Surgical Technology

Mission

The mission of the Surgical Technologist program is to train the student as an integral part of the team of medical practitioners providing surgical care to patients in operating room procedures.

This mission statement is reviewed twice annually by the Surgical Technology advisory committee. Recommendations for change are recorded in the advisory committee minutes and changes are reflected in any printed material after revision.

Objectives

The objectives of the Surgical Technologist program are as follows:

• Provide current curriculum, instructional materials, and equipment which are used to teach knowledge (cognitive), skills (psychomotor) and attitudes (affective) appropriate to the needs of the industry for an entry level Surgical Technologist.
• Provide educational facilities which foster learning and provide safe, healthy environment available and accessible to all students who can benefit from the program.
• Provide academic instruction which supports effective learning within the program and which enhances professional performance on the job.
• Provide workplace readiness skills which foster appropriate working attitudes working habits and problem-solving skills that will enable graduates of the program to perform as good employees.
• Nurture the desire for learning so graduates will pursue their own continuing education as a lifelong endeavor.
• Provide an educational atmosphere which promotes a positive self-image and a sense of personal well-being.
• Provide education that fosters development and application of good safety habits.
• Provide admission, educational and placement services without regard to race, color, creed, ethnic or national origin, religion, sex, age, disability, marital status, academic disadvantage, or economic disadvantage.
• Provide information to the public regarding the program that will facilitate recruitment and enrollment of students.
• Promote good public relations via contacts and regular communications with business, industry, and the public sector.
• Promote faculty and student rapport and communications to enhance student success in the program.
• Prepare students to successfully pass the National Surgical Technologist certifying examination.

Pre-Admission Conferences

Each student must attend a Surgical Technology Pre-Admission Conference and obtain a verification form with the signature of the presenter to complete the packet for selective admissions. You must attend a preadmission conference the year you are applying; however, we suggest attending one prior to the application year so that you know the requirements of the program.

Please note the pre-admission conferences are only offered once in the fall and once in the spring semesters, so plan accordingly.

View Pre-Admission Conference Schedule

Selective Admissions Information

The application deadline is May 1st each year for Admission to the Fall Cohort; October 1st of each year for Admission to the Spring Cohort!

Before completing your application it is recommended you meet with Kevin Craycraft and Rebekah Travis.

The nature of the selection process for any Selective Admissions program at Bluegrass Community and Technical College is a competitive process. All applicants meeting the appropriate academic requirements shall be considered equally for admission regardless of economic or social status, race, color, religion, sex, marital status, beliefs, age, national origin, sexual orientation, or physical or mental disability.

The Surgical Technology program is a selective admission health program. The purpose of the selective admissions process is to create a ranking system that allows us to identify students who are most likely to succeed in Surgical Technology Program. This system has been adopted to increase pass rates, meet accreditation standards, eliminate waiting list and to promote student success. This ranking will be used to create a priority admissions list, not an exclusion list. Therefore, all students are eligible to apply to the Surgical Technology program and be ranked by the selective admission criteria.

All expenses are approximate cost.

The Surgical Technology program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) will act upon the recommendation from the Accreditation Review Committee on Education in Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting (ARC-STSA) and students receiving a Degree will eligible to sit for the Surgical Technologist Certifying Exam to receive certification from The National Board of Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting (NBSTSA).

• Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) upon the recommendation of Accreditation Review Committee on Education in Surgical Technology. 9355 - 113th St. N, #7709 Seminole, FL 33775 Phone (727) 210-2350.
  www.caahep.org
  
• Accreditation Review Council on Education in Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting (ARC/STSA),
  6 West Dry Creek Circle, Suite 110; Littleton, CO 80120
  Phone: (303) 694-9262
  www.arcstsa.org
  
  
• National Board on Certification for Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting (NBSTSA)
  3 West Dry Creek Circle, Littleton, CO 80120;
  Phone: (800) 707-0057
  www.nbstsa.org

Accreditation Review Council on Education in Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting (ARC-STSA) is the accrediting body for Surgical Technology programs nationwide.

The mission of the ARC-STSA is to provide recognition for the quality of the education programs in its system to the public. The ARC/STSA is the only CAAHEP-recognized Committee on Accreditation for education programs in surgical technology and surgical assisting.

You can learn about the Association of Surgical Technologists (AST) from their website.

AST collaborates with the Accreditation Review Council on Education in Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting (ARC/STSA) to set standards for education, such as the associate degree as the preferred level of entry into the profession.

AST partners with the National Board of Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting (NBSTSA) on behalf of the CST and CSFA credentials.

AST provides lobbying support at the state and national levels to advocate for legislative recognition of graduation from an accredited program in surgical technology and holding/maintaining the Certified Surgical Technologist credential as a condition of employment, and for similar regulation of, and reimbursement for, non-physician surgical assistants.

AST provides continuing education opportunities to advance the knowledge and skills base of practicing surgical technologists and surgical assistants through a national Journal and an annual conference.

AST offers national recognition through National Surgical Technologist Week, a week that has been specifically designated to celebrate and honor the professions. It began by a resolution adopted by the AST Board of Directors in 1984.

AST provides a brochure entitled Certified Surgical Technologists Are Vital Members of the Operating Room Team. It describes the surgical technologist in sterile and non-sterile roles, as well as how they participate in case management. In addition, this brochure discusses the role of AST and the importance of accreditation and certification.

As part of being an accredited program thru Accreditation Review Council on Education in Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting All accredited programs must publish the ARC/STSA approved Outcomes Assessment Exam (OAE) pass-rate from the program's Annual Report.

National Occupational Outlook

Surgical Technology Occupational Outlook Handbook

Bluegrass Occupational Outlook

• Surgical Technology (new window)