Surgical Technology - (A45740)
Associate in Applied Science
The Surgical Technology curriculum prepares individuals to assist in the care of the surgical patient in the operating room and to function as a member of the surgical team.
Students will apply theoretical knowledge to the care of patients undergoing surgery and develop skills necessary to prepare supplies, equipment, and instruments; maintain aseptic conditions; prepare patients for surgery; and assist surgeons during operations.
Employment opportunities include labor/delivery/emergency departments, inpatient/outpatient surgery centers, dialysis units/facilities, physicians’ offices, and central supply processing units.
Students of Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) accredited programs are required to take the national certification exam administered by the National Board of Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting (NBSTSA) within 30 days prior to or after graduation.
General Admission Requirements
- Detailed current information for interested applicants is located at on the Health Sciences website. Applicants must submit all required documentation by established deadlines detailed on the Surgical Technology acceptance time line.
- Students must be able to fulfill all Program Technical Standards as outlined in the health sciences admission policy.
- Student are encouraged to attend a Surgical Technology Information session.
- Complete minimum admission requirements by the specified date on the RCC website.
- Admission to all RCC Health Science programs is a competitive process. Applicants are evaluated based upon academic performance.
- Applicants must have a cumulative GPA of 2.5 or higher in Surgical Technology general education courses by the published deadline date for submitting Candidate Review Forms to the Admissions Office. Applicants not meeting the cumulative GPA requirements will not be reviewed by the program area for admission.
- Students must successfully complete the following courses with a “C” or higher before enrolling in the first Surgical Technology class:
ENG 111 and MED 120
- Students must successfully complete the following courses with a “C” or higher for the Surgical Technology program:
BIO 163, BIO 175, CIS 110, ENG 112, PSY 150, and Humanities/Fine Arts elective.
- All transcripts must be on file in the Admissions Office in order for a student to be considered for admission.
- Upon program acceptance students must submit to a background check, drug screening and medical review/screen to include physical examination and immunizations. All fees associated with background check, drug screen and medical review are the responsibility of the student.
- It is the student’s responsibility to review all program materials and stay current with the program requirements, policies and procedures.
Surgical Technology Program Technical Standards
Technical Standards
Individuals enrolled in the Surgical Technology Program are expected to be able to perform certain activities to maintain standards of safety and execute assigned duties. The surgical technology student must possess the following skills or abilities to maintain satisfactory progression in the program.
Critical Thinking skills: The surgical technology student must possess critical thinking skills sufficient for clinical judgment. This involves identifying cause and effect relationships in clinical situations.
Interpersonal skills: The surgical technology student should possess interpersonal skills sufficient to interact with individuals, families, and groups from a variety of social, economic, emotional, cultural, and intellectual backgrounds. For example, the student should be able to establish a helping relationship with patients, families, and colleagues.
Communication: The surgical technology student should possess communication skills sufficient for interaction with others in a verbal and written format. Examples: perform patient teaching, write progress notes, interpret physician’s orders, provide verbal report to staff, record patient responses to treatments, consult with patient’s family members, or physicians.
Mobility: The surgical technology student should possess physical skills to walk about the clinical site at a brisk pace, stand for extended periods, and lift pans of instruments and boxes of supplies. The surgical technology student should possess the ability to maneuver in small spaces. For example, the student must be able to perform all duties of a surgical technologist.
Motor Skills: The surgical technology student should possess gross and fine motor skills sufficient to provide safe and effective patient care. Examples: calibrate equipment, transfer or position patients, and all duties of a surgical technologist.
Hearing: The surgical technology student should possess auditory skills sufficient to monitor and assess patient care and safety needs. For example, the student must be able to hear monitor alarms, emergency signals, and the ability to understand spoken words in the operating room environment directly affected by noise of the surgical procedure and ambient room noise.
Visual: The surgical technology student should possess visual skills sufficient for observation and assessment of the patient, environment, and equipment necessary in providing patient care. For example, the student must be able to see very small needles the size of an eyelash.
Tactile: The surgical technology student should possess tactile skills sufficient for physical assessment, manipulate surgical instruments or equipment, and detect movement. For example, the student must be able to palpate a pulse, body sites, determine skin temperature, and prepare small surgical instruments and supplies.
Weight-Bearing: The surgical technology student should possess the ability to maneuver and move 40-50 lbs. on a weekly or daily basis. For example, the student must be able to position and transfer patients.
Surgical Technology Program Costs
Surgical Technology program students should be prepared to incur additional expenses beyond tuition and college fees.
Outlined below are estimated expenses and are subject to change:
| Item |
Cost |
| CPR Certification |
$11 |
| Medical exam |
$100 |
| Immunizations (which includes but not limited to Hep B, TB, Flu, childhood immunizations) |
$300 |
| *Drug Screen & Background Check |
$101 |
| Malpractice insurance |
$80 |
| Uniform |
$215 |
| AST Membership |
$90 |
| Student Accident Insurance |
$10 |
Certification Exam
|
Certified Surgical Technologist (CST)
|
$230 (Association of Surgical Technologist Member Cost)
|
$340 (Association of Surgical Technologist Non-Member Cost)
|
Surgical Technology Program
Plan of Study
Required
Program Prerequisites: Students admitted to the Surgical Technology must successfully complete the following courses with a “C” or higher prior to enrolling in the first Surgical Technology [SUR] class.
First Fall Semester
| BIO 163 | Basic Anatomy & Physiology | 5 |
| CIS 110 | Introduction to Computers | 3 |
| SUR 110 | Introduction to Surgical Technology | 3 |
| SUR 111 | Periop Patient Care | 7 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 18 |
First Spring Semester
| BIO 175 | General Microbiology | 3 |
| SUR 122 | Surgical Procedures I | 6 |
| SUR 123 | Sur Clinical Practice I | 7 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 16 |
Summer Semester
| SUR 134 | Surgical Procedures II | 5 |
| SUR 135 | SUR Clinical Practice II | 4 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 9 |
Second Fall Semester
| ENG 112 | Writing and Research in the Disciplines | 3 |
| SUR 211 | Advanced Theoretical Concepts | 2 |
| SUR 212 | Surgical Clinical Supplement | 4 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 9 |
Second Spring Semester
| PSY 150 | General Psychology | 3 |
| SUR 210 | Advanced Sur Clinical Practice | 2 |
| SUR 137 | Professional Success Preparation | 1 |
| *Humanities Elective - Please see the table below. | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 9 |
*Humanities/Fine Arts Elective - Choose one of the following:
UGETC:
Gen Ed:
Total Credit Hours: 66