Welcome To The Operating Room
Is The OR Right For You?
The OR is not for everyone, and this is something you should heavily consider before you apply. We recommend that you contact us to schedule an OR observation. A good first step is to watch the video to the right. If you have to look away, squint, or feel sick watching it, this is probably not the career field for you.
If you watch this and say, "That's really awesome... I want more" and you have a desire to contribute to life saving medicine, you're in the right place.
Due to age restriction, you will be prompted to view on YouTube.
Career Overview
What does a surgical technologist do?Surgical technologists, also called operating room technicians, work alongside, and assist surgeons, nurses, and other members of the health care team throughout a surgical operation. The role of the surgical technologist is incredibly important because they ensure a sterile and organized environment.
Scope of practiceSurgical technologists work in the operating room with surgeons, anesthesiologists, and nurses. Their common tasks and duties can be split into three phases: before the surgical operation (preoperative), during the surgical operation (intraoperative), and after the surgical operation (postoperative).
Before the procedure, surgical technologists focus on sterilization and preparation. This includes:
-Sterilizing the equipment and operating room-Helping with preparing the patient for surgery -Gathering, counting, and arranging the equipment and surgical tools -needed during the surgery-Preparing patients for the procedure
During the surgery, surgical technologists also have a variety of important responsibilities:-Keeping the operating room sterile-Passing surgical tools to the surgeon and the surgeon’s assistant-Assisting in retracting tissues from the surgical patient
After the surgery, surgical technologists assist with wrapping up the procedure and are responsible for:-Counting all of the tools and instruments used during the surgery-Applying dressings to surgical sites-Disposing of needles and gauze-Maintaining the sterile environment of the operating room until -the patient is brought to the recovery room