Surgical Technologist
If caring is your calling, the Surgical Technologist Program at the Baptist School of Health Professions provides the education and skills training necessary to move into this exciting career. Upon completion, the graduate will earn an Associate’s Degree in Surgical Technology and the candidate will be prepared to take the National Certification in Surgical Technology. Certification is required for employment in Texas as a surgical technologist.
The surgical technologist is an operating room specialist who performs specific duties for pre-, intra-, and postoperative case management. Surgical technologists must be knowledgeable in asepsis and sterile technique, and must be able to properly care for instrumentation, equipment and supplies. Education includes the following: basic sciences: microbiology, anatomy and physiology, pathophysiology, and surgical pharmacology. Additionally this education includes: surgical procedures, case management, wound care and closure, -and surgical patient care, and safety.
Preoperative case management duties include operating room preparation, gathering of supplies and equipment, case set-up, and preparation of the operative site with sterile drapes. Intraoperative case management duties include maintenance of the sterile field, passing instruments and medications to the surgeon and assistant, specimen care, and application of wound dressings. Postoperative case management duties include care and maintenance of equipment and instruments after use, and preparation of the operating room for the next procedure.
Surgical technologists' employment includes: hospital operating rooms, central sterile processing departments, outpatient surgical units, medical companies as sales representatives, physicians in private practice, cardiac catheterization units or endoscopic departments.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics the need for surgical technologists is expected to grow 6% between 2021 to 2031. Job prospects will be best for technologists who are certified. (2022-2023, Occupational Outlook Handbook, US Department of Labor). The median pay nationally for surgical technologists was $48,510 in 2021. Wages in Texas average $52,950 wages are dependent upon employer and employee credentials and experience. Actual salaries and employment opportunities may vary depending upon geographic location, market employment trends by local area, employer size, employee experience, and employee credentials. Prospective students should research the local employment opportunities as a part of their decision-making processes.
Prerequisites
- English - 3 semester credit hours (Any college level English, composition, speech, communication)
Length: 2 years - Associate of Applied Science in Surgical Technology
Credentialing Examination Pass Rate
The Credentialing Examination Pass Rate is the number of students who pass the National Board of Surgical Technology & Surgical Assisting (NBSTSA) Certified Surgical Technologist (CST) Examination on their first attempt. Recent pass rates for our Surgical Technology program are:
Academic Year 8/1/2017 - 7/31/2018: 100%
Academic Year 8/1/2018 - 7/31/2019: 60%
Academic Year 8/1/2019 - 7/31/2020: 50%