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What Kind of Career Can You Expect?
A Certified Surgical Technician (CST) assists in the operating room preparing instruments and supplies, passing them to the surgeon, anticipating and meeting physician needs, and ensuring patient safety throughout the procedure. The stakes are always high in the operating room and the job can involve stressful, pressure-filled situations. The rewards of a job well done are worth the effort. The CST enables lives to be saved and witnesses momentous changes in patients’ health every day.
What is the Outlook for Job Opportunities and Pay?
The American Surgical Technologist predicted that the national need for surgical technicians will continue to increase.
Salary starts at approximately $15 per hour and can increase after probationary periods per individual hospital. National salaries range from $18 to $20 per hour.
What Skills, Traits, or Prep Classes Would be Helpful?
– A desire to serve others
– Ability to stand for extended periods of time
– Excellent hearing and sight
– Fluency in the English language- write, speak and understand.
– Ability to function safely, effectively, and calmly in stressful situations
– Basic science, such as biology, anatomy and physiology, and medical terminology.
– Computer literacy
What Will You Learn to Do?
– Sterilize, disinfect, and pass surgical instruments.
– Understand surgical procedures and anticipate the needs of the surgeon.
– Ensure quality patient care during the operative procedure.
– Set up sterile table with instruments, supplies, equipment, and medications/solutionsprior to operation.
– Gown and glove surgeon and assistants.
– Prepare sterile dressings and help drape a sterile field.
– Vigilantly maintain a sterile field during surgery.
– Count supplies prior to surgery and before incision is closed.
– Assist other team members with terminal cleaning of room.
– Help prepare surgical room for next patient.
This is a three semester program that starts in June. The first (summer semester) involves Anatomy and Physiology, Communications, Medical Terminology and Math. The fall semester is a combination of didactic and lab with an introduction to the hospitals. The third semester involves classroom time as well as 3 days per week in the hospitals
Steps to Apply
1. Complete a Boise State application and submit the $30.00 application fee. If you are currently a student at Boise State you must submit a new application for admission, however, you will not be charged and additional application fee. Important: when you complete a new application please indicate " professional/technical" as your program of choice and "Surgical Technology" as your major.
2. Submit official transcripts from all schools you have attended included high schools.
3. Complete the COMPASS placement test at our Boise or Nampa locations. (If you have a recent ACT or SAT score or have attended college before you may not need to take the COMPASS - Call us for details). If required to take the compass, you must have the following minimum program admission scores:
Reading- 74
Writing- 60
Math- 45 or equivalent ACT, SAT, or course work.
If you have taken the ACT or SAT or have earned college credits in English and Math and have earned at least 14 academic college credits you may not have to take the COMPASS assessment. Call our office to speak with an enrollment specialist about your particular situation.
4. Submit 3 Health application reference forms. (Please print and complete forms for submission) Reference forms must be filled out and mailed directly to us from your references. Please provide individuals who send reference information about you to us with an envelope addressed to us that is stamped. The person who provides the reference must sign their name across the back seal of their envelope and mail the form to us.
5. Submit supplementary Surgical Technology application.
6. All of the above materials must be submitted prior to March 1st to be considered for the coming program year.
In addition to the forms:
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A mandatory information session, followed by an interview, is required for all applicants.
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Information session and interviews are held after the March 1st deadline.
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There are 16 students chosen from the final pool of qualified applicants.
All clinical programs are required to have a "clean" background check for admission.
Students are admitted conditionally until background checks are revieweed. If you have a DUI, for example you may not be eligible to enroll in this program until at least 3 years after your DUI.
Additional Notes:
Late applications will not be considered. Applicants should verify application is complete by calling our office and asking to speak with Records Department at 426-1431.
Important! If you move or change your mailing or e-mail address please provide the college with updated information. If we cannot contact you, you may miss out on being considered for admission.
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