Surgical Technology
Bridge Program for Sterile Processing Technicians

This course introduces common medical terms through the analysis of word components. Emphasis will be placed on the structure of terms-Greek and Latin roots, prefixes, and suffixes. A medical vocabulary will be developed through the study of the anatomical structures, physiological functions, diagnostic and therapeutic procedures, and pathologies of the body systems. Terminology will be practiced through the use of common abbreviations, spelling, pronunciation and definitions.

This course provides a broad study of the operative environment, professional roles, moral/legal/ethical responsibilities and medical communications used in surgical technology. Overview of the roles and responsibilities of the surgical technologist in the operating room and team. Discussion and learning around the patient center care and Maslow's Hierarchy of needs. Understanding the connection of all departments within the healthcare facility, and the professionalism required to maintain a surgical services department to include the roles and connection with the sterile processing department. Aseptic technique and concepts around what surgical consciousness is and how it is applied in this patient center healthcare job.

This course will introduce the job description, responsibilities, and physical demands required for this technical career path in sterile processing. An introduction to a wide variety of sterilization processes, machinery, and chemical uses. This course will discuss and describe the processes and importance of decontamination, cleaning, disinfection, and sterilization of common equipment, supplies, and instrumentation used in the surgical services department. This course will examine, demonstrate, and define proper wrapping and packaging procedures and protocols for proper sterilization of instrumentation, equipment, devices, and surgical supplies. Overview and discussion around distribution of equipment and supplies from the Sterile Processing Department throughout a typical healthcare facility. An overview of these responsibilities as it relates to the sterile processing employee will be covered. Concepts of teamwork, communication and professional development in this career path will also be discussed.

This course introduces the student to a wide variety of surgical instruments used in the modern operating room. This extensive course offers a focus on learning proper names, correct spelling, function, and classifications of these instruments.  Discussion will occur around assembly and disassembly of complex instrumentation as it relates to inspection and troubleshooting associated with sterile processing. Specialized instrumentation such as robotics and endoscopic instrumentation will be explored. Complex surgical instruments and devices will be researched.

This course introduces pharmacology principles and practices as they relate to the role of the surgical technologist.  Class, action, pharmacokinetics, and pharmacodynamics of common intraoperative medications will be described.  Basic mathematic calculations will be reviewed and further developed around fractions, percentages, decimals, and conversions.  Medications used during surgical procedures will be introduced, such as antibiotics for irrigation, diuretics, antineoplastic chemotherapy medications, hemostatic agents, local pain medications, agents used in diagnostic procedures and during emergency situations.  Preparing, labeling, identifying, and safe delivery of medications to and on the operative field safely and accurately while maintaining sterile technique will be demonstrated.  The student will gain knowledge and describe an anesthesia preoperative assessment, intraoperative anesthesia, and patient monitoring.  Lastly, the student will summarize the role of the surgical technologist during emergency situations.

This interactive multimedia course offers an introduction to a variety of specialized equipment commonly used in the operating room and how working knowledge of these items tie directly to the roles and responsibilities of the Surgical Technologist. Surgical site prepping, wound healing, dressings, drains, and sutures commonly used in surgical procedures will be explored. The course is designed to enhance and integrate the information learned here, with the hands-on practice experienced in the operating room skills lab sequence.

This course is intended to give the student exploration on a variety of surgical procedures and their pathologies specific to general surgery, minimally invasive, robotics, orthopedics, otorhinolaryngology, obstetrics and gynecology, plastics, ophthalmology, neurology, spine, oral maxillary face, trauma, peripheral vascular, thoracic, and cardiac areas. Students will practice and utilize specific specialty area medical terminology, anatomy and physiology through discussion groups, homework assignments and exams. This course helps prepare the student with standards and expectations of the surgical technologist in the professional setting, as it relates to critical thinking, preparation, and procedural steps for a variety of surgical procedures. This course uses a variety of methods to facilitate an immersive learning experience through multimedia, projects, and groups discussions.

This immersive and experiential course introduces the student to the foundational aseptic technique specific to the operating room and the roles and responsibilities of the surgical technologist. The course utilizes multimedia resources that allow for structured repetitive learning regarding all skills taught for this lab.  The skills lab is a practice arena guided by certified surgical technologist instructors that will always provide professional guidance and safety monitoring.  This lab focuses on hands-on practice utilizing a real operating room, basic equipment, supplies and instruments commonly used for a basic general surgery procedure. Student practice to proficiency a variety of skills specific to the surgical technology role to include selecting and wearing proper PPE and attire, surgical hand scrub, gowning and gloving of self and others, setting up and maintaining a sterile field.  Additionally, students practice surgical consciousness and professionalism in communication while working within a surgical team. Through guided practice, students recognize and correct contamination of self, and the sterile field.  Students learn to practice receiving and correctly labeling medications and fluids, sutures, and other sterile supplies while maintaining sterile technique. Students also practice sterile draping, the surgical time out, passing instruments, sharps, and medications correctly and safely.  This course provides a practice environment for applying dressings, and post procedure care of the patient.  This course is designed to lead into the next more advanced OR skills lab course in the skills sequence for the surgical technology program.  

This skills lab is designed to build upon the basic foundations learned and practiced in the previous skills lab ST205. All aspects of learned sterile technique will continue into this course. The student will be exposed to more advanced draping techniques specific to surgical specialties such as orthopedics, OBGYN, ENT and laparoscopic surgical cases.  Multimedia resources will be utilized for repetitive learning when not in the skills lab. This skills lab is designed to focus on practice in the areas of reading preference cards, supply selection, setting up all instruments and supplies aseptically, draping, passing instruments, passing any medications, all closing procedures and application of dressings specific to 5 different surgical procedures. Practice of the setups and all nuances specific to these types of surgical procedures will be to proficiency and demonstrated through competencies and a final exam. Safety and professionalism are the hallmarks of this profession. Students practice working effectively, professionally, and safely within a surgical team and department for safe delivery of patient care.  Students are introduced to instruments specific to the specialty they are setting up. Through immersive and experiential learning this lab provides an environment for repetitive practice and guidance for certified surgical technologist instructors in fully functioning operating rooms.

The student will begin their clinical externship in this course. While under the supervision of the surgical team, the student will observe cases and begin to scrub and assist team members when directed. Students become familiar with the operating room, procedures, and practices of the working surgical environment. They will expand their entry-level functions in perioperative management while beginning to articulate the role and responsibilities of a patient focused surgical technologist. The student will experience and demonstrate operating room communication and learn how to interact effectively.

The student continues their clinical externship in this course. While under the supervision of the surgical team, the student will expand their role in scrubbing and assisting team members when directed. Students will continue to become familiar with the operating room, procedures, and practices of the working surgical environment. They will expand their entry-level functions in perioperative management while continuing to articulate the role and responsibilities of a patient focused surgical technologist. The student will demonstrate operating room communication and interact effectively within their role.

The student continues their clinical externship in this course. While under the supervision of the surgical team, the student will expand their role in scrubbing and assisting team members when directed. Students will continue to become familiar with the operating room, procedures, and practices of the working surgical environment. They will expand their entry-level functions in perioperative management while continuing to articulate the role and responsibilities of a patient focused surgical technologist. The student will demonstrate operating room communication and interact effectively within their role.

This course will provide the surgical technology student with the needed preparation to complete the certification exam process. It reinforces academic knowledge, professional accountability, independent decision-making, and the critical nature of self- assessment. The students will demonstrate knowledge through completion of assessments in multiple categories (anatomy and physiology, pharmacology, etc.) that align with the national certification examination for surgical technologists (CST).