A surgery tech, also called a surgical technologist, is an important member of the surgical team. They prepare the operating room and equipment for surgery, and they also help to care for the patient before, during, and after surgery.
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Job Description
A surgery technologist, also called a surgical technologist, is an allied health professional who works alongside surgeons, registered nurses and other surgical personnel during operative procedures. He or she roles include preparing the operating room, sterile instruments, and supplies, and ensuring that the patient is properly prepped for surgery. Surgical technologists work in a variety of settings, including hospitals, outpatient surgery centers, and doctor’s offices.
What is a surgery tech?
A surgery technologist, also called a surgical technologist, scrub tech, operating room technician, surgical technician or scrub, is an allied health professional working as a part of the team delivering surgical patient care. Surgical technologists work closely with surgeons, registered nurses and other medical personnel to ensure that operations are performed safely and effectively.
The typical duties of a surgical technologist include preparing the operating room by setting up sterile drapes and instruments, preparing patients for surgery by washing and disinfecting incision sites, and helping to position patients on the operating table. During surgery, surgical technologists hand instruments and supplies to surgeons and maintain a sterile environment. After surgery, they may help transfer patients to the recovery room and apply dressings to incision sites.
What are the duties of a surgery tech?
The primary duties of a surgery tech are to assist surgeons and registered nurses during operations. They also provide care for patients before and after surgery.
Surgery techs typically work in hospitals, but may also work in outpatient surgery centers and doctor’s offices. They usually work full time, and some may be on call or work overnight shifts.
Most surgery techs have at least a postsecondary certificate, but some have an associate’s degree in surgical technology. Most programs last about 2 years and include both classroom and clinical instruction.
Education and Training
Although a high school diploma is the minimum requirement, most employers prefer to hire surgery techs who have completed a postsecondary surgical technology program. These programs typically last about a year and lead to a certificate or diploma. Some community colleges and technical schools offer 2-year associate’s degree programs in surgical technology.
What type of education is needed to become a surgery tech?
Surgery techs must complete an accredited surgical technology program, which typically takes about nine months to a year to complete. These programs are offered at community colleges, technical schools, and some hospitals. Upon completion of a surgical tech program, students are eligible to take the national certification exam to become a certified surgical technologist (CST).
What type of training is needed to become a surgery tech?
Most surgical technologists have completed a postsecondary educational program in surgical technology, although some may have on-the-job training. There are more than 400 surgical technology programs accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP), which is the gold standard in accreditation for this field.
Most of these accredited programs lead to a certificate or an associate’s degree, and take about 9 to 24 months to complete. Many community colleges offer surgical technologist programs, as do some technical institutes, hospitals, universities, and the armed forces.
While not required, certification as a surgical technologist (CST) can demonstrate your expertise to potential employers and patients. To earn the CST credential, candidates must graduate from an accredited surgical technology program and pass a national exam administered by the National Board of Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting (NBSTSA).
Certification
To become a certified surgery technologist, you must complete an accredited certification program. These programs are typically two years in length and lead to an Associate’s degree. During your training, you will learn how to work with surgeons and other medical professionals to ensure that surgeries are performed safely and effectively.
What type of certification is needed to become a surgery tech?
To become a surgery tech, you need to have certification from an accredited institution. There are different types of certification, but the most common are the Certified Surgery Technician (CST) and the Registered Surgery Technician (RST). You can get certification from a community college, technical school, or hospital.
Salary
The median annual wage for surgical technologists was $47,300 in May 2017. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $33,840, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $68,350. Most surgical technologists work full time.
What is the average salary of a surgery tech?
Unlike other medical professions, there is no definitive answer when it comes to the average salary of a surgery tech. This is because the amount of money a surgery tech makes can vary greatly depending on a number of factors, such as experience, education, geographic location, and the type of facility they work in.
That being said, according to the most recent data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the median annual salary for all medical and health services technicians, which includes surgery techs, was $34,740 in May 2017. However, keep in mind that this figure represents an average of all medical and health services technicians across the country, so it is likely that surgery techs who have more experience or who work in higher-paying areas of the country earn significantly more than this.
The BLS also reports that the top 10 percent of all medical and health services technicians earned more than $56,070 in May 2017, while the bottom 10 percent earned less than $21,870. So while there is no definitive answer when it comes to how much money a surgery tech can expect to make, it is safe to say that there is a wide range of possible salaries depending on a variety of factors.
