National Surgical Tech Week 2015: September 20 – 26

Sep. 21, 2015

• Ancillary Services

National Surgical Technologists Week is a yearly event to recognize how surgical techs are changing the face of medicine, explains the Association of Surgical Technologies. This year, National Surgical Technologists Week will take place from September 20-26, 2015, and Concorde is celebrating along with our Surg Tech students! We want to help raise awareness for this growing field and show our surgical tech students and alums how much they are appreciated. Take a look at some of the good information about surgical techs below.

SALARY OF SURGICAL TECHS

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics' Occupational Outlook Handbook, surgical techs earn an average of $41,790 per year. Surgical techs may make more by working through an agency, working in the military or in other settings.

DEMAND FOR SURGICAL TECHS

According to the BLS, in 2012, there were almost 100,000 surgical tech jobs in the United States, and this number is expected to climb by 30 percent by 2022, which is much faster than the national average for all jobs (11 percent). This means the U.S. will need about 29,300 more surgical techs within the next seven years.

WHAT DOES A SURGICAL TECH DO?

Surgical techs assist the health care team in the operating room to ensure a successful surgery. This may include the following duties:

• Preparing operating rooms for surgery
• Sterilizing equipment and gathering supplies for surgery
• Preparing patients for surgery, such as shaving, disinfecting and educating patients about their surgery
• Maintaining an accurate inventory of all materials used during the surgery

Surgical techs are an integral member of a surgery team. Without surgical techs, a patient would be more likely to enter surgery in a non-sterile environment or worry about her surgeon’s ability to have all of the necessary supplies ready.

This month, National Surgical Technologists Week will recognize the vital role of surgical techs in surgery. Hospitals across the country will be passing out pens, accessories, scrub caps and more as a sign of their appreciation for surgical techs. Many employers may even be having recognition dinners. If the responsibilities of being a surgical tech appeal to you, contact Concorde Career College for information about entering this growing field. We're here to help!

Every week is Surgical Technician Appreciation Week at Concorde. Let one of our career counselors show you what this career could mean to your future.