Skip to main content

Career Tips & Advice

Surgical Technology - What Does a Surgical Technologist Do?

Concorde Staff

Concorde Staff

Share:
Updated February 19, 2014. The information contained in this blog is current and accurate as of this date.
Lab instruments in tray.

Want the inside scoop? Watch what Ashley, a Concorde graduate, has to say about being a surgical technologist HERE.

A Surgical Technologist is a highly skilled allied health professional who works as an integral part of the surgical team during a surgical procedure.  One of the most critical components of surgical technologist's responsibilities is to maintain a sterile environment before, during and after surgery. By appropriately preparing operating rooms, surgical technologists help lower the rate of infection in patients.

So, what does a surgical technologist do?

Before each procedure, surgical technologists are responsible for gathering the needed supplies and instruments for each procedure, transporting them to the operating room and arranging them in the proper positions.

During every surgical procedure, the surgical technologist is a vital team member who assists the surgeon by handing them the correct instruments and medicines. It is important for a surgical technologist to critically evaluate the situation and think ahead so they can anticipate what the surgeon may need next.

After surgery, a surgical technologist helps remove the patient from the operating room and assists with the clean-up and sterilization of the instruments.

As indicated by the Association of Surgical Technologists (AST), the role of the surgical technologist requires medical technologist training and certification. The AST requires surgical technologists to possess "expertise in the theory and application of sterile and aseptic technique," and that they "combine the knowledge of human anatomy, surgical procedures... to facilitate a physician's performance of invasive therapeutic and diagnostic procedures."

A healthcare profession as a surgical technologist results in the delivery of a sterile environment and the critical thinking skills needed to produce collaboration between operating room team members along with high-quality patient care!

Next Steps?

Interested in learning more about our Surgical Technology program? We have a Concorde representative ready to talk about what matters most to you. Get answers about start dates, curriculum, financial aid, scholarships and more!

  1. Program length may be subject to change dependent on transfer credits and course load. Please refer to current course catalog for more information. Concorde does not guarantee admittance, graduation, subsequent employment or salary amount.

  2. Professional certification is not a requirement for graduation, may not be a requirement for employment nor does it guarantee employment.

  3. Financial aid is available to those who qualify but may not be available for all programs. Concorde does not guarantee financial aid or scholarship awards or amounts.

  4. Clinical hour requirements and delivery may vary by campus location and may be subject to change. Concorde does not guarantee clinical site assignments based upon student preference or geographic convenience; nor do clinical experiences guarantee graduation, post-clinical employment or salary outcomes.

  5. Registration and certification requirements for taking and passing these examinations are not controlled by Concorde, but by outside agencies, and are subject to change by the agency without notice. Therefore, Concorde cannot guarantee that graduates will be eligible to take these exams, at all or at any specific time, regardless of their eligibility status upon enrollment.