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Pathway: Nursing Services
Job: Surgical Technologist
Job Description
Surgical technologists, also called scrubs and surgical or operating room technicians, assist in surgical operations under the supervision of surgeons, registered nurses, or other surgical personnel. They also help set up the operating room, prepare and transport patients, and clean and restock the operating room.
Necessary Education
Typically a 1-year program resulting in a Certificate
Helpful High School Courses
English, Mathematics, Health, Chemistry, Biology
Working Conditions
- Typically work a regular 40-hour week
- May be on-call or work nights, weekends and holidays on a rotating basis
- Work in clean, well-lit, and cool environments
- Work can be demanding and stressful
- Must stand for long periods of time
- Must remain alert during operations
- At times, may be exposed to communicable diseases and unpleasant sights, odors, and materials
Salary Range
- 2003, Delaware average annual salary,
$34,340
- 2003, Delaware average hourly wage,
$16.51
Career Ladder Information
- Most are employed by hospitals, mainly in operating and delivery rooms
- Others are employed in clinics and surgical centers and in the offices of physicians and dentists who perform outpatient surgery, or employed directly by surgeons who have special surgical teams (ex: liver transplants)
- Voluntary professional certification can be obtained from the Liaison Council on Certification for the Surgical Technologist by graduating from a CAAHEP – accredited program and passing a National certification examination
- May advance by specializing in a particular area of surgery; working as a circulating technologist; progressing to first assistant; managing a hospital’s central supply department; or taking a position with an insurance company, sterile supply service, or operating equipment firm
Personal Qualities and Interests
You:
- Have good manual dexterity
- Are conscientious, orderly, and emotionally stable
- Are willing to keep up with new developments in the field
- Are able to respond quickly
- Are able to learn procedures
Did you know?
Most employers prefer to hire certified technologists.
Additional Information
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