Surgical assisting technology | Stark State College | North Canton, Ohio
Surgical Assisting

Surgical assisting technology

This program has been approved for inactivation under the Ohio Department of Education and is no longer accepting applications.

Note:  Surgical assisting technology is an advanced one-year certificate. Candidates must possess specific credentials and previous work experience to apply to this program.

Surgical assistants are highly skilled, credentialed surgical health professionals who work under the direction of a surgeon to help carry out a safe operation with optimal patient results.  They are trained in surgery and undergo rigorous credentialing to practice in that role.

What job duties do surgical assistants perform?

  • Determine specific equipment needed for procedure
  • Review surgical permit to confirm procedure and special needs
  • Assist in preparation of the patient for surgery
  • Drape patient within surgeon’s guidelines
  • Assist with surgical procedure
    • Making initial incision (opening)
    • Exposing the surgical site (retracting)
    • Controlling bleeding (hemostasis)
    • Surgically removing veins and arteries (harvesting)
    • Reconnecting tissue (suturing)
    • Completing the operation and reconnecting external tissue (closing)
  • Select and apply wound dressings
  • Assist with resuscitation or other life-threatening events in operating room

What is the work environment like?

  • Surgical assistants are on their feet most of the day. They may need to help move patients or lift heavy trays of medical supplies or equipment and may be exposed to communicable diseases and unpleasant sights or odors.
  • Most work full-time and are on call during nights, weekends, and holidays. Surgical assistants may work longer than eight hour shifts.

The surgical assisting technology certificate program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Programs.

 

Cost may vary due to prior immunizations, level of immunity and current health coverage.

  • FBI/BCI- $70 [Good for 1 year/If expires before completion of program, must repeat-additional$70]
  • Liability Insurance-$15
  • 1 set of dark gray scrubs for lab and clinical-$30-50
  • ID Badge-$10
  • Influenza shot-$30
  • Physical/Visual Exam-$50
  • Blood Titer for Hepatitis B, MMR, and Varicella-$300
  • Hepatitis B 3 shot series of immunizations-$120
  • MMR 2 shot series of immunization-$60
  • Two step TB Test-$30
  • Varicella 2 shot series of immunizations-$60
  • TDaP immunization-$30
  • Comfortable athletic shoes/Clogs [Closed toe and back]-$50-100

Estimated Additional Costs= $850.00

Accreditation information

The surgical assisting technology certificate program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (www.caahep.org) upon the recommendation of Accreditation Review Council on Education in Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting (ARC/STSA).

Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs
9355  113th St. N, #7709
Seminole, FL 33775-7709
www.caahep.org


 

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