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Surgical Technology

General Information

At the Clinical Site The curriculum prepares students to function in the operating room by combining classroom and campus laboratory instruction with actual surgical suite experience. Successful completion of the program prepares the graduate to write the National Certification Examination to become a Certified Surgical Technologist (CST). This program is accredited by the Accreditation Review Council on Education in Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting (ARC/STSA) - a CAAHEP Recognized Committee on Accreditation, and sponsored by the American College of Surgeons. The national accrediting body recommends the A.A.S. as the entry degree.

CAAHEP
1361 Park Street
Clearwater, FL 33756
Phone: 727-210-2350
Fax: 727-210-2354

ARC/STSA
6 West Dry Creek Circle
Suite 110
Littleton, CO 80120

Admission to the program is highly competitive. Students should consult the Student Advisement Center concerning admission, progression, and graduation requirements. A grade of "C" or above is required in all courses applicable to the program. Any changes from the curriculum must be approved by the Dean of the College of Health Sciences. Enrollment in courses beginning with a SUR prefix requires admission to the Surgical Technology program.

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Mission Statement

The University Surgical Technology Program was accredited in 1980 to serve the needs of the community and surrounding area. The Surgical Technology Program and UA Fort Smith are committed to providing high quality education in the field of Surgical Technology; to prepare competent entry-level surgical technologists in the cognitive (knowledge), psychomotor (skills), and affective (behavior) learning domains; and to provide the health care consumer with highly competent and motivated practitioners.

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Program Goals 

  • To prepare students to function in a professional, caring, and ethical manner when providing patient care.

Objective A: 70% or more of the students entering the program will complete didactic courses with a score of 75% or more.

Objective B: 70% or more of the students entering the program will complete clinical competencies with a score of 75% or more.

Objective C: Students will demonstrate awareness of community needs by meeting the grading criteria of 75% or  more in modules dealing with cultural awareness.

  • To prepare students in the cognitive, psychomotor, and affective domains of learning.

Objective A: 80% or more of the students will successfully complete interdisciplinary education, involving faculty from other disciplines, with a score of 75% or more.

Objective B: Provide students with clinical experiences at the standard level of 120 procedures and related criteria as specified by the AST Core Curriculum "Standard Practice".

  • To prepare students to successfully complete the Surgical Technologist National Certifying Examination conducted by the National Board of Surgical Technology & Surgical Assisting.

Objective A: 70% or more of the students will pass the national exam with a score of 119 or more on the first attempt.

Objective B: 100% of the students will pass the national exam with a score of 119 or more on the second attempt.

Objective C: Maintain accreditation through the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs.

  • To prepare competent entry-level surgical technologists in the cognitive (knowledge), psychomotor (skills), and affective (behavior) learning domains.

Objective A: Employment rate for the students will be 100% for students seeking employment in the Surgical Technology field as evidenced by a graduate survey sent to each student 9 months after graduation.

Objective B: An employer survey, sent 9 months after the students' graduation, will reveal a satisfaction rate of greater than 70%.

  • To recruit and retain quality students who are enthusiastic and motivated to become professional, competent Surgical Technologists.

Objective A: Maintain a student retention rate of 60% for those students enrolled in prerequisite courses.

Objective B: Maintain a student retention rate of 70% for those students enrolled in Surgical Technology courses.

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Career Opportunities

  • Students in Lab
  • Private Technologists for Surgeons
  • Main Operating Rooms in Acute Care Hospitals
  • Physician Offices
  • Ambulatory Surgery Suites
  • Traveling Surgical Technologists
  • Medical Sales Representative
  • Materials/Equipment Manager
  • Organ and Tissue Procurement Technician
  • Central Service Manager
  • Veterinarian Surgical Assistant

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Profession

The curriculum of the UA Fort Smith’s Surgical Technology program was developed to ensure students are well trained and workplace ready for their chosen career. The program meets or exceeds all accreditation standards of the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs.

A surgical technologist (ST) is an allied health professional who works as part of the surgical team to ensure that the operative procedure is conducted under optimal conditions. Surgical team members function in two capacities-nonsterile and sterile. The nonsterile team members are the circulator and the anesthesia provider. In certain situations, other personnel, such as the radiology technologist or pathologist, may also be present. The sterile team members are the surgeon, the surgical assistant, and the surgical technologist in the scrub role (STSR). Role descriptions for the surgical team members are available in the brochure published by the Association of Surgical Technologists (AST) entitled, "Certified Surgical Technologists are vital members of the operating room team." (www.ast.org)

Professional competence requires that Surgical Technologists apply knowledge of anatomy, physiology, positioning, aseptic technique, organization, scope of practice, and patient care in the performance of their duties. They must also be able to communicate effectively with patients and other health professionals. Duties may include but are not limited to:

Certified Surgical Technologist in the scrub role:

  • Helps prepare the room and arrange supplies and instruments
  • Opens packs and instruments sets
  • Performs a surgical scrub
  • Dons gown and gloves and works within the sterile field
  • Prepares instruments and passes them during the procedure
  • Maintains the sterile field
  • Assists with other intraoperative tasks

Certified Surgical Technologist in the circulator role:

  • Helps position the patient
  • Performs preoperative skin preparation
  • Communicates between sterile and nonsterile areas
  • Opens sterile supplies onto the sterile field during the procedure
  • Assists with other tasks not requiring action within the sterile field

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Employment Characteristics

It is important to consider potential job opportunities when planning a career. According to the US Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, _Occupational Outlook Handbook-http://stats.bls.gov/oco/ocos106.htm the demand for surgical technologists is expected to increase as the number of surgical procedures grows. In 2008, there were approximately 91,500 surgical technologists. The employment rate of surgical technologists is expected to grow faster than average (an increase of 25%) through the year 2018. The volume of surgical procedures is expected to increase, as the population grows and ages. The over-50 population, entering retirement age (baby-boom generation) will account for a large portion of the general population. Older people require more surgical procedures. Technological advances, such as fiber optics and laser technology, will also permit new surgical procedures to be performed.

Hospitals are the primary employers of surgical technologists. However, fast employment growth is expected in ambulatory surgical centers, outpatient care centers and physician's offices.

Rapid advances in medical technology will bring dramatic changes to the field of surgical technology. Operating rooms incorporate computers, lasers, fiber optics, electronics and robotics to carry out routine patient care. The surgical technologist must be prepared to meet these advanced challenges (www.ast.org).

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