Surgical Technology

New Degree and New Admission - Summer 2024.

The Surgical Technology program prepares graduates for entry-level employment in the surgical environment. This program prepares individuals, under the supervision of physicians and surgical staff, to maintain, monitor, and enforce the sterile field and adherence to aseptic technique by preoperative, intraoperative surgical team, and postoperative personnel. Includes instruction in instrument and equipment sterilization and handling; surgical supplies management; wound exposure and closure; surgical computer and robot operation and monitoring; maintenance of hemostasis; and patient and team scrubbing. The Surgical Technologist assists the physician during surgical procedures by ensuring that necessary equipment is properly maintained and immediately available, passing instruments to the surgeon, handling surgical specimens, and maintaining a sterile atmosphere in the operating room.

The Associate in Applied Science Degree requires 3 semesters of surgical technology courses and 18 credit hours of prerequisites. Program graduates are required to take the National Certification Exam from the National Board of Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting (NBSTSA) upon completion of program requirements for graduation. Graduating students must meet the requirement of 120 clinical cases achieved, based on criteria of the Surgical Technology Core Curriculum.

The Surgical Technology program has continuing accreditation by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Programs (CAAHEP), 254000 U.S. HWY 19 North, Suite 158, Clearwater, Florida, 33763, Phone: 727-210-2350; Fax 727-210-2354; www.caahep.org

The student considering Surgical Technology must be conscientious, orderly, and meticulous with details. In addition, Surgical Technologists must have the emotional stability to work in a fast-paced environment and the ability to handle the demands of surgeons.

The student shall not be paid by the clinical affiliation site during the clinical component of the program, nor shall the student be substituted for paid personnel during the clinical component of the program.

Admission Requirements

In addition to the general admission requirements for the College, admission to the Surgical Technology program requires:

1. Unconditional admission to the College.
2. Completion of prerequisite academic core courses with a minimum grade of “C” or higher meeting a 2.5 core GPA.
3. minimum 2.0 GPA at Southern Union.
4. Transfer students must enter SUSCC on clear academic status (minimum 2.0 cumulative grade point average).
5. Official transcripts received in Records Office (Wadley Campus) from all postsecondary institutions attended and high school or GED transcripts for those who have never attended Southern Union.
6. Student meet eligibility requirements for English 101 and Math 100 and satisfaction of the College reading requirement.
7. Application for the Surgical Technology Program.
8. Ability to meet and comply with standards and policies in the current College Catalog and Student Handbook.
9. Ability to meet all health/ clinical requirements as stated in the current Surgical Technology Student Handbook.

Admission to the Surgical Technology Program is competitive, and the number of students admitted is limited by the number of faculty and clinical facilities available. Applicants are rank-ordered for acceptance using a points system based on grades earned in ENG 101, BIO 201,  BIO 103, (SUR 108 or HPS 114), (SPH 106 or SPH 107), HPS 105, (PSY 200 or PSY 210) and(MTH 100 or MTH 110 or higher). Meeting minimal requirements does not guarantee acceptance. Students are admitted once each year, fall term only.

Progression Requirements

Progression through the Surgical Technology program requires:

1. Cumulative GPA of 2.0.
2. Minimum grade of “C” in all required courses. 
3. Satisfactory level of mental and physical health, including current immunizations, Hepatitis B vaccinations (or signed waiver), annual TB testing, and ability to meet the Essential Functions and annual physical exam requirements. 
4. Current health insurance.
5. Current CPR certification at the American Heart Association, Health Care Provider level. 
6. Clear drug screen. 
7. Clear background check.

Students who do not meet progression requirements must withdraw from the Surgical Technology program and apply for readmission.

Readmission Requirements

Students who interrupt progression through the professional phase of the surgical technology program of study must apply for readmission to the program. Readmission is based on academic eligibility and space availability. Readmission requires:

1. Successful completion of a surgical technology course with a lab or clinical component within the past 12 months. 
2. Proof of competency in any previous coursework as required by the program.
3. Cumulative GPA of 2.0 at SUSCC.
4. Application for readmission to program.
5. Applicant meets all progression requirements.

NOTE: Students who have previously completed the certification option are not required to request readmission in order to earn the Associate in Applied Science option.

Graduation Requirements

Surgical Rotation Case Requirements: 

I. The surgical technology program is required to verify through the surgical rotation 

documentation the students’ progression in the scrub role in surgical procedures of 

increased complexity as he/she moves towards entry-level graduate competency.

First Scrub Role (FS): 

1. To document a case in the FS role, the student shall perform the following duties during any    given surgical procedure with proficiency:

     a) Verify supplies and equipment

     b) Set up the sterile field

         1) Instruments

         2) Medication

         3) Supplies

     c) Perform required operative counts

          1) AST guidelines (AST Guidelines for Best Practice can be found on the AST website. www.ast.org

          2) Facility policy

     d) Pass instruments and supplies

         1) Anticipate needs

     e) Maintain sterile technique

          1) Recognize sterility breaks

          2) Correct sterility breaks

          3) Document as needed

Second Scrub Role (SS): defined as the student who is at the sterile field who has not met the criteria for the first scrub role, but actively participates in the surgical procedure by completing any of the following:

a) Assistance with diagnostic endoscopy

b) Assistance with vaginal delivery

c) Cutting suture

d) Providing camera assistance

e) Retracting

f) Sponging

g) Suctioning

Observation Role (O): the student who is in the OR performing roles that do not meet the criteria for First or Second scrub role. These observations must be documented, but are not included in the 120 required cases.

II. Students must complete a minimum of 120 cases as delineated below.

     A. General Surgery cases

         1. Students must complete a minimum of 30 cases in General Surgery; 

             a. 20 which must be performed in the First Scrub Role (FS). 

             b. The remaining 10 cases may be performed in either the First or Second Scrub Role (SS).

     B. Specialty cases

         1. Students must complete a minimum of 90 cases in various surgical specialties, excluding General Surgery; 

              a.  A minimum of 60 which must be performed in the First Scrub Role (FS) and evenly distributed between a minimum of four surgical specialties. 

                   1.  A minimum of ten cases in four different specialties must be completed in the FS role (40 cases total).

                   2.  The additional 20 cases in the FS role may be distributed amongst one surgical specialty or multiple surgical specialties. 

               b.    The remaining 30 cases may be performed in any surgical specialty in either the    FS or SS role           

         2. Surgical specialties (excluding General Surgery)

              a.  Cardiothoracic
              b.  Genitourinary
              c.   Neurologic
              d.  Obstetric and Gynecologic
              e.  Orthopedic
              f.  Otorhinolaryngologic
              g.  Ophthalmologic
              h.  Oral Maxillofacial
               i.  Peripheral vascular
              j.  Plastic and reconstructive
              k.  Procurement and transplant 

III. Counting cases

      1. One pathology is counted as one procedure.

•    A patient requires a breast biopsy followed by mastectomy. It is one pathology, breast cancer, and the specialty is general surgery, therefore, it is counted and documented as one procedure and one case.

      2. Counting more than one case on the same patient

• Trauma patient require a splenectomy and repair of a LeFort I fracture. Two cases can be counted and documented since the splenectomy is a general surgery specialty and repair of LeFort I is oral-maxillofacial surgical specialty. 
• A procedure that requires different set-ups and includes different specialties may be counted as separate procedures. A mastectomy procedure (general surgery) followed with immediate reconstruction or augmentation (plastics and reconstruction) are counted as separate cases. 

       3.    Diagnostic vs operative endoscopy cases.
              a.  An endoscopy classified as a semi-critical procedure is considered a diagnostic case.
              b.  An endoscopy classified as a critical procedure is considered an operative case.
              c.  Diagnostic and operative cases will be counted according to specialty.
              d.  Diagnostic cases are counted in the SS role up to a total of ten of the required 120 cases.

• A cystoscopy is a diagnostic procedure. If an adjunct procedure is performed, it is considered operative; therefore, a cystoscopy with ureteral stent placement is an operative procedure. 
• Vaginal delivery cases are counted in the SS role of the OB/GYN specialty up to a total of five of the required 120.

IV. Documentation

A.  Case performed
B.  Role performed
C.  Performance evaluations
D.  Verification by program director

• The surgical technology program is required to verify through the surgical rotation documentation the students’ progression in the scrub role in surgical procedures of increased complexity as he/she moves towards entry-level graduate competency.