Associate of Applied Science Degree

Surgical Technology

Chester Career College’s Associate of Applied Science Degree (AAS) has its foundation in technical as well as general education.  The program consists of general education courses which, coupled with sound technical education, will assist students in achieving their full potential in the workplace.  The AAS Degree is intended to provide general educational skills to the technically trained student.  This program is designed to help meet the general education requirements necessary in many technical and allied health professions.

Surgical technologists, also called scrubs and surgical or operating room technicians, assist in surgical operations under the supervision of surgeons, registered nurses, or other surgical personnel.  Surgical technologists are members of operating room teams.  They help prepare the operation room by setting up surgical instruments and equipment, sterile drapes, and sterile solutions.  They assemble both sterile and non-sterile equipment, as well as adjust and check it to ensure it is working properly.  During surgery, technologists pass instruments and other sterile instruments to surgeons and surgeon assistants.  They may hold retractors, cut sutures, and help count sponges, needles, supplies, and instruments.

The objective of the Surgical Technology Program is to provide graduates with the technical ability, skills and knowledge that will enable them to qualify for entry-level employment as a member of the healthcare team in hospital or surgical center operating rooms.  Students receive training in the essentials of healthcare, surgical instrumentation, anatomy, physiology, medical language and pharmacology.  Graduates will be prepared for entry level employment as a Surgical Technologist. A degree will be awarded upon successful completion of this program.

SKILLS:

• Help prepare operating room
• Interview the patient before surgery
• Keep a written account of the surgical procedure
• Answers the surgeon’s questions about the patient during the surgery
• Set up surgical equipment, instruments, sterile drapes, and solutions
• Assemble sterile and non-sterile equipment as well as adjust and check it
• Get patients ready for surgery by washing, shaving, and disinfecting incision sites
• Transport patients to operating room
• Observe patients’ vital signs, check charts, and assist the surgical team
• Pass instruments and other sterile supplies to surgeons and surgeon assistants
• Help prepare, care for, and dispose of specimens taken for laboratory analysis
• May hold retractors, cut sutures, and help count sponges, needles, supplies, and instruments.
• Help transfer patients to the recovery room
• Clean and restock the operating room
• May manage central supply department in hospitals