Where It All Begins
Surgical technologists are allied health professionals, who are an integral part of the team of medical practitioners providing surgical care to patients. Surgical technologists work under the supervision of a surgeon to facilitate the safe and effective conduct of invasive surgical procedures, ensuring that the operating room environment is safe, that equipment functions properly, and that the operative procedure is conducted under conditions that maximize patient safety. Surgical technologists possess expertise in the theory and application of sterile and aseptic technique and combine the knowledge of human anatomy, surgical procedures, and implementation tools and technologies to facilitate a physician’s performance of invasive therapeutic and diagnostic procedures. (AST 2013)
This is a physically demanding job that requires standing for extended periods of time with no breaks and requires the ability to perform under pressure in very stressful and emergency situations. Surgical technologist must maintain a strong knowledge of human anatomy and procedural steps to allow them to anticipate the needs of surgeons in ever-changing environments.