Surgical Technology Schools

Surgical technology is a field in which you can learn how to become a vital team member in an operating room. You may help to prepare a patient for an operation by taking their details and preparing incision sites such as disinfecting or shaving. You may be responsible for transporting the patient to and from the operating room. Duties may include preparing the operating room with sterile drapes, laying out surgical instruments for the surgical team, or ensuring that equipment is maintained and clean. You may be involved in disposing of contaminated waste, cleaning surfaces, or delivering used surgical instruments for cleaning sterilization.

To become a surgical technologist, you must pass one of the 361 programs accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP). You will need to be a high school graduate as a minimum educational requirement. Surgical Technology Programs last 9 to 24 months and lead to a certificate, diploma, or associate degree. You may cover topics such as health and safety, safe patient handling, ethics, hygiene, sterilization and cleaning techniques, equipment maintenance, and record keeping. You should also receive practical instruction on different surgical instruments and how to handle and pass them to the surgical team safely.

Clearly, the more highly qualified you are, the more senior your position will be. As well as obvious places of employment such as hospitals, you may find work in the armed forces, veterinary hospitals, or day clinics for small operations. You could even branch out as a field sales representative for a surgical instrument manufacturer.