Become a Surgical Technician
A surgical technician is a very important member of the operating team. The primary duty of the surgical tech is to assist the surgeon throughout surgery with anything he or she needs. While surgeons get the credit for performing successful surgeries, it is the competence of the surgical technician that plays an essential role as well.
Surgical technicians need to have minds that think as swiftly as possible. They also need to be able to be cool under pressure and they need to not get queasy at the sight of blood. This job is one that requires an individual to work well under pressure as it is a fast paced and ever changing environment.
Duties of a Surgical Technician
These valuable members of the OR team will be required to prep and sterilize the operating room before a surgery takes place. They will also be responsible for transporting patients to and from the operating room and handing instruments to the surgeon during the surgical procedure. Surgical techs are often responsible for counting equipment and tools such as sponges and needles. They are also the ones who prepare an individual for surgery. They wash, shave and disinfect the area to be operated on.
Surgical techs are also given the very important responsibility of retracting the tissues of a patient and then suturing the incisions before taking the patient to the recovery room.
Contamination is always a concern for a patient who is about to have surgery which is yet another reason why the role of the surgical technician is so vital. The surgical tech is responsible for making sure that the operating room is sterilized before the patient is brought in.
Demand for surgical technicians (also sometimes referred to as surgical technologists) is very high. In fact, according to the U.S. Department of Labor, the demand is expected to increase tremendously from now until the year 2014.
It is important to be aware however that the road to training to become a surgical technician is not easy. The same goes for doing the job once training has been completed. This occupation is not for the faint of heart. Surgical technicians require a great deal of training to do the job right. They also require dedication and perseverance to do the job to the best of their ability. Despite all of this, this type of position in the medical field brings plenty of rewards with it.
At the present time, for every surgical technician who is willing to work hard and commit themselves to their duties, there are five surgical tech job openings for others. Another excellent point to note about surgical techs is that their pay continues to increase. To use a clear cut example, the median income of a surgical tech is as much as $4,000 higher as of 2007 than it was in 2004.
Education for Surgical Technicians
In order to study to become a surgical technician you need to have earned your high school diploma or your GED. In high school you should have completed courses in biology, chemistry, health and mathematics.
Training programs for surgical technicians are offered by universities and colleges, as well as vocational schools, hospitals and even the military. An associate program will take you approximately two years to complete. There are some certificate and diploma programs that could take as little as nine months to complete. However in order to go this route for your training you would need to have at least seven years of healthcare experience under your belt. You would also still be required to undergo a two year internship before you could become certified.
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