Surgical Technology

Program Narrative
Surgical Technology is an Associate in Applied Science Degree program preparing students to assist in the operating room under the supervision of surgeons, registered nurses and other surgical personnel. Surgical Technologists are integral members of the operating room team providing quality patient care. Northampton Community College offers an excellent core curriculum for this program. Exceptional clinical experience is provided through our collaborative partnership with St. Luke's Hospital and Health Network for the Surgical Technology Courses.

The courses in the first two semesters provide the student with the foundational coursework which serves as prerequisites to the clinical experience sequence. Surgical Technology students are oriented to the surgical suite and the daily routine of the facility. Surgical Technology students initially observe surgical cases and then begin a gradual progression to assisting in more complex surgical procedures.

Core Progressive Threads of the Surgical Technology I-IV courses

  • Identify the role of the Surgical Technologist as a member of the surgical team
  • Apply the principles of asepsis in the operating room setting
  • Demonstrate appropriate use and care of basic instruments, equipment, and supplies
  • Demonstrate safe perioperative patient care in basic surgical procedures and in various specialties under the supervision of the operating room team
  • Demonstrate appropriate use and care of specialty instruments, equipment, and supplies

Special Features:

  • Graduates of the St. Luke's Surgical Technology Certificate Program are eligible for admission for the AAS degree in Surgical Technology upon meeting the admission requirements for this program. Surgical Technology courses from St. Luke's Surgical Technology Certificate program are transferable.
  • All students completing the AAS in Surgical Technology Degree Program will be expected to take the Certification for Surgical Technologist's examination within one year of completing the program.

Program Requirements
Admission is on a competitive basis. Applicants shall have completed work equivalent to a standard high school course with a minimum of 16 units including 4 units of English, 3 units of Social Sciences, 2 units of mathematics (one of which is Algebra), and 2 units of science with a related laboratory or the equivalent.

The minimum admission requirement to the program includes completion of high school biology with a grade of C or better or NCC BIOS 115 with a grade of C or better and one year of high school algebra with a C or better or NCC MATH 022 with a C or better.

A minimum (high school or college) GPA of 2.50 is required. Meeting the minimum admissions requirements does not guarantee admission to the program.

Primary consideration is given to students with a strong science background. If available places in the program are not filled by students who have met the aforementioned standards, the College reserves the right to accept students who have, in the judgment of the college, the potential to complete the Surgical Technology program.

* Graduates of the St. Luke's certificate program are eligible to apply for admission for the AAS degree in Surgical Technology.

** All students completing the Surgical Technology Program will be expected to take the CST certification examination within 1 year of completing the Surgical Technology portion of the program.

Surgical Technology students must be in good physical and mental health. After acceptance into the program, students are required to

  • Carry and maintain health insurance
  • Have physical examination
  • Submit results of required lab tests and immunizations
  • Submit certificate in Basic Life Support for Health Care providers throughout the program
  • Submit results of Criminal History Record Information (CHRI), Child and Elder Abuse History Clearance. In addition, if the student has not lived in Pennsylvania for two consecutive years, an FBI Clearance will be also required prior to entry into the program.

Surgical Technology Overview
The Surgical Technology Program consists of 30 credits of Surgical Technology courses. These courses prepare graduates to provide quality care to patients throughout the lifespan. Concentrated clinical experiences are part of all the Surgical Technology courses and are scheduled up to four days a week in an operating room setting. This provides students the opportunity to apply theoretical knowledge to clinical setting, as well as, incorporate advanced critical thinking into the role of the professional Surgical Technologist. Courses must be taken sequentially.

Deadlines
In order to be considered, applicants must submit an application and all transcripts by February 1 for the fall semester. Applications received after these dates will be reviewed on a space available basis.

Program Goals

To produce graduates:

  • who complete the program objectives and associated Surgical Technology competencies.
  • who have a broad knowledge base and the intellectual skills enabling the Surgical Technologist to embrace lifelong learning.
  • who protect themselves, peers, co-workers, and patients from communicable disease and are concerned with patient safety.
  • who are competent to pass the Certification for Surgical Technologist's examination within one year of completing the program.
  • who meet or exceed the needs of their employers.
  • who have been prepared as competent entry-level surgical technologists in the cognitive (knowledge) psychomotor (skills), and affective (behavior) learning domains.
  • to prepare competent entry-level surgical technologists in the cognitive (knowledge) psychomotor (skills), and affective (behavior) learning domains.

To produce graduates who:

  • have a broad knowledge base.
  • Upon completion of the program students must demonstrate entry level proficiency in all areas of general surgery and specialty procedures. At a minimal level the student must document a total of eighty (80) procedures in the first scrub (solo) role or with assist. Fifty-five (55) of these procedures must be in the five core areas of General, Orthopedics, Otorhinolaryngology (ENT), Gynecology and Genitourinary (GU). The remaining twenty-five (25) procedures will be in the specialty areas, such as: Cardiothoracic endoscopy; Ophthalmology; Oral and maxillofacial; Plastic and Reconstructive; Neurosurgery; Cardiothoracic; Peripheral Vascular. A graduate of the Surgical Technology Program must be prepared to show evidence of eighty (80) procedures in order to sit for the credentialing examination. Clinical Case Requirements for the surgical technology students will meet the minimum levels: This includes 80 cases first scrubbed (assisted or solo). At least 25 of these should be solo. Of the assisted cases out of these 80, ten (10) should be Level 1 core cases. Five (5) should be Level 1 Specialty cases. The rest of the assisted cases should be distributed across core and specialty areas. Of the 25 solo cases: ten (10) should be Level 1 Core cases. Procedures that are observed or scrubbed in a role where less than 70% of the 10 points of performance are documented DO NOT count toward meeting the clinical case requirements. This also includes assistant circulating duties.

Program Guidelines: Minimum

Core: Level I-10; Level II-10; Level III-0

Specialty: Level I-5; Level II-0; Level III-0

Ratios: Cases: 80 with a ratio 55/25 (70%/30%)

Total Independent: 25

  • Pass their Certification for Surgical Technologist's examination within one year of completing the program.
  • Qualitative outcomes:
  • To produce graduates who:
  • will attain proficient entry level surgical technologists skills.
  • demonstrate competent patient skills.
  • adapt to change.
  • protect themselves, peers, co-workers, and patients from communicable disease and are concerned with patient safety.

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