting the expectations of the College and communities of interest specific to the clinical setting, which includes hospitals.
  • Surgery centers.
  • Ambulatory facilities.

The A.A.S. degree program is designed for:

  • Students earning their first degree.
  • Adults transitioning from a non-health care career field who may or may not have an associate degree or higher.

Upon program completion, students earn the Associate of Applied Science (A.A.S.) degree in Surgical Technology. Graduates of the program are eligible to sit for the national certification exam offered by the NBSTSA (National Board of Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting).

 

Accreditation

The Surgical Technology program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs upon the recommendation of the Accreditation Review Council on Education in Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting (ARC/STSA).

www.caahep.org

Advanced Placement, Transfer Credit and Experiential Learning

Students may receive three credits for the HIM 1530 Medical Terminology from another accreditation institution if the course meets or exceeds the three credit requirement and the HIM 1530 course description. 

Credit is not given for experiential learning or prior learning in the core surgical technology  courses due to programmatic requirements to fully assess students' knowledge and achievement of the required cognitive, psychomotor, and affective competencies.
 

CST Exam Results

2023: 14.3%

Program Outcomes

2022 Graduate Employment Rate is 100%

Program Mission and Goals Statement

Mission Statement

The mission of the Surgical Technology Program is to afford students the opportunity through didactic courses and hands-on clinical instruction that will permit individuals into entry-level positions as Surgical Technologists.

Program Goals

  • To prepare entry-level Surgical Technologists who are competent in the cognitive (knowledge), psychomotor (skills), and affective (behavior) learning domains to enter the profession.
  • Perform one's role as a surgical technologist before, during, and after surgical procedures.
  • Exhibit skills that are required for a safe operating room environment, such as decontamination and sterility.
  • Demonstrate the ability to follow/adhere to the moral, legal, and ethical responsibilities to the patient.
  • Organize surgical instrumentation, equipment, and supplies in an efficient, responsible, and safe manner while utilizing principles of surgical asepsis.
  • Demonstrate knowledge of various surgical procedures in surgical specialties in a simulated operating room environment.
  • Work effectively with members of the operating room team.
Faculty

Program Director
Jerome Upchurch BS. CST,CSFA. SA-C
Associate Professor

Instruction & Clinical - Adjunct Faculty
Richards Saunders ST, C-SA
Renata Phelps BA, CST
Leslie Williams AD, ST

Course Sequence

Term 1 - Fall

PAS 1000 First Year Experience

EGL 1010 English Composition I

MAT 1250 College Algebra

BIO 2050 Human Anatomy & Physiology I

Term 2 - Spring

BIO 2060 Human Anatomy and Physiology II

BIO 2010 Microbiology

PSY 1010 General Psychology

COM 1010 Foundations of Communications for Allied Health

Term 3 - Fall

HIM 1530 Medical Terminology

SGT 1010 Introduction to Surgical Technology

Term 4 - Spring

SGT 1030 Surgical Procedures I

Term 1 - Summer

SGT 2010 Surgical Technology Clinical I

Term 5 - Fall

SGT 2050 Surgical Procedures III

SGT 2200 Surgical Technology Clinical III

SGT 2300 Professional Success Preparation

Total Program Credits: 60

 

Career Information

Surgical Technologists assist in surgical procedures directly under the supervision of surgeons. Surgical Technologists prepare, set up, and maintain the surgical environment, making them an integral part of the surgical team.

Surgical Technologists work in a variety of healthcare settings, including hospitals, surgery centers, outpatient care centers, education institutions, oral maxillofacial, and many other facilities. Some Surgical Technologists also work in direct medical sales as sales representatives.

Career Outlook
Occupational Risks

With as many rewards as a practitioner, surgical technologists can perform administrative and clinical services, filling several roles in various health care environments. Surgical technicians work directly with providers and patients in the peri-operative area to provide health care and ensure patient safety. This position comes with a great deal of responsibility.

As with any health care position, certain occupational risks come into play, such as:

  • Exposure to infectious diseases.
  • Sharp injuries.
  • Bloodborne pathogens and biological hazards.
  • Chemical and drug exposure.
  • Ergonomic hazards from lifting, sitting, and repetitive tasks.
  • Latex allergies.
  • Stress.

At the same time, there are protections set up with the Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA), and those protections are particularly important within health care environments. OSHA has a series of standards that protect the safety of health care workers and patients.

As an accredited surgical technology program, students learn about the hazards and occupational risks they will face on the job and protocols that can be put into place to ensure a workplace culture that prioritizes safety.

College Estimated Cost
Program Estimated Cost
  • Scrubs (2 Pairs): $60.00 each
  • Lab Coat: $40.00
  • Shoes: $100.00
  • Supplies: $40.00
  • Textbooks: $350.00
  • Cost for National Exam: $362.00
Preparedness Plan

In the event of emergency or college closing due to unforeseen circumstances, the surgical technician program will work with the department chair, dean, and Provost/Vice president of TLSS to ensure that all students are informed and procedures followed. The program will communicate with ARC-STSA if there is an extended or prolonged (undetermined) interruption to didactic, laboratory, and clinical instruction to ensure accreditation compliance. The program will use the Canvas Learning Management System to ensure students have current information and resources.

Admissions
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