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Surgical Technologists Occupation Detailed Description

Surgical Technologists career

General Job Description and Education/Training Levels for Surgical Technologists

The main tasks and work activities of Surgical Technologists are to maintain inventory of medical supplies or equipment, assist healthcare practitioners during surgery, maintain sterile operative fields, clean medical equipment or facilities. In general, for the Surgical Technologists, monitoring, active Listening, operation Monitoring, coordination and other 15 skills are required.
Surgical Technologists Job Description
EducationMost occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree.
Related ExperiencePrevious work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for these occupations. For example, an electrician must have completed three or four years of apprenticeship or several years of vocational training, and often must have passed a licensing exam, in order to perform the job.
Job TrainingEmployees in these occupations usually need one or two years of training involving both on-the-job experience and informal training with experienced workers. A recognized apprenticeship program may be associated with these occupations.
ExampleThese occupations usually involve using communication and organizational skills to coordinate, supervise, manage, or train others to accomplish goals. Examples include hydroelectric production managers, travel guides, electricians, agricultural technicians, barbers, court reporters, and medical assistants.
The following chart shows the education/training levels for Surgical Technologists jobs. 4.98% of Surgical Technologists have High School Diploma (or the equivalent) and 31.22% of Surgical Technologists have Post-Secondary Certificate.
Less than a High School Diploma
0.00%
High School Diploma (or the equivalent)
4.98%
Post-Secondary Certificate
31.22%
Some College Courses
23.24%
Associate's Degree (or other 2-year degree)
40.56%
Bachelor's Degree and Above
0.00%

Tasks and Work Activities of Surgical Technologists

  • Count sponges, needles, and instruments before and after operation.
  • Hand instruments and supplies to surgeons and surgeons' assistants, hold retractors and cut sutures, and perform other tasks as directed by surgeon during operation.
  • Scrub arms and hands and assist the surgical team to scrub and put on gloves, masks, and surgical clothing.
  • Provide technical assistance to surgeons, surgical nurses, or anesthesiologists.
  • Wash and sterilize equipment, using germicides and sterilizers.
  • Prepare, care for, and dispose of tissue specimens taken for laboratory analysis.
  • Prepare dressings or bandages and apply or assist with their application following surgery.
  • Operate, assemble, adjust, or monitor sterilizers, lights, suction machines, or diagnostic equipment to ensure proper operation.
  • Monitor and continually assess operating room conditions, including patient and surgical team needs.
  • Observe patients' vital signs to assess physical condition.
  • Maintain supply of fluids, such as plasma, saline, blood, or glucose, for use during operations.
  • Maintain files and records of surgical procedures.
  • Maintain a proper sterile field during surgical procedures.
  • Prepare patients for surgery, including positioning patients on the operating table and covering them with sterile surgical drapes to prevent exposure.
  • Clean and restock operating room, gathering and placing equipment and supplies and arranging instruments according to instructions, such as a preference card.
  • Order surgical supplies.
  • Getting InformationObserving, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
  • Assisting and Caring for OthersProviding personal assistance, medical attention, emotional support, or other personal care to others such as coworkers, customers, or patients.
  • Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with StandardsUsing relevant information and individual judgment to determine whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.
  • Handling and Moving ObjectsUsing hands and arms in handling, installing, positioning, and moving materials, and manipulating things.
  • Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or MaterialInspecting equipment, structures, or materials to identify the cause of errors or other problems or defects.
  • Identifying Objects, Actions, and EventsIdentifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.
  • Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or SubordinatesProviding information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
  • Updating and Using Relevant KnowledgeKeeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.
  • Monitor Processes, Materials, or SurroundingsMonitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems.
  • Making Decisions and Solving ProblemsAnalyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
  • Maintain inventory of medical supplies or equipment.
  • Assist healthcare practitioners during surgery.
  • Maintain sterile operative fields.
  • Clean medical equipment or facilities.
  • Sterilize medical equipment or instruments.
  • Prepare biological specimens for laboratory analysis.
  • Apply bandages, dressings, or splints.
  • Adjust settings or positions of medical equipment.
  • Operate diagnostic or therapeutic medical instruments or equipment.
  • Monitor patient conditions during treatments, procedures, or activities.
  • Record patient medical histories.
  • Position patients for treatment or examination.
  • Protect patients or staff members using safety equipment.
  • Order medical supplies or equipment.

Skills and Abilities for Surgical Technologists

  • MonitoringMonitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
  • Active ListeningGiving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
  • Operation MonitoringWatching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
  • CoordinationAdjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
  • Time ManagementManaging one's own time and the time of others.
  • Critical ThinkingUsing logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
  • SpeakingTalking to others to convey information effectively.
  • Service OrientationActively looking for ways to help people.
  • InstructingTeaching others how to do something.
  • Social PerceptivenessBeing aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
  • Management of Material ResourcesObtaining and seeing to the appropriate use of equipment, facilities, and materials needed to do certain work.
  • Learning StrategiesSelecting and using training/instructional methods and procedures appropriate for the situation when learning or teaching new things.
  • Judgment and Decision MakingConsidering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
  • Active LearningUnderstanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
  • Equipment MaintenancePerforming routine maintenance on equipment and determining when and what kind of maintenance is needed.
  • Operation and ControlControlling operations of equipment or systems.
  • Complex Problem SolvingIdentifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
  • Reading ComprehensionUnderstanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
  • Oral ComprehensionThe ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
  • Near VisionThe ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
  • Problem SensitivityThe ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing there is a problem.
  • Speech RecognitionThe ability to identify and understand the speech of another person.
  • Arm-Hand SteadinessThe ability to keep your hand and arm steady while moving your arm or while holding your arm and hand in one position.
  • Manual DexterityThe ability to quickly move your hand, your hand together with your arm, or your two hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble objects.
  • Selective AttentionThe ability to concentrate on a task over a period of time without being distracted.
  • Information OrderingThe ability to arrange things or actions in a certain order or pattern according to a specific rule or set of rules (e.g., patterns of numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).
  • Oral ExpressionThe ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
  • Perceptual SpeedThe ability to quickly and accurately compare similarities and differences among sets of letters, numbers, objects, pictures, or patterns. The things to be compared may be presented at the same time or one after the other. This ability also includes comparing a presented object with a remembered object.
  • Flexibility of ClosureThe ability to identify or detect a known pattern (a figure, object, word, or sound) that is hidden in other distracting material.
  • Number FacilityThe ability to add, subtract, multiply, or divide quickly and correctly.
  • Speech ClarityThe ability to speak clearly so others can understand you.
  • Visual Color DiscriminationThe ability to match or detect differences between colors, including shades of color and brightness.
  • Trunk StrengthThe ability to use your abdominal and lower back muscles to support part of the body repeatedly or continuously over time without 'giving out' or fatiguing.
  • Category FlexibilityThe ability to generate or use different sets of rules for combining or grouping things in different ways.
  • Multilimb CoordinationThe ability to coordinate two or more limbs (for example, two arms, two legs, or one leg and one arm) while sitting, standing, or lying down. It does not involve performing the activities while the whole body is in motion.
  • Control PrecisionThe ability to quickly and repeatedly adjust the controls of a machine or a vehicle to exact positions.
  • Inductive ReasoningThe ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events).
  • Finger DexterityThe ability to make precisely coordinated movements of the fingers of one or both hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble very small objects.
  • Instrument tables for surgical or obstetrical delivery use or accessories or related productse.g. Adjustable height instrument tables
  • Surgical pneumatic or battery or electric saws or drills or pin drivers or accessoriese.g. Air driver drills
  • Gas anesthesia apparatuse.g. Anesthesia machines
  • Electrosurgical or electrocautery equipmente.g. Argon beam coagulators
  • Steam autoclaves or sterilizerse.g. Autoclaves
  • Blood recovery and delivery systemse.g. Autologous blood recovery systems
  • Autotransfusion unitse.g. Autotransfusion systems
  • Intravenous or arterial fluid warmers or accessoriese.g. Blood/fluid warmers
  • Surgical lasers or accessoriese.g. Carbon dioxide CO2 lasers
  • Operating room patient positioning devices or accessoriese.g. Cardiac leg wedges
  • Coronary stente.g. Cardiovascular stents
  • Surgical suction machines or vacuum extractors or ultrasonic surgical aspirators or regulators or accessoriese.g. Cavitrons
  • Autotransfusion unitse.g. Cell savers
  • Central venous catheterse.g. Central venous catheters
  • Pleural cavity drainage unit or container or accessoriese.g. Chest drains
  • Surgical or endoscopic catheters or catheterization kits or drainage bagse.g. Cholangiocath catheters
  • Surgical suction machines or vacuum extractors or ultrasonic surgical aspirators or regulators or accessoriese.g. Continuous suction machines
  • Heart and lung machines or accessoriese.g. Coronary bypass pumps
  • Surgical pneumatic or battery or electric saws or drills or pin drivers or accessoriese.g. Craniotome drills
  • Cryosurgery equipment or accessoriese.g. Cryo units
  • Customer and Personal ServiceKnowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
  • Medicine and DentistryKnowledge of the information and techniques needed to diagnose and treat human injuries, diseases, and deformities. This includes symptoms, treatment alternatives, drug properties and interactions, and preventive health-care measures.
  • English LanguageKnowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
  • Education and TrainingKnowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.