A career as a surgical technician is an excellent opportunity for someone who is interested in working in the medical field and offering direct support to doctors, nurses, and patients. They are primarily responsible for ensuring patient safety by properly sterilizing instruments and making sure doctors are adequately equipped for complex procedures. Surgical technicians work as part of the operating room team during patient surgeries and have a wide range of duties before, during, and after surgery.

Before surgeries, surgical technicians are responsible for preparing the operating room and setting up all the necessary sterilized equipment that the doctors and nurses will use. Surgical technicians must have a working knowledge of the many tools that may be needed, as they are responsible for ensuring that they are working properly before the procedure begins. They also have direct interaction with patients, preparing them for surgery by cleaning incision sites, checking their vital statistics, and physically moving them into the operating room.

During surgery, technicians offer general support to doctors and nurses and may be asked to complete any number of tasks, from disposing used medical equipment to running samples to laboratories for testing. After surgery, technicians transfer patients to recovery rooms and prepare the operating room to be used for the next surgery.

This position can be fairly demanding because of the number of duties surgical technicians are responsible for. They spend many hours on their feet, and their work environment can become quite stressful. However, jobs in this field are expected to grow much faster than the average, so committed technicians should have little trouble finding work. Salaries vary depending on work experience and education, but highly skilled surgical technicians can earn salaries of $50,000 a year.

Career Specializations

• Open-Heart Surgery: With experience, some surgical technicians may work in cardiac surgeries; this challenging specialty requires that technicians be able to stay alert and predict the needs of the surgeons they are assisting.
• Delivery Room: In this specialty, surgical technicians assist with the delivery of babies, usually in a hospital setting.
• Neurosurgery: This is another delicate specialty that requires experienced technicians who can provide quick, steady assistance to doctors.
• Dental: Some surgical technicians work as support staff for dentists who perform oral surgery.

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Degree Levels

• Certificate: 1 year to complete
• Associate Degree: 2 years to complete

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Education and Certification Requirements

Most surgical technicians complete between one and two years of school in order to receive their degree and begin working. Students complete general science courses -- biology, anatomy, chemistry --  to give them background for their future working environment. They also complete vocational courses like medical terminology and sterile techniques that prepare them for the day-to-day aspects of working in a hospital, and specifically in an operating room. Effective surgical technicians must be able to communicate quickly and clearly with the medical staff they are assisting, so these courses are essential to training programs.

In addition, most training programs also consist of significant clinical training under the supervision of practicing surgical technicians. Because of the nature of the work, it is key that students understand the difficulties of working in an operating room. Students are able to observe working surgical technicians as they interact with patients, assist doctors, and handle the challenges that arise during surgery.

Professional certification is available and is highly recommended for surgical technicians. Most doctors and hospitals are much more comfortable hiring surgical technicians who have been certified by the National Board of Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting (NBSTSA). Certification is voluntary and demonstrates to employers that technicians have met certain professional standards and have sufficient knowledge and experience. Candidates for certification must have graduated from an approved surgical technology program and must pass a qualifying examination. Certified technicians must keep up a certain level of continuing education or sit for the exam again every four years.

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Salary Information

The median salary for surgical technicians is $38,740; however, this number does vary based on a number of factors such as education, work experience, certification, and specialty. Recent graduates of surgical technology programs will have less work experience and are more likely to be assigned to circulating positions. These technicians assist in all kinds of surgeries, gaining experience and not taking on major assisting roles. Their salary may, therefore, be on the lower end of possible salaries, between $27,000 and $32,000. (BLS)

However, for more experience technicians who have professional certification and have developed a specialty, salaries can be much higher. Surgical technicians working in a specialty facility -- one that performs cardiac surgeries only, for example -- earn a median salary of $40,880. The median salaries for hospitals and outpatient facilities (the two most common work environments) are $$38,640 and $39,660, respectively.

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Job Outlook

Jobs in this field are expected to grow much faster than the average. This is due to a number of factors, but the primary reason is the growing elderly population in the United States. As this group lives longer, they have increased medical issues and often require surgery. With this constant growth, the field is in need of support staff like surgical technicians to ensure quick, safe procedures. In addition, hospitals increasingly rely upon surgical technicians in an effort to reduce nurses and save costs. Employment opportunities will be best for experienced, certified surgical technicians. (BLS)

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Related Careers

Technician positions are widely available throughout the medical field; as the need for medical care increases, doctors and nurses increasingly rely upon support staff to provide them with functioning equipment, patient information, and other essential aid.

Anesthesia Technician: These technicians work in the operating room to assist doctors and deal directly with patients before and after surgery. Their primary focus is supporting anesthesiologists, who administer anesthesia to patients during surgery; technicians ensure the equipment administering the anesthesia is functioning, and check on patients coming out of anesthesia after surgery.

Radiology Technician: Working with X-ray and MRI technology, these technicians work with patients and doctors alike. They operate X-rays and also administer radioactive material to patients as necessary, then communicate the results to doctors for their diagnosis.

Dialysis Technician: Dialysis treatment cleans the kidneys of impurities for patients suffering from renal failure. Technicians operate the medical equipment that does this job and typically spend a significant amount of time with patients obtaining basic information and instructing them on at-home treatment. They are also responsible for maintaining the machines and ensuring sterile use.

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