Job Security as a Surgical Tech?

Answer 1

Performing an operation or surgery requires a team effort. The surgeon is the leader of this team; however, it takes a supporting staff to get the job done successfully. The operating room team is made up of the surgeon, surgical tech, nurse, anesthesiologist, and other technicians. All of these professionals are needed to make the procedure successful.

The surgical tech has a specific role to play in the operating room. This person works side by side the surgeon. The surgeon depends on the surgical tech to hand the proper instruments and tools during the surgical procedure. This must be done quickly and accurately. A mistake can be devastating to the success of the surgery.

Many junior colleges have surgical tech programs that can be completed in 9-12 months. Many colleges also offer an associate degree in surgical technology. Students can complete this program in approximately two years. During the surgical tech coursework, the student will learn human anatomy, medical terminology, and pharmacology.

The surgical tech must be highly familiar with the surgical tools and instruments. The surgical tech must be able to hand the right instrument to the surgeon very quickly. In addition, this professional must be very skilled in sterilization. They have to understand how to maintain a sterile field at all times during the surgical procedure.

A surgical tech must be able to handle the long hours of standing in the operating room. This requires a lot of stamina. Additionally, the surgical technologist must also be able to handle strong odors and graphic sights. This position requires a certain skill set and personality. It is definitely not a position for those with a weak stomach.

Recent predictions indicate that their will be more vacancies in this field. The growing number of older patients will require more operations, and many medical facilities are scrambling to keep up with the demand. The future for surgical techs looks promising.

Salaries are quite lucrative in this field. The lowest paid professionals in surgical technology are around $35,000. Higher salaries can go into the high fifties or sixties. Those that specialize can earn six figure salaries with the right experience and education. The future for surgical technologists looks very good. You can have a long and stable career in this medical field.