Are you currently searching for a fulfilling career opportunity in the healthcare sector? What if we told you surgical technologists play a crucial role in ensuring the safety and success of surgical procedures, helping safeguard patients’ health and comfort at the same time. Sounds great, doesn’t it… but what is a surgical technologist exactly?
Join us as we explore what is a surgical tech’s role within the operating room (OR) and how you can study to become one with less than two years of training. Discover how you’ll be involved from start to finish during surgical procedures and learn how you can become a valued member of an OR team.
Get started on the path to being a Surgical Technologist today!
What is a surgical tech?
Chances are, if you’ve had a surgical procedure before, you may have encountered a surgical tech or two. However, if you’re unsure of what a surgical technologist’s job in the OR is… then consider them the behind-the-scenes heroes…
Typically, the surgical technologist is found working alongside surgeons and nurses to help ensure an operation can be completed safely and successfully. This includes pre-op preparation, equipment sterilization, assisting surgeons during a procedure, and ensuring patient comfort and safety. As a result, they are critical OR team members and have a range of surgical technologist duties they often perform.
What does a surgical tech do?
So, what is a surgical technologist’s role in the OR, and why are they so essential? To provide an accurate surgical technologist description, here’s an overview of surgical technologist duties before, during, and after surgery.
Surgery preparation
Ahead of most operations, surgical techs help prepare the operating room, ensuring all the equipment, medical instruments, and supplies are sterilized and ready to use. Furthermore, your duties will include arranging the surgical equipment, before preparing and positioning the patient upon arrival.
During the operation
Throughout a clinical procedure, the role of a surgical technologist is to help the surgeons and nurses by providing the tools needed to perform each element of the surgery. This includes anticipating the surgeon’s needs and ensuring that the appropriate instruments are readily accessible while maintaining a sterile environment to minimize the risk of infection.
Post surgery
At the end of each procedure, a surgical technologist may be required to assist with cleaning and dressing a patient’s wounds. Additionally, surgical techs are often responsible for monitoring patients’ vital signs when transferring them to a recovery or observation room.
Finally, your surgical technologist duties may also include cleaning and/or sterilizing equipment in the OR, restocking equipment and supplies, and disposing of any bio-hazardous materials.
What are a surgical technologist’s duties
Taking a more in-depth look into the surgical technologist description and the duties you’ll be performing, you’ll begin to see why the role is so important. At every stage of a surgical procedure, you’ll be helping your medical teammates and providing care and comfort to each patient.
First, maintaining a fully stocked and sterile working environment is essential, as operating in unsanitary conditions or without the correct tools must be avoided at all costs. By applying these clinical standards, you protect yourself, your healthcare colleagues, and the patient from potential infections and help to ensure each procedure can be completed smoothly.
Additionally, surgical techs provide direct assistance to surgeons throughout an operation. This includes supplying them with the correct tools, such as sutures, dressings, and surgical instruments, at the right time. However, you may also be required to operate suction equipment, surgical lights, and diagnostic machines.
What you’ll need to be a surgical tech
If you like the idea of becoming a surgical technologist, your first step is to complete the necessary medical training before taking a certification exam. While an accredited education program builds your knowledge of a surgical technologist’s tasks and duties, you’ll often need a high school diploma or GED equivalent to enroll.
What is a surgical technologist training program, and what can you learn?
Essentially, completing a surgical tech program helps to coach you on the fundamental skills and attributes needed in the role. This knowledge is gained through classroom-based learning. You may then have the opportunity to apply these skills in a hands-on clinical environment. Ultimately, once you’ve graduated from a surgical technologist program, you can challenge the certification exam to become a certified surgical tech.
Explore surgical technologist education in Michigan!
If the sound of a surgical technologist description has inspired you to pursue this rewarding career path, kick start your career by training here at Dorsey College. If you have been searching for a surgical tech program in Detroit Michigan, we may be able to help you. Our Associate of Applied Science in Surgical Technology program is designed to prepare you to challenge a certification exam before you embark on an exciting new career as a surgical tech.
Here at Dorsey College, you can learn the skills and surgical technologist duties required by studying around your current work and life commitments. Our excellent hybrid learning allows you to study at home and in your own time, with additional onsite, hands-on training at our fantastic Roseville, MI, campus (a branch campus of Madison Heights). Contact us today to learn how you can begin your surgical technologist training with help from Dorsey College!
