ABOUT THE CAREER

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Surgical technologists are also called surgical or operating room technicians. They assist in operations under the supervision of surgeons, registered nurses, or other surgical personnel. Surgical technologists assist doctors during surgery. They also prepare the room for surgery and clean up afterwards.

Before an operation, surgical technologists may:

• Help set up the operating room with surgical instruments and equipment, sterile linens, and sterile solutions.
• Assemble, adjust, and check nonsterile equipment to ensure it is working properly
• Prepare patients for surgery by washing, shaving, and disinfecting incision sites
• Transport patients to the operating room
• Help position patients on the operating table
• Assist with draping the patient (covering them with sterile surgical
  covers)
• Observe patients’ vital signs
• Check charts
• Assist the surgical team scrub and put on gloves, gowns, and masks.

During surgery, technologists may:

• Pass instruments and other sterile supplies to surgeons and surgeon assistants
• Be required to be familiar with many procedures in order to anticipate surgeons' needs and pass instruments efficiently
• Hold retractors, cut sutures, and help count sponges, needles, supplies, and instruments
• Count the sponges, needles, and other instruments as they are used.
• Sponge the operation site or suture wounds
• Respond to the needs of the surgical team
• Check, mix, and dispense fluids and drugs
• Help prepare, care for, and dispose of specimens taken for laboratory analysis
• Help apply dressings
• Operate sterilizers, lights, or suction machines
• Help operate diagnostic equipment
• Maintain supplies of fluids, such as plasma and blood
• Keep a written account of the surgical procedures

After an operation, surgical technologists:

• Help transfer patients to the recovery room
• Count and make sure all of the items are accounted for
• Clean and restock the operating room to prepare for the next patient

• Prepares patients
• Assists with anesthesia
• Obtains, opens, and holds packages for the "sterile" persons during the procedure
• Interviews the patient before surgery
• Keeps a written account of the surgical procedure
• Answers the surgeon’s questions about the patient during the surgery.

Technologists also may advance by specializing in a particular area of surgery, such as neurosurgery or open heart surgery.

With additional training, a technologists may advance to first assistants, who help with retracting, sponging, suturing, cauterizing bleeders, and closing and treating wounds.

Some surgical technologists manage central supply departments in hospitals, or take positions with insurance companies, sterile supply services, and surgical equipment firms.
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Surgical technologists work in clean, well-lighted, cool environments.
They must stand for long periods without breaks. They must remain alert and concentrate during operations that may take several hours. At times they may be exposed to communicable diseases and unpleasant sights, odors, and materials.

Most surgical technologists work a regular 40-hour week, although they may be on call or work nights, weekends and holidays on a rotating basis.
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Surgical technologists held approximately 54,000 jobs in 1998. 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. A few, known as private scrubs, are employed directly by surgeons who have special surgical teams like those for heart transplants.

Employment of surgical technologists is expected to grow much faster
than the average for all occupations through the year 2008 as the volume of surgery increases. The number of surgical procedures is expected to rise as the population grows and ages. Older people generally require more surgical procedures. Technological advances, such as fiber optics and laser technology, will also permit new, additional surgical procedures to be performed.

Hospitals will continue to be the primary employer of surgical technologists, although much faster employment growth is expected in offices and clinics of physicians, including ambulatory surgical centers. Job openings should be plentiful. Some jobs will be created because of growth while others will be created as current workers leave this job.
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Pay varies with the size and location of the clinic or hospital, and with the duties and experience. Nationally, the median annual earnings of surgical technologists were $25,780 in 1998 ($12.39 per hour). The middle 50 percent earned between $22,040 and $30,230 annually (between $10.60 and $14.53 per hour). The lowest 10 percent earned less than $18,930 and the highest 10 percent earned more than $35,020 a year.

Full-time surgical technologists generally receive benefits. Common benefits include health insurance, sick leave, and paid vacation. Some employers offer retirement plans. Part-time workers rarely receive benefits.

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