Surgical Technology

This is a four credit hour theory course designed to provide the student with in-depth knowledge concerning the scope and practice of Surgical Technology. Students will be exposed to concepts of hospital structure and management and the physical environment of a surgical suite. Students will learn patient safety procedural issues such as identification, consent, and needs of the patient. Students will also study skills related to teamwork, professional credentialing and organizations, and legal and ethical issues as defined by the AST Core Curriculum for Surgical Technology, 6th edition. For each unit of credit, a minimum of three hours per week with one of the hours for class and two hours for studying/preparation outside class is expected.

This course provides the fundamentals of sterile processing, and distribution (SPD). Instruction and practice is given in aseptic technique. The student shall be exposed to a clinical experience in the preparation and packaging of surgical instrument sets, as well as the identification of basic surgical instruments. The objective is for the student to learn the material from the lecture component, as well as attain the necessary skills to take the certification exam provided by the Certified Board of Sterile Processing and Distribution. For each unit of credit, a minimum of three hours per week with one of the hours for class and two hours for studying/preparation outside of class is expected.

This is a three credit hour laboratory course designed to expand the student’s knowledge using hands-on instruction necessary to learn the perioperative skills required to enter the clinical setting and to function as a beginning surgical technologist. This course includes supervised practice in the lab and instruction on the basic concepts necessary to establish, maintain, and coordinate tasks required for good patient care in the perioperative setting. Students will apply aseptic technique, surgical principles and surgical conscience in learning and demonstrating the skills specific to those of the first scrub, second scrub and assistant circulator roles. Upon completion of this course the student will demonstrate understanding in the cognitive, psychomotor and affective learning domains related to principles and practice of surgical technology as outlined in the Core Curriculum for Surgical Technology, 6th Ed.

This online theory course is designed to acquaint the student with the skills necessary to function as a beginning surgical technologist. The course includes basic concepts necessary to establish, maintain, and coordinate the methods required for patient care in the operating room. Safe patient care and principles of operating room technique are covered. Students will study skills related to sterile storage and distribution, sterilization and aseptic technique as defined by the AST Core Curriculum for Surgical Technology 6th edition. For each unit of credit, a minimum of three hours per week with one of the hours for class and two hours for studying/preparation outside of class is expected.

This face-to-face course is designed to be a comprehensive review of surgical technology concepts and practical preparation for the National Board of Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting Surgical Technologist Certifying Examination. For each unit of credit, a minimum of three hours per week with one of the hours for class and two hours for studying/preparation outside of class is expected.

This online course is designed to help students utilize knowledge related to anatomy and pathophysiology, endoscopic surgical procedures and open procedures in the following specialties: Obstetric and Gynecological (OB/GYN), genitourinary, orthopedic, otorhinolaryngologic, ophthalmic and general as defined by the AST Core Curriculum for Surgical Technology, 6th edition. The students will also learn basic concepts related to robotics as they apply to surgical technology. For each unit of credit, a minimum of three hours per week with one of the hours for class and two hours for studying/preparation outside of class is expected.

This online course is designed to help students utilize knowledge related to anatomy and pathophysiology, and surgical procedures in the following specialties: oral/maxillofacial, cardiothoracic, peripheral vascular, and neurosurgery, as defined by the AST Core Curriculum for Surgical Technology, 6th edition. The students will also learn employability skills related to surgical technology. For each unit of credit, a minimum of three hours per week with one of the hours for class and two hours for studying/preparation outside of class is expected.

This clinical course is designed to allow the student to begin to apply skills learned in the first semester to real life procedures. The student will learn to select instrumentation and other supplies for specific procedures, apply learning in anatomy and pathophysiology, apply techniques learned from the Fall Surgical Technology course of preparing for surgeries, passing instruments to the surgeon in the clinical setting. The student will apply aseptic technique and adhere to the strict standards of the core curriculum.

This clinical course is designed to allow the student to master skills learned in previous semesters and apply those real life procedures. Students will transition to three clinical days a week to prepare for world of work experiences while gaining additional knowledge of advanced procedures. Students will be required to work independently at all clinical sites while being supervised by clinical instructor.

This online course is designed to introduce the scientific principles of pharmacology. This course defines the rationale for use of specific drugs, their effects and major side effects on the surgical patient, how they may alter or influence surgical intervention and the role the surgical technologist plays in handling and labeling medications as defined by the AST Core Curriculum for Surgical Technology, 6th edition. For each unit of credit, a minimum of three hours per week with one of the hours for class and two hours for studying/preparation outside of class is expected.