Surgical and Sterile Prep Technicians are members of the surgical and support teams working under the
supervision and authority of the surgeon within the scope of practice of state law and hospital policy.
These surgical team members help prepare the operating room by setting up sterile surgical instruments,
equipment, supplies, and medications. They check to ensure that all equipment is in the proper place and
working properly. They also assist the surgeon in donning PPE as well as transport the patient to the OR,
position and drape the patient for the specific procedure, prepare the skin for the procedure, and assist the
surgeon as needed during the procedure. The sterile processing part of the job requires workers to perform
and participate in decontamination, cleaning, assembling, packaging, scanning, sterilization, storage, and
distribution of reusable surgical instrumentation and equipment.
This course provides an introduction to the surgical technologist career, role in the operating room, and
foundational concepts. Course content includes medical terminology and
anatomy and physiology foundations, reading and interpreting prescriptions and defining generic and
brand names drugs, understanding central service processing in healthcare facilities, microbiology and infection protection, instrument and equipment transport, cleaning, and decontamination and much more! This course covers the
following key areas and topics:
- Operating room roles and responsibilities
- Medical terminology, human anatomy, physiology, and medical conditions.
- Proper infection control procedures and practices for patient care
- Sterile surgical environment
- Surgical instruments, equipment, supplies, materials, and medications for general and specialized
surgical procedures.
- Preparing the patient for a surgical procedure
- Caring for the patient during a surgical procedure
- Caring for the patient after the surgical procedure.
- Preparing the surgical environment for specific procedures.
- Selected surgical procedures including the role of the surgical technologist.
- Medical laws and ethics related to surgical procedures
- Effective communication and patient care strategies
- SPD functions and safety precautions
- Health and safety regulations, standards, and guidelines that apply to the processing of medical
devices and instrumentation
- Anatomy and physiology relate to the work performed in the sterile processing department
- Basic factors in disease transmission and defenses against infection
- Regulated medical waste and non-infectious waste
- Bloodborne pathogens
- Quality decontamination processes
- Personal protective equipment (PPE) as it relates to OSHA regulations and employee safety and
health
- Chemical disinfection functions
- Disinfecting agents used in the decontamination process
- Disassembly, cleaning, disinfecting, inspecting, reassembling, testing, storing, and distributing
movable patient care equipment
- Instruments sets, preparating basins and textile packs
Program Objectives
After completing this program, learners will be able to:
- Explain the role of the surgical technician in the operating room and as part of the surgical team.
- Use proper medical terminology based in human anatomy, physiology, and medical conditions.
- Explain proper infection control procedures and practices required in patient care and in the sterile
surgical environment.
- Identify the surgical instruments, equipment, supplies, materials, and medications used in general
and specialized surgical procedures.
- Explain the procedures performed in preparing the patient for a surgical procedure, caring for the
patient during a surgical procedure, and caring for the patient after the surgical procedure.
- Explain how to prepare the surgical environment for specific surgical procedures.
- Explain selected surgical procedures including the role of the surgical technologist.
- Discuss the medical laws and ethics related to surgical procedures and the surgical technologist
position.
- Explain effective communication and patient care strategies used for a variety of surgical patients
including those with special needs.
- Describe various functions of SPD
- Identify the health and safety regulations, standards, and guidelines that apply to the processing of
medical devices and instrumentation
- Define anatomy and physiology, explain how they are related, and understand how anatomy and
physiology relate to the work performed in the sterile processing department
- Understand the basic factors in disease transmission
- Describe the body’s defenses against infection and the factors that affect the body’s susceptibility to
disease
- Distinguish between regulated medical waste and non-infectious waste
- Explain bloodborne pathogens and the safety precautions necessary in SPD
- Outline the standards required for a quality decontamination process
- Understand the appropriate dress code and the role of personal protective equipment (PPE) as it
relates to OSHA regulations and employee safety and health
- Describe functions performed during chemical disinfection
- Describe the procedures that must be followed and the precautions that must be observed during the
preparation and use of the variety of disinfecting agents used in the decontamination process
- Identify the processes needed to effectively disassemble, clean, disinfect, inspect, reassemble, test,
store, and distribute movable patient care equipment
- Understand the organization of instruments sets and the preparation of basins and textile packs
Certification Opportunities
Southeast New Mexico College's Surgical Tech Certificate Program is certified by both National Center for Competency Testing (NCCT) and American Allied Health (AAH). In addition to successfully completing the certification exam, certified candidates may be required to submit additional documentation to maintain certification. NCCT is a nationally accredited surgical technologist credentialing organization. After completing this program, learners will have the opportunity to take a certification exam(s) essential to entry-level employment in this fast-growing field.
Disclaimer: This Surgical Technologist program is approved by the National Center for Competency Testing (NCCT) and American Allied Health (AAH). This is not an associate degree and/or Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) - approved program, which requires a 1 to 2-year associate degree credit program. However, there are multiple employment opportunities for students in the following job titles including but not limited to:
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Surgical Technician (ST)
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Operating Room Assistant (ORA)
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Surgical Scrub Technician (SST)
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Peri-Operative Assistant (POA)
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Endoscopy Technician (ET)
Prospective students are advised that Southeast New Mexico College cannot guarantee that any particular employer will accept NCCT or AAH certification for employment purposes. Prior to enrolling students should determine whether NCCT and/or AAH certification is sufficient for the type of employment (and/or the employer) that the prospective student is seeking.
Optional Volunteer Externship Opportunity
Learners who complete this program are eligible to participate in an optional volunteer externship opportunity with a local company/agency/organization whose work aligns with this area of study in order to gain valuable hands-on experience. As learners progress through their eLearning program, an Externship Coordinator will reach out to coordinate placement.
Note: Additional documentation including health records, immunizations, drug-screening, criminal background checks, etc. may be required by the externship facility.
