STANDARD COMPETENCIES:

 

 1. Trace the historical development of surgical technology.

 2. Compare and contrast working conditions, personal characteristics, problem-solving skills, surgical team members,

         professionalism, communication and teamwork.

 3. Classify hospitals and organizations related to hospitals, healthcare, and surgical services.

 4. Summarize standards of conduct, general legal terms, consent for surgery, documentation, ethical and moral issues,

         scope of practice, and risk management liability.

 5. Recognize the surgical patient’s needs, causes of surgical intervention, patient responses, death and dying, and cultural

         and religious influences.

 6. Analyze special populations, surgical considerations, the “golden hour”, and how the trauma system works.

 7. Evaluate physical environment and safety standards, general, biological, radiological and chemical hazards, biological warfare,

         and all-hazards preparedness associated with disasters or public health emergencies, regulatory agencies, and safety considerations.

 8. Describe biomedical sciences including computers, electricity, physics, surgical robots, and how these affect

         the role of the surgical technologist.

 9. Compare and Contrast pathogens and infections associated with surgical site infections (SSI), methods of transmissions,

         and factors that increase risks.

 10. Discuss the relationship between the principles of asepsis and practice of sterile technique and surgical patient care,

         including developing a surgical conscience.

 11. Distinguish disinfection principles and routines, environmental decontamination, and event related sterility including how to disinfect,

        decontaminate, and sterilize instrumentation.

 12. Discuss hemostasis and blood replacement, factors affecting hemostasis, indications for emergency situations, cardiopulmonary resuscitation

         and arrest in the surgical setting, malignant hyperthermia prevention and treatment and anaphylactic reactions.

 13. Apply principles of wound care, types and classification of wounds, inflammatory and healing processes, factors influencing

         wound healing, and complications.

 14. Assess the action, uses, and modes of administration of drugs and anesthetic agents, side effects and contraindications, safe practice in

         transferring drugs and solutions, convert equivalents from one system to another and accurately identify, mix, and measure drugs.

 15. Discuss surgical case management.

 16. Assess errors that may occur in the operating room and devise a plan for investigation, correction, and notification.

 

 TOPICAL OUTLINE:

 

 I. Introduction to Surgical Technology

      a. Orientation to Surgical Technology

      b. Standards of Conduct: Legal Concepts, Risk Management and Ethical Issues

      c. The Surgical Patient

      d. Special Populations

      e. Physical Environment and Safety Standards

 II. Principles and Practice of Surgical Technology

      a. Biomedical Science

      b. Asepsis and Sterile Technique: Preventing Perioperative Disease Transmission

      c.   Hemostasis, Emergency Situations, and All Hazards Preparation

      d. Surgical Pharmacology and Anesthesia

      e. Instrumentation, Equipment, and Supplies

      f. Wound Healing, Sutures, Needles, and Stapling Devices

      g. Surgical Case Management