Surgical Technologists Play Vital Role in Operating Room
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Surgical technologists are in high demand and
play an important role in the operating room,
working side-by-side with surgeons. |
Your ticket to one of the fastest growing career opportunities is waiting for you at Lancaster General College of Nursing & Health Sciences.
Surgical technology is one of the most in-demand occupations in the country with a competitive starting salary and tremendous potential for future growth. As a surgical technologist, you play a vital role in assisting surgeons in the operating room (OR) and maximizing patient safety.
“Our reputation precedes our students,” says Tina Baumer, Director of the Surgical Technician Program at the College. “Hospitals are clamoring for our graduates and know the quality of our program. Many have worked with our students in the past, so they know exactly what they are getting.”
Graduates of Lancaster General College’s accredited surgical technology program have had a 100 percent job placement rate.
Surgical technology is a career field that has only emerged in the past 60 years, and Tina says it’s still not as well known as many other health science professions.
“It used to be one of the nurses’ roles in the operating room, but nurses are needed in many other capacities in the hospital. Surgical technicians now fill that role, she says. “It is a very important position and an excellent stepping stone into a healthcare career.”
The surgical technologist works under the supervision of a surgeon to ensure that the operating room environment is safe, that equipment functions properly and that operating procedure is conducted with patient safety in mind.
“A surgical technician becomes the surgeon’s right hand,” Tina says. “And at a time when every minute counts, having a skilled surgical technologist helps expedite things in the OR and ensure patient safety.”
Students in the Surgical Technology program learn about various areas of surgery. During the clinical part of training, they gain valuable hands-on surgery experience in:
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By Your Side
Karen Frey
Surgical Technologist
Since graduating from Lancaster
General College in 1984, Karen
has been by your side, helping
patients at Lancaster General
Hospital lead healthier,
happier lives.
She chose a rewarding and
challenging career as a cardiac
surgery technologist because
she was always interested in
medicine and had a desire to
help others.
“The surgeons respect the
work that we do, and we
work as a team to help our
patients,” she says. Today
she also serves as the
Cardiac Surgery Coordinator.
“At the end of every shift, you
know you’ve made a difference
in someone’s life,” Karen says. |
“When students complete our accredited program and pass the national certifying examination, they have the experience to work as a surgical technologist in nearly any specialty, anywhere in the United States,” Tina says.
A high school diploma is required for enrollment in the two-year associate degree curriculum. Students who already hold an associate or bachelor degree may apply for the one-year diploma program.
The program is open to up to 20 qualified applicants annually. Enrollment deadline for the fall semester is January 15, but applicants are reviewed as they arrive, so students who enroll early can be accepted early.
Perioperative Services at Lancaster General includes 21 state-of-the-art surgical suites, three open heart suites, five ambulatory surgery suites and a two-room endoscopy suite, providing plenty of opportunities for students during their clinical studies. The College also features a clinical simulation laboratory that can duplicate a variety of realistic clinical settings.
The College offers two opportunities for high school students to take a closer look at surgical technology as a career option. The “Be a Surgical Technologist for a Day” program allows three students at a time to participate in a lecture and practice surgical technologist lab skills, and another “shadowing” program offers 40-50 students to participate in an actual surgery using a live interactive video feed from the operating room.
For more information about the College and the Surgical Technology program, call 544-4912, or visit us online at www.LancasterGeneralCollege.org.
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