Employment as a surgical technologist is one of the top growing medical roles in the nation. As the demand for this position continues to grow, so does the competition. Before entering this career field, make sure it is right for you and that you are willing to put in the time needed to be successful.
What to Expect in Class
The schooling for this career is no harder than most programs in the medical field. The amount of time a person puts into it can be dependent on how naturally they might take to the science-based classes that exist within a medical curriculum.
However, there are some key classes that will push the limits of every student who takes them. Anatomy and Physiology is considered one of the hardest classes in college. It crams a lot of information into just one quarter. How much? You should allocate about three to four hours a night of studying for this class exclusively. Other time consuming classes are Anatomy and Physiology 2 and any coursework that requires the memorization of medical terminology. Some programs may have minimum grade requirements for passing.
A good certified surgical technologist program will help you to understand the requirements needed to enter the program. If you have a job or other time-consuming activities in your life, let your councilor know ahead of time.
In the Field
A surgical technologist almost always has a full plate. This does partially depend on the institution they work for, but there is no absence or work. According to Rasmussen College, the surgical tech has several duties to perform.
As a surgical technician, you may help the doctor during surgical procedures, but that only represents part of your job. You would have many pre- and post-op duties, as well. Surgical techs help to prepare the patients before surgery and help the OR staff to prepare. After surgery, you would help with the cleanup. When you are not assisting with a surgery, you might be responsible for ordering OR supplies and sterilization of the equipment.
The path to becoming a surgical technologist is not an easy one. Many people take this job to get into the industry to later become OR nurses or move to other areas of the hospital. If you like a challenge — and like to stay busy — this may be the career for you.
