Essential Information for Prospective and Current Students

Specific duties for surgical technologists may include:

• Participates in small, team groups
• Enjoys working with people
• Works accurately under pressure and within time constraints
• Communicates professionally and respectfully
• Detail oriented
• Exhibits prompt and consistent attendance
• Demonstrates manual dexterity and technical skills
• Accepts constructive criticism and learns from feedback
• Applies standardized principles and concepts related to surgery
• Applies anatomy knowledge
• Anticipates needs of the surgical team
• Multitasks while focusing on the needs of the surgical team
• Opens sterile supplies and prepares the sterile surgical field
• Assists team members to don sterile gowns and gloves
• Prepares necessary equipment
• Assists the patient to settle into an unfamiliar environment
• Assists with patient positioning for the procedure
• Assists team members to apply surgical and monitoring devices
• Prepares the incision site
• Counts instruments and sponges concurrently with the circulator
• Verifies, prepares, and passes medications and solutions during the procedure
• Handles sterile instruments, sponges, and suture
• Utilizes correct protocols for all tissue specimens
• Assists with placement of surgical dressings at the end of the procedure

Health Requirements

Students will submit a completed Confidential Student Health Profile prior to beginning the program. Validation of immunity is required via laboratory documentation (bloodwork). History of diseases such as MMR or Varicella is no longer acceptable. Hepatitis B titers are required.

Other Requirements

Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR)
Students are required to obtain Basic Life Support CPR certification through the American Heart Association.
*Please select a course providing both didactic and manikin practice.

Background checks and drug screening
Conviction of a felony or misdemeanor may prohibit placement into a clinical site, applying for a professional license, or acquiring employment as a healthcare professional. Prior to applying for consideration in a healthcare program which requires clinical placement for program completion, please discuss any questions you may have with the program director or manager. Once admitted into the program, students are required to pay for and obtain criminal background checks and drug screening before starting clinical coursework; and random drug screening may occur at any time during clinical experiences.

Graduation Criteria

The student will: Meet all academic, financial, and graduation criteria for Frederick Community College. Refer to the current catalog. Pass all surgical technology (SURG) courses with a minimum of a “C” grade and pass the clinical component of the courses. With any clinical or didactic failure in the last SURG course, the student may not sit for the national certification examination and may not receive a degree in surgical technology. Participate in and document at least 120 surgical procedures according to the latest criteria found in the Association of Surgical Technology’s Core Curriculum for Surgical Technology.