From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Surgical technologist
Surgical technologist
technologist,
A Surgical technologist also called "scrub tech," "surgi- in offices of physicians or dentists who perform outpa-
cal technician," or "operating room technician", is an al- tient surgery and in outpatient care centers, including
lied health professional working as a part of the team ambulatory surgery centers.[1] In the US, depending on
delivering surgical care in some countries. They possess the role and employment setting, they may go by differ-
knowledge and skills in sterile and aseptic techniques. ent titles including Scrub Surgical Technologist, Circulating
There are few mandatory professional requirements for Surgical Technologist or Second Assisting Technologist.[3][4] A
surgical technologists, and the scope of practice varies few technologists in private practice (also called ’private
widely across countries and jurisdictions. Surgical Tech- scrubs’) are employed directly by surgeons who have
nologist attend Junior colleges and Technical schools, special surgical teams, like those for liver transplants.
and many are trained in Military training schools. In the Career prospects for surgical technologists is expect-
military they perform the duties of both the circulator ed to grow in the coming years. According to the US
and the scrub. The bulk of training is done in the operat- Bureau for Labor Statistics, employment of surgical tech-
ing room, and they are trained by giving them progres- nologists is expected to grow in that country by 24 per-
sively more difficult surgical cases to scrub, until they cent between 2006 and 2016, much faster than the av-
are able to scrub all types of surgical procedures, this can erage for all occupations.[1] This trend is related to the
take a few years. The goal is for Surgical Technologist to expected rise in the number of surgical procedures per-
be able to anticipate the next move the surgeon is going formed, as the population grows and ages. Older people,
to make in order to make the procedure as smooth and including the baby boom generation, who generally re-
efficient as possible. quire more surgical procedures, will account for a larger
In the United States, surgical technologists are unli- portion of the general population. In addition, techno-
censed assistive personnel who work under the supervi- logical advances, such as fiber optics and laser technol-
sion of a Surgeon, Registered Nurse (RN), or other sur- ogy, will permit an increasing number of new surgical
gical personnel (such as a more senior Technologists), procedures to be performed and also will allow surgical
to help ensure that the operating room or environment technologists to assist with a greater number of proce-
is safe, that equipment functions properly, and that the dures.[1]
operative procedure is conducted under conditions that
maximize patient safety. They handle the instruments,
scrubs, medications, and other supplies and equipment
History
necessary during the surgical procedure. They perform
basic tasks such as checking patients’ medical charts and United States
consent forms, preparing sterile dressings, and closing The role of the Surgical Technologist began on the bat-
incisions. Surgical Technologists also train other OR per- tlefields in World War I and World War II when the Army
sonnel such as new technologists and new circulating used "Medics" to work under the direct supervision of
RNs.[1] the Surgeon. Concurrently, medical "corpsman" were
In Mozambique, they provide advanced surgical ser- used in the Navy aboard combat ships. Nurses were not
vices, often working autonomously in the absence of a allowed on the battlefield or aboard combat ships at the
physician.[2] In other countries, professions with similar time. This led to a new profession within the military
titles include ’Clinical officers’, ’Clinical associates’, or called Operating Room Technicians (ORTs).
’Assistant Medical Officers’, but which can mean differ- With many medical personnel overseas or perform-
ent things subject to local circumstances. ing duties in military hospitals, an accelerated nursing
program with emphasis only on operating room technol-
ogy was set up as an on-the-job training of nursing assis-
Employment tants who worked in the surgery department. These in-
Most surgical technologists — about 71 percent in the dividuals studied sterilization of instruments and how to
United States — work in hospitals, mainly in operating care for the patient in the operating room. Techniques,
and delivery rooms. Surgical technologist are also adap- sutures, draping and instrumentation were emphasized;
tive to deal with equipment handling, as handling a C- they also had to do clinical time in labor and delivery and
arm flouroscope in angioplasty and orthopedics and in the Emergency Room.
many other departments as well. A surgical technologist After the Korean War there were shortages of oper-
with multiple experiences is preferred. Other jobs are ating room nurses. Operating room supervisors began to
1
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Surgical technologist
recruit ex-medics and ex-corpsmen to work in civilian
hospitals. These ex-military men functioned as circula-
Training, certification and pro-
tors in the operating room while the scrub role or "in- fessional organizations
strument nurse" role was performed by the Registered
Nurse. It wasn’t until 1965 that these roles were reversed. United States
In 1967, the Association of periOperative Registered
Educationally, surgical technologists graduate from sur-
Nurses (AORN) published a book titled Teaching the Oper-
gical technology programs accredited through the Com-
ating Room Technician. In 1968, the AORN Board of Direc-
mission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Pro-
tors created the Association of Operation Room Techni-
grams (CAAHEP),[7] which relies on information on a pro-
cians (AORT). The AORT formed two committees in 1969,
gram gathered by a collaborative effort of the Association
The Liaison Council on Certification for the Surgical
of Surgical Technologists (AST)[4] and the American Col-
Technologist or LCC-ST (now known as the National
lege of Surgeons (ACS). The CAAHEP is a recognized ac-
Board of Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting or
creditation agency of the Council for Higher Education
NBSTSA[5]) and the Joint Committee on Education. The
Accreditation (CHEA).[8] In addition, surgical technology
first certification examination was given in 1970, and
programs are located in educational institutions that are
those that passed the certification examination were giv-
institutionally accredited by agencies recognized by the
en a new title: Certified Operating Room Technician
United States Department of Education (USDE) or The
(CORT).
Joint Commission. The ARC/STSA is also a member of the
In 1973, AORT became independent of AORN and
Association of Specialized and Professional Accreditors
changed the title of the position to what it is today, Sur-
(ASPA).
gical Technologist. The AORT also changed their name
The following statement was developed by the Amer-
to the Association of Surgical Technologists (AST).[4] In
ican College of Surgeons’ Committee on Perioperative
1974, an accreditation body was established to ensure
Care, and approved by the ACS Board of Regents at its
quality education. The programs accredited by ARC/
June 2005 meeting.[9] This statement was subsequently
STSA (Accreditation Review Committee for Surgical
approved by the Association of Surgical Technologists,
Technology and Surgical Assisting) (formerly ARC-ST)
American Society of Anesthesiologists, American Associ-
are monitored for compliance with the standards. The
ation of Surgical Physician Assistants, American Associa-
ARC/STSA and AST board of directors recommends the
tion of Nurse Anesthetists, and American Society of Per-
Associates Degree as entry level surgical technology edu-
iAnesthesia Nurses.
cation.
Today, Surgical Technologists taking and passing the
Surgical technologists are individuals with special-
national certification examination designed by the
ized education who function as members of the sur-
NBSTSA earn the title of Certified Surgical Technologist.
gical team in the role of scrub person. With addi-
Certification can be renewed by contact hours or re-ex-
tional education and training, some surgical tech-
amination, but it is not mandatory by government regu-
nologists function in the role of surgical first assis-
lation.
tant. Surgical technology programs are inspected
by the Accreditation Review Committee on Educa-
Mozambique tion in Surgical Technology—a collaborative effort
In Mozambique, surgical technologists were introduced of the Association of Surgical Technologists and the
in 1984 in the aftermath of independence, as a new health American College of Surgeons, under the auspices
care cadre to deliver basic comprehensive medical ser- of the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health
vices under conditions of severe shortages of medical Education Programs. Accredited programs provide
professionals especially in rural areas. Their training in- both didactic education and supervised clinical ex-
cludes clinical skills in order to perform emergency perience based on a core curriculum for surgical
surgery, obstetrics and traumatology; as well as adminis- technology. Accredited programs may be offered
trative skills in order to better manage hospital and dis- in community and junior colleges, vocational and
trict level service delivery.[2] technical schools, the military, universities, and
It is estimated that surgical technologists currently structured hospital programs in surgical technolo-
perform 90 percent of all obstetric surgeries in the coun- gy. The accredited programs vary from nine to 15
try.[6] months for a diploma or certificate to two years for
an associates degree, which is the preferred entry
level. Graduates of accredited surgical technology
programs are eligible for certification by the Na-
tional Board of Surgical Technology and Surgical
Assisting (NBSTSA), an administratively indepen-
2
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Surgical technologist
dent body from the Association of Surgical Tech-
nologists consisting of representative Certified Sur-
References
gical Technologists, a surgeon, and the public. The [1] ^ US Bureau of Labor Statistics. Occupational Outlook
American College of Surgeons strongly supports ad- Handbook, 2010-11 Edition - Surgical Technologists.
equate education and training of all surgical tech- Accessed 5-Mar-2011.
nologists, supports the accreditation of all surgical [2] ^ Cumbi A et al. "Major surgery delegation to mid-
technology educational programs, and supports ex- level health practitioners in Mozambique: health
amination for certification of all graduates of ac- professionals’ perceptions." Human Resources for
credited surgical technology educational programs. Health; 2007, 5:27 doi:10.1186/1478-4491-5-27
[3] American College of Surgeons
The professional organization for surgical technologists [4] ^ Association of Surgical Technologists. Accessed
is the Association of Surgical Technologists (AST).[4] Its 5-Mar-2011.
primary purpose is to ensure that surgical technologists [5] National Board of Surgical Technology and Surgical
have the knowledge and skills to administer quality pa- Assisting
tient care and is the principal provider in conjunction [6] Kruk ME et al. "Human resource and funding
with more than 40 state organizations of continuing edu- constraints for essential surgery in district
cation for surgical technologists. hospitals in Africa: a retrospective cross-sectional
survey." PLoS Medicine, 2010; 7(3): e1000242.
Mozambique doi:10.1371/journal.pmed.1000242
In Mozambique, surgical technologists complete a three- [7] Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health
year postsecondary program focusing on three broad pri- Education Programs
ority areas: pregnancy-related complications, trauma-re- [8] Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA)
lated complications, and emergency inflammatory condi- [9] American College of Surgeons. Revised Statement on
tions. The program includes practical sessions in the Ma- surgical technology training and certification. Accessed
puto Central Hospital followed by a one-year internship 6 April 2011.
at a provincial hospital, under the direct supervision of a [10] World Health Organization. The world health report
surgeon.[10] 2003: shaping the future. Geneva, WHO, 2003
Upon graduation, surgical technologists often work http://www.who.int/whr/2003/en/index.html
in locations where there is no physician available, and as-
sume many of the responsibilities previously reserved for External links
those with a full medical degree.
There is little documentation of professional associa- • Accreditation Review Council on Education in
tions for surgical technologists or other allied health pro- Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting
fessions in Mozambique. • American College of Surgeons
• Association of Surgical Technologists
• Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health
See also Education Programs
• • Allied health professions • Council for Higher Education Accreditation
• Clinical officers • Mayo Clinic School for Health Science
• Clinical associates • National Board of Surgical Technology and Surgical
• Assistant Medical Officers Assisting
• U.S. Bureau for Labor Statistics
Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Surgical_technologist"
Categories: Allied Health Professions, Professional titles and certifications
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