Program Description
This course series prepares students to take the national certification exam to become a certified surgical technologist. Surgical Technologists play an integral role in the surgical team in both hospitals and surgi-centers. Under the supervision of a surgeon, responsibilities include room preparation, surgical equipment and supply set-up, and patient transport. They also assist the surgical team with putting on sterile gloves/gowns and passing instruments and other sterile supplies during procedures.
Program Outcomes
CCBC Credential: Students will have access to a Continuing Education academic record (transcript). Students will be awarded a Continuing Education Workforce Training Certificate. Students will be prepared to take the national certification exam administered by the National Board of Surgical Technologists and Surgical Assisting (NBSTSA) to become a certified surgical technologist (CST). This exam is required of all program participants and is included in the cost of the program.
Certifying Organization:
National Board of Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting (NBSTA)
Accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP)
www.caahep.org
727-210-2350; FAX: 727-210-2354
25400 US Highway 19 North, Suite 158
Clearwater, FL 33763
Financial Aid and Payment Options
- Continuing Education Opportunity Grant
- Partial Payment Option (through Nelnet Business Solutions)
- Tuition Waiver for Senior Citizens and Individuals with Disabilities
- Employer/Sponsor Paid Tuition
- Division of Rehabilitation Services (DORS)
- Local Office of Workforce Development
- Pell Funding: Eligible for grants and college loans. Go to www.fafsa.gov to apply for Federal financial aid.
Program Length
18- 24 months
Courses are held at the Randallstown Extension Center starting in February and July.
Program Requirements
All students must be computer literate and have Internet access.
Students must have the following paperwork turned in to the coordinator PRIOR to the end date of Module I:
- Negative PPD (six months) or negative chest x-ray less than one year old
- Positive titer or proof of vaccination/immunity for measles, mumps, rubella and varicella
- Current Flu vaccination
- Hepatitis B vaccination or declination form
- Tetanus shot (less than ten years)
- Copy of health insurance card
- Copy of high school diploma or GED
- Clinical eligibility is in part dependent upon a criminal background check and random urine drug testing. Cost of testing is the responsibility of the student. Go to http://precheck.com/ for more information.
Application Process
Selective Entry - The Surgical Technologist program requires the following application and acceptance process:
1. New Students: Call CCBC Registration at 443-840-2222 or 443-840-4700 to apply for a CCBC Student Identification (ID) number. Application cost is $10.00. After receiving your ID number, proceed to Step 2 below.
2. Go to https://shwa.ccbcmd.edu/ to retrieve your user name and create a password.
3. Go to https://ccbcmd-bb.blackboard.com/ to access the online application.
4. Enter your User Name and Password.
5. Click the “Course” tab at the top of the page. You will see the application course for your area of study on your list: Surgical Technology Series Application - AHC 380
6. Click on the application course and read the instructions on the first page.
7. You must submit the following items by the cutoff date – ‘Assignments’ in Blackboard - to meet all of the requirements for the application:
- Application (2 pages)
- Must be submitted as a .doc, .docx or .rtf
- Scanned copy of one or more of the following:
- High School Diploma or other proof of completion
- GED
- College Transcript
- Other requirements for specific areas of study as detailed in Blackboard
8. Check the Blackboard “Gradebook’ for admissions decision approximately 10 days after the submission deadline.
9. Plan to attend the mandatory orientation for your series as detailed on Blackboard.
Application timeframes:
Course series starting in February: October 1 – November 15
Course series starting in July: March 1 – April 15
Program Course Sequence
HIPAA Training, CPR and First Aid classes REQUIRE 100% attendance. Students arriving late to class will not be admitted. Late arrival to, or early exit from, class will also result in a failing grade and no refund. Students will then be required to retake the class at their expense.
Course Number
|
Course Title
|
Course Hours
|
Costs
T=Tuition/F=Fees
|
Textbook Information
(approximate cost; subject to change) **
|
Prerequisites (not covered by Pell funding):
|
AHE 534
or
AHE124
|
Medical Terminology for Health Occupations
or online
|
30
|
$329
T-$147/F-$182
$339
T-$147/F $192
|
Medical Terminology – A Short Course in Medical Terminology 3rd edition. Publisher Wolters Kluwer. Author C. Edward Collins.
ISBN 978-1-4511-7606-3 $67.75
|
AHE 519
or
AHE 672
|
Anatomy and Physiology
or
Anatomy and Physiology Online
|
30
|
$329
T-$147/F-$182
or
$355
T-$159/F-$196
|
Anatomy & Physiology – The Human Body in Health & Disease 7th edition. Publisher Elsevier. Author Patton & Thibodeau.
ISBN 978-0-323-402118 $74.60
|
AHC 360
or
AHL 719
|
HIPAA Training
or
HIPAA Training Online
|
4
|
$89
T-$21/F-$68
or
$109
T-$21/F-$88
|
Handouts online
|
WOS 064
|
Basic Math for Health Care Workers
|
10
|
$145
T-$55/F-$90
|
Handouts online
|
AHE 805
|
CPR For Health Care Providers
|
7
|
$109
T-$52/F-$57
|
Handouts provided
|
AHL 140 |
Essential Skills for the Healthcare Professional |
20 |
$179.
T-90/F-$89
|
Handouts Provided |
Prerequisite Totals:
|
101
|
$1180 - $1236
T-$512-$524
F-$668-$712
|
$142.35
|
Module I:
|
AHL 845
|
Introduction to Surgical Technology
|
42
|
$660
T-$237/F-$423
|
Surgical Technology for the Surgical Technologist bundled with Study Guide/Lab Manual; must be 5th edition; published by Delmar; 9781337759793 $260.00
|
AHL 846
|
Introduction to Suture and Surgical Instrumentation
|
36
|
$550
T-$237/F-$313
|
Surgical Instrumentation: An Interactive Approach;2nd edition; Renee Nemitz. Published by Elseveir. ISBN 1455707195. $85.00
|
AHL 847
|
Microbiology for Surgical Technology
|
36
|
$660
T-$237/F-$423
|
Microbiology for Surgical Technologists; published by Delmar;2nd ed.ISBN 9781111306663.$157.00
|
AHL 136
(Formerly AHL848)
|
Pharmacology for the Surgical Technologist
|
36
|
$660
T-$237/F-$423
|
Pharmacology for the Surgical Technologist;4th ed. ISNB 9780323340830 ; published by Elsevier; $72.50
|
Module I Totals:
|
150
|
$2530
T-$948/F-$1582
|
$574.50
|
Module II:
|
AHL 849
|
Surgical Anatomy and Pathology I
|
48
|
$770
T-$237/F-$533
|
Same as AHL 845 & AHL 846
|
AHL 851
|
Surgical Pathology and Procedures I
|
48
|
$770
T-$237F-$533
|
Same as AHL 845 & AHL 846
|
AHL 853
|
Surgical Technology II
|
42
|
$659
T-$236/F-$423
|
Same as AHL 845
|
AHE 715
|
Technological Sciences for the Surgical Technologist
|
18
|
$248
T-$78/F-$170
|
Same as AHL 845 & AHL 846
|
Module II Totals:
|
156
|
$2447
T-$788/F-$1659
|
$0
|
Module III:
|
AHL 854
|
Introduction to the Hospital Setting
|
63
|
$660
T-$247/F-$413
|
Same as AHL 845 & AHL 846
|
AHL 855
|
Surgical Technology Skills Laboratory
|
94
|
$770
T-$325/F-$445
|
Same as AHL 845 & AHL 846
|
AHL 850
|
Surgical Anatomy and Pathology II
|
48
|
$550
T-$220/F-$330
|
Same as AHL 845 & AHL 846
|
AHL 852
|
Surgical Pathology and Procedures II
|
48
|
$550
T-$220/F-$330
|
Same as AHL 845 & AHL 846
|
Module III Totals:
|
253
|
$2530
T-$1012/F-$1518
|
$0
|
Module IV:
|
|
|
|
AHL 856
AHL 857
AHL 858
AHL 859
|
Surgical Technology Clinical A-D
|
400
(100 each)
|
$2440
($610 each)
T-$768/F-$1672
|
Pocket Guide to the Operating Room; published by FA Davis; 0803612265; $54.00
|
AHE 714
|
Surgical Technology Capstone
|
48
|
$230
T-$110/F-$120
|
Surgical Technology Exam Review
|
Module IV Totals:
|
448
|
$2670
T-$878/F-$1792
|
$54.00
|
Course Series Totals:
|
1007
|
$10179
T-$3626/F-$6551
|
$628.50
|
Course Series & Prerequisite Totals:
|
1108
|
$11359-$11415
T-$4138-$4150
F-$7219-$7263
|
$770.85
|
Additional Information
Course Substitutions:
Medical Terminology AHE 534 can be substituted with OFAD 141, or ALHL 115, or AHL 717.
Anatomy and Physiology AHE 519 can be substituted with AHE 672, or AHL 715, or BIOL 109, or BIOL 220 and BIOL 221.
HIPAA AHC 360 can be substituted with AHL 719 or AHC 356.
Basic Math WOS 064 can be substituted with AHL 716 or MATH 083.
Additional Expenses:
Students are responsible for the cost of all medical testing, background check, drug screening, and scrubs/uniforms. An estimate of these costs is $600. Students are required to purchase non-prescription safety eyeware at a minimal cost online, or from a retailer for skills practice prior to the start of Module I. An estimate of this cost is $2.99 - $30.00.
Skills for Success:
See Technical Standards at the end of this document.
Career Opportunities:
Students may be able to move into a position of surgical first assistant with extra training at a CAAHEP or ABHES accredited institution. They can also teach, become supervisors in the surgical department, or pursue a career in the medical device industry.
Additional Information:
Additional information may be found at the Association of Surgical Technologists website http://www.ast.org/
Program Contact Information
Coordinator:
Amy Flagler
aflager@ccbcmd.edu
443-840-2774
Randallstown, Room 192
Administrative Assistant:
Carole Parlett
cparlett@ccbcmd.edu
443-840-1887
Randallstown Campus
Technical Standards
Technical Standards for CCBC’s Surgical Technology Training Series
The primary goal of The Community College of Baltimore County’s Surgical Technology Series is to adequately prepare students for an entry-level position in the operating room functioning as a surgical technologist. The duties of a surgical technologist require the ability to stand for long hours while constantly being focused on the task at hand. They need to exercise safe practices while exposed to unpleasant sights, odors, materials, and communicable diseases. Their duties also require them to be detail oriented and to work accurately and quickly. A high level of manual dexterity, psychomotor skills, and integrity are vital.
Following is a partial listing of the types of skills usually required for adequate job performance:
Physical Requirements:
A. Sufficient strength and mobility to:
- Lift and position anesthetized patients
- Move swiftly within close quarters while maintaining the sterile field
- Lift large instrument trays weighing up to 30 pounds
- Stand in one small area for long periods of time
B. Fine motor coordination sufficient to perform precise and delicate tasks such as:
- Handle delicate surgical instruments
- Safely handle surgical and hypodermic needles
- Manipulate instruments while attached to body tissues
C. Adequate vision to:
- Visualize and control fine surgical needles and suture
- Identify fine microsurgical instruments
- Read medication labels at least one foot away
- Visualize the operative field in detail
- Read instruction sheets and computer screens
D. Sufficient hearing to:
- Hear and understand verbal instructions under noisy conditions from masked personnel
- Hear alarms and operating noises of surgical equipment
Interpersonal Skills and Professionalism:
A. Have the ability to:
- Work in a professional manner as a member of the surgical team under extremely stressful situations
- Remain calm and perform as trained during emergency and life and death situations
- Interact in a professional manner with many personalities and attitudes and with people from many different backgrounds
- Respect and protect patient rights and confidentiality without regard to personal beliefs and judgments
- Maintain proper certifications required to perform the duties of the profession
- Maintain a surgical conscience
- Willingness to precept others
- Commitment to working shifts as assigned, which may include on-call, holidays, and weekends
B. Sufficient communication skills to:
- Give and receive accurate written and verbal instructions
- Carry out all written and verbal instructions
- Follow proper channels of communication
- Communicate in a calm and professional manner
- Accurately interpret the patient’s needs
- Communicate clearly and effectively to any team members regarding breaches in sterile technique
- Provide patient/public education related to the profession of surgical technology
Intellectual ability and emotional stability to:
- Exercise independent judgment to properly care for the surgical patient
- Accurately utilize all resource material available to prepare for a surgical procedure
- Accurately identify, calculate dosage, and transfer medications
- Work calmly and efficiently in stressful situations
- Maintain calm during emergency situations
- Perform duties while exposed to communicable diseases and unpleasant sights, odors, and materials
- Accept feedback from others
- Complete program requirements
Environment Requirements:
A. Surgical technology work involves risks and/or discomforts that require special safety precautions including, but not limited to:
- Wearing gowns, caps, masks, gloves, and eye protection
- Providing proof of recent immunizations against infectious diseases such as measles, mumps, and rubella
- Receiving Hepatitis B vaccine and annual testing for exposure to tuberculosis
- Submitting to periodic drug screening
- Being exposed to bio-hazardous materials (blood)