What Do Surgical Technologist Do?
Position Description Assist in operations, under the supervision of surgeons, registered nurses, or other surgical personnel. May help set up operating room, prepare and transport patients for surgery, adjust lights and equipment, pass instruments and other supplies to surgeons and surgeon’s assistants, hold retractors, cut sutures, and help count sponges, needles, supplies, and instruments.
Life As a Surgical Technologist
- Operate, assemble, adjust, or monitor sterilizers, lights, suction machines, or diagnostic equipment to ensure proper operation.
- Clean and restock operating room, gathering and placing equipment and supplies and arranging instruments according to instructions, such as a preference card.
- Wash and sterilize equipment, using germicides and sterilizers.
- Maintain files and records of surgical procedures.
- Count sponges, needles, and instruments before and after operation.
- Scrub arms and hands and assist the surgical team to scrub and put on gloves, masks, and surgical clothing.
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Surgical Technologist Required Skills
These are the skills Surgical Technologists say are the most useful in their careers:
Monitoring: Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Operation Monitoring: Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
Coordination: Adjusting actions in relation to others’ actions.
Time Management: Managing one’s own time and the time of others.
Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Types of Surgical Technologist Jobs
- Surgeon’s Assistant
- Surgical Technician
- Surgical Technologist (Surgical Tech)
- Operating Room Technician (OR Tech)
- Surgery Technician (Surgery Tech)
What Kind of Surgical Technologist Job Opportunities Are There?
There were about 107,700 jobs for Surgical Technologist in 2016 (in the United States). New jobs are being produced at a rate of 11.7% which is above the national average. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 12,600 new jobs for Surgical Technologist by 2026. The BLS estimates 10,000 yearly job openings in this field.
The states with the most job growth for Surgical Technologist are Utah, Arizona, and Colorado. Watch out if you plan on working in Illinois, Rhode Island, or Connecticut. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.
Surgical Technologist Average Salary
The typical yearly salary for Surgical Technologists is somewhere between $32,870 and $69,170.
Surgical Technologists who work in Alaska, California, or District of Columbia, make the highest salaries.
How much do Surgical Technologists make in different U.S. states?
| State | Annual Mean Salary |
|---|---|
| Alabama | $36,630 |
| Alaska | $63,930 |
| Arizona | $50,680 |
| Arkansas | $42,720 |
| California | $60,940 |
| Colorado | $53,620 |
| Connecticut | $56,750 |
| Delaware | $47,250 |
| District of Columbia | $59,280 |
| Florida | $44,030 |
| Georgia | $44,830 |
| Hawaii | $54,240 |
| Idaho | $51,330 |
| Illinois | $49,730 |
| Indiana | $45,640 |
| Iowa | $41,080 |
| Kansas | $42,290 |
| Kentucky | $45,520 |
| Louisiana | $39,990 |
| Maine | $46,450 |
| Maryland | $56,130 |
| Massachusetts | $55,440 |
| Michigan | $43,280 |
| Minnesota | $58,630 |
| Mississippi | $39,700 |
| Missouri | $43,070 |
| Montana | $49,440 |
| Nebraska | $45,280 |
| Nevada | $59,040 |
| New Hampshire | $50,660 |
| New Jersey | $53,740 |
| New Mexico | $44,110 |
| New York | $55,310 |
| North Carolina | $43,940 |
| North Dakota | $45,000 |
| Ohio | $47,400 |
| Oklahoma | $41,800 |
| Oregon | $54,280 |
| Pennsylvania | $44,940 |
| Rhode Island | $50,700 |
| South Carolina | $39,970 |
| South Dakota | $40,970 |
| Tennessee | $43,860 |
| Texas | $49,410 |
| Utah | $44,300 |
| Vermont | $43,880 |
| Virginia | $50,790 |
| Washington | $58,320 |
| West Virginia | $37,390 |
| Wisconsin | $53,870 |
| Wyoming | $43,430 |
Tools & Technologies Used by Surgical Technologists
Below is a list of the types of tools and technologies that Surgical Technologists may use on a daily basis:
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Word
- Microsoft Office
- Email software
- Word processing software
- Microsoft Windows
- Database software
- MEDITECH software
- Graphics software
- Google Drive
- Electronic medical record EMR software
- Internet browser software
- Patient tracking software
- Supply documentation software
- Surgery workflow communication software
- Nursing documentation software
- Patient scheduling software
How do I Become a Surgical Technologist?
What education or degrees do I need to become a Surgical Technologist?
How many years of work experience do I need?
Where Surgical Technologists Are Employed
Surgical Technologists work in the following industries:
Related Careers
Those who work as a Surgical Technologist sometimes switch careers to one of these choices:
References:
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