What Does A Surgical Tech Do? Roles, Responsibilities, And Career Insights

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Have you ever wondered what does a surgical tech do? Many people don’t know what a surgical tech is or what they do. Techs, or as they are known in the industry, operating room technicians, are a crucial component in the successful and safe completion of a surgical procedure. This article will cover the jobs, skill sets, work environments, educational pathways, and job outlook for surgical techs.

What does a surgical tech do?

What is a surgical tech? A surgical tech is a specialised healthcare professional who assists surgeons, nurses, and other operating personnel as needed. They operate the surgical equipment and ensure that all instruments are sterile. You can think of surgical techs as the people who organise the surgery and help keep it efficient and smooth.

Surgical techs work in lots of different facilities, including surgical clinics, outpatient surgery centres, hospitals, and specialised surgery units. How well a tech does their job can alter the success of a surgery. A really good surgical tech can anticipate what the surgical team will need and respond to those needs in a way that alleviates the pressure of the moment.

Main Tasks of a Surgical Tech

To answer the question of what a surgical tech is, it is best to break down their responsibilities into three primary categories: duties performed before (preoperative), during (intraoperative), and after (postoperative) the surgery.

Duties Preoperative to the Surgery

A surgical tech has many responsibilities before the surgery can begin, among them are:

Sanitising tools and equipment to prevent the introduction of infection.
Preparing the surgical tools, drapes, and supplies required for the procedure.
Ensuring that surgical lights, monitors, and other equipment are ready for surgery.
Going through the surgical steps to make sure that everything is complete.
Mentally and emotionally calming the anxiety of the surgical patient.

This stage is extremely important, as it allows the surgical team to focus on the patient undergoing a surgical procedure without worrying about the risks introduced by the surgical environment.

Intraoperative Duties

During surgery, surgical technologists assist the surgeon and the nursing staff with:

Passing the surgeon the instruments and supplies as needed.
Following protocols to maintain a sterile environment.
Handling surgical specimens, like tissue, that need to be sent to the lab.
Counting sponges, needles, and instruments so that nothing is left inside the patient.
Working with the surgical team to monitor the patient’s vital signs.

In this phase of surgical technology, one must demonstrate the ability to think clearly and rationally and maintain a presence of mind to ensure the patient’s safety when blood is present, and core manipulation is required. Technologists need to develop the ability to understand and anticipate the surgeon’s needs.

Postoperative Duties

In the aftermath of surgery, the surgical technologist continues their duties by:

Assisting with the closure and dressing of surgical wounds.
Cleaning and restocking the operative site for the next set.
Disposing of the biomedical waste and all soiled materials appropriately.
Ensuring instruments are washed, sterilised, and received for the next surgery.
Recording and keeping all documents regarding the surgery that took place.

In this phase, the surgical environment is verified to be sterile and operational for the next patient.

Important Skills as a Surgical Technician

To fully understand what a surgical tech does, simply listing duties does not suffice. Certain skills must also be considered. Successful surgical techs use a combination of these skills: communication, problem-solving, strong technical skills, and interpersonal skills.

Attention to Detail: During surgery, precision is important. A small error can have very serious results.
Manual Dexterity: Quick adjustments and accurate handling of surgical instruments are driven by superior hand/eye coordination.
Communication Skills: Surgical techs must communicate clearly with surgeons and other staff.
Stress Management: Surgical techs must manage their feelings as they prepare for this high-pressure adventure.
Knowledge of Sterile Techniques: Infection can be avoided by maintaining sterility.

Surgical techs are equipped with the skills needed for rigorous training and certification.

Education and Certification

To become a surgical tech, one must complete a postsecondary education program. A certificate, diploma, or associate degree in surgical technology is needed. Accredited programs must be combined with structured, documented clinical components and assist in skill testing. These programs also teach anatomy, physiology, medical terminology, pharmacology, and surgical techniques.

Once surgical tech students complete their education, they can obtain certification that can advance their careers. Some examples of certifications include:

Certified Surgical Technologist (CST): Given by the National Board of Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting (NBSTSA).
Tech in Surgery – Certified (TS-C): Given by the National Centre for Competency Testing (NCCT).

Although some states don’t legally require certifications, employees will definitely require or prefer them. There is a significant increase in job opportunities, salaries, and growth from becoming certified.

Work Environment

Hospitals are the main workplaces for surgical techs, although some work in outpatient surgical centres, clinics, or private practices. The job is physically demanding, as they have to be on their feet for long periods and work with heavy surgical instruments.

Depending on where they are working and the surgeries they are scheduled for, they may have shifts at any time of day, including on-call. Because surgical techs play a crucial role in saving and improving their patients’ lives, many of them consider the job very gratifying.

Career Outlook and Opportunities

The need for surgical technicians is projected to grow in the coming years, according to recent labour statistics. With an ageing population, surgeries will be performed more frequently. Additionally, new inventions and techniques in the medical field will be created to increase their focus on outpatient surgeries.

With experience and even more certifications, surgical technicians can expand their field even further. These areas include:

Working even more intimately with surgeons as a Surgical First Assistant
Enabling opportunities to become a Specialised Surgical Tech in a specific type of surgery, be it cardiovascular or orthopaedic
Descending in the hierarchy of the surgical department into Healthcare Management roles that are either supervisory or administrative in nature

The degree of compensation disparity is based on factors such as experience, location, and certifications. However, the best compensation packages in the industry give surgical technology a degree of career flexibility in healthcare.

Challenges Faced by Surgical Techs

A career as a surgical technician is challenging. These include being around and exposed to various infectious diseases, long periods on their feet, which can lead to physical strain, and the possibility of being required to be present for emergency surgeries, which may be high-risk and lead to high stress. Managing emotional resilience and adaptability is crucial, and having a strong team is equally important to managing these challenges well.

Conclusion

So, what does a surgical tech do? Surgical technology is an interesting career in healthcare. Surgical techs must have extensive training across many technical areas. In addition, they must possess positive behavioural characteristics, such as the ability to pay attention to detail, communicate effectively, and remain calm and focused under high pressure.

A rewarding career in health care is in surgical technology. Surgical techs can directly improve patient outcomes. In addition, the field of surgical tech is ever-changing, offering many different paths and career opportunities. Having a broad understanding of the field allows future surgical techs to plan and pursue their educational, training, and career goals more effectively.

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