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When it comes time to perform surgery, it takes an entire team of dedicated professionals to ensure a successful operation. While doctors may perform the actual procedure, they couldn't do their jobs without the support of trained operating room technicians. As the health care industry continues to grow, the Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that demand for operating room technicians, also known as surgical technologists, will increase by 25 percent from 2008 to 2018.
What Does an Operating Room Technician Do?
Operating room technicians may go by a number of different names including surgical technologists, scrubs or surgical room technicians. They are responsible for assisting doctors and nurses before, during and after a medical operation. For example, an operating room technician may be responsible for setting up sterile equipment and ensuring that it is working properly. The technician may also help prepare the patient by sterilizing incision sites and transporting the individual to the operating room.
During the surgery, an operating room technician will pass surgical instruments to doctors as needed, cut sutures, prepare specimens for laboratory analysis and apply dressings. In addition, they may be responsible for counting equipment, such as sponges and needles, to ensure that all equipment is properly disposed. After surgery, the operating room technician may transfer the patient to a recovery room before cleaning and restocking the surgical room.
What Are the Steps to Becoming an Operating Room Technician?
For those looking to step into a new career quickly, becoming an operating room technician may be an excellent choice. Most training programs in the field can be completed in less than two years with some taking as little as nine months. Operating room technician programs may be offered by:
Choosing a program that has been accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) allows you to go on to become certified as a surgical technician after graduation. As of 2008, more than 450 programs nationwide had received this accreditation. While admission requirements may vary, most accredited programs require that you have a high school diploma or GED before enrolling.
During the training, you will receive instruction in a number of subjects including:
After completing the program, you will graduate with a certificate, diploma or associate's degree, depending on the training you received.
Many operating room technicians choose to take a national examination and become certified before entering the workforce as most employers prefer to hire certified technicians. However, certification is optional and not required by law to work as a technician.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that 71 percent of surgical technologists work in hospitals. Others might work for physicians' and dentists' offices that perform outpatient procedures. Some technicians are known as "private scrubs", which means they are employed directly by a surgeon who wants to work with a specialized surgical team.
How to Become a Great Operating Room Technician
Once you have completed your education and started your career, it is only natural to consider what type of promotions and advancement options might be available. To excel as an operating room technician and be considered for better-paying positions, try one of the following:
Become Certified: Although voluntary, most employers prefer to hire certified operating room technicians. There are two certification opportunities available to operating room technicians.
The first is offered by the National Board of Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting (NBSTSA), formerly the Liaison Council on Certification for the Surgical Technologist. After you have graduated from a CAAHEP accredited program, you can sit for the council's national certification examination. Once you have passed the exam, you can work as a Certified Surgical Technologist. These technicians must complete sixty hours of continuing education during a four-year period and pass a certifying exam every four years to maintain certification.
The National Center for Competency Testing (NCCT) also offers certification for operating room technicians. There are three ways individuals can become eligible to take the center's certification exam:
Technicians who become certified by the NCCT can use the designation Tech in Surgery-Certified, or TS-C. You must renew the certification every five years by either taking continuing education courses or re-taking the examination.
Specialize: Operating room technicians who are in the most demand are those who specialize. For example, they may focus on complex procedures such as neurosurgery or liver surgery. Certified Surgical Technologists may also act as surgical first assistants who offer additional services to the surgeon.
In 2009, surgical technologists earned an average annual salary of $40,170 according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. However, actual incomes for operating room technicians could range from $27,910 to $55,620 depending on education, certification, experience and location.
Operating room technicians offer a vital service to physicians and patients across the country. Selecting a short-term technician training program can be the best way to not only find a rewarding career but also make a difference in the quality of life for others.
Resources for Operating Room Technicians
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