ST 101 Introduction to Surgical Technology (4)

This course introduces the student to the role of the surgical technologist in the health care team. Operating room organization, medical terminology, aseptic technique, surgical supplies, basic instrumentation and basic surgical routines will be emphasized. Introductory surgical regional anatomy will be discussed as well as surgical microbiology as it pertains to sterilization and disinfection. Beginning aspects of the ethical/legal aspects of patient care will be introduced. Learning activities will take place in the classroom, simulated on-campus operating room, a hospital operating room and the Central Service Department of the hospital. (Fall and Spring Semesters)  Prerequisite:  Completion of Cardio-Pulmonary Resuscitation Certification (CPR); Co-requisite:  SC 103/103L.

This course introduces the Surgical Technology student to basic concepts related to surgical patient care. The patient’s needs and rights as a consumer of health care services will be examined. Principles of routine patient care, such as temperature, pulse, respiration and blood pressure, etc. and principles of infection control will be discussed. Also discussed will be the preoperative care of the surgical patient. This will include diagnostic tests with a brief overview of their meaning and importance to the surgical patient. Communication skills will be emphasized. Emergency procedures in the operating room will be included. This course is taken concurrently with ST 101. (Fall and Spring Semesters)

This clinical laboratory experience takes place primarily in the simulated on-campus laboratory. There will be limited experiences in the hospital operating room setting during the course. Students are taught the basic skills necessary to begin practice in the surgical setting. Mandatory competencies of this course include scrubbing, gowning and gloving, gowning and gloving team members, back table and instrument setups, simulated draping, "opening of the abdomen," sequence of instruments and equipment. This course must be taken concurrently with ST 101. (Fall and Spring Semesters) Sixteen clinical hours (2 days)

This course focuses on the scrub duties and expanded instrumentation. Sterilization and disinfection will be continued as will further exploration of the ethical/legal aspects of surgical patient care and student accountability. Assisting with circulating duties and wound healing and closure concepts will be introduced. Wound closure materials and stapling devices will be explored in detail. Specialty equipment such as the use of electrocautery and the use of LASER equipment also will be introduced. Regional surgical anatomy will continue to be discussed. The care of the anesthetized patient will be included. Learning activities will take place in the classroom, in the simulated on-campus operating room and hospital operating rooms. (Fall and Spring Semesters) Prerequisites: ST 101, ST 102, ST 103 and SC 103/103L with a grade of "C" or better. Co-requisite:  SC 104/104L

ST 105 Surgical Pharmacology (2)

This is the study of drugs, medications and anesthesia and their use, especially as it applies to a patient’s surgical experience. Drugs used in emergency situations will be included. Anesthetics, the types, agents, and their use in the care of the surgical patient will be discussed. The ST’s role in relation to surgical pharmacology is examined. Legal issues related to pharmacology will be explored. This course is designed to be taken concurrently with ST 104. (Fall and Spring Semesters) Prerequisites: ST 101, ST 102, ST 103 and SC 103/103L with a grade of "C" or better. Co-requisite:  SC 104/104L

Clinical experiences are provided in a hospital operating room. The student will be primarily assigned to the scrub technologist's role performing and applying those skills learned in the first semester. This course is taken concurrently with ST 104. The evening students take this course over the Spring semester and into the Summer earning 1 credit hour in each term. (Fall and Spring Semesters) Sixteen clinical hours. Prerequisites: ST 101, ST 102, ST 103 and SC 103/103L with a grade of "C" or better. Co-requisite:  SC 104/104L

This course will focus on an overview of the surgical specialties: general surgery which includes gastro-intestinal and biliary surgical procedures, gynecology, genitourinary surgery, eye, ear, nose and throat surgery, and head and neck surgery. Surgical procedures will be discussed in relation to supplies, instrumentation and equipment. Surgical pathology, intraoperative patient care, the sequence of the surgical procedures, as well as potential complications will be presented. Clinical practice takes place in hospital operating rooms, as well as other intraoperative care facilities. (Fall and Spring Semesters) Prerequisites: ST 104, ST 105,and ST 106 with a grade of "C" or better. Co-requisite: SC 203/203L

Student clinical experiences are broadened in a hospital setting with the student expanding experience in the specialty surgical areas. The student will begin to learn about the circulating duties of the registered nurse. This course is taken concurrently with ST 201. (Fall and Spring Semesters) Sixteen clinical hours (2 days). Prerequisites: ST 104, ST 105, and ST 106 with a grade of "C" or better. Co-requisite: SC 203/203L

This course is a continuation of ST 201. It will focus on an overview of surgical specialties. Special consideration of the pediatric and older adult will be discussed. Transplant surgery including kidney, heart and lung will be explored. Clinical practice takes place in hospital operating rooms, as well as other intraoperative care facilities. During this last semester, as the student prepares for professional practice, further legal, and employment dimensions will be discussed. (Fall and Spring Semesters) Prerequisites: ST 201, ST 202 and SC 203/203L with a grade of "C" or better.

In this clinical course, students continue to gain experience in a variety of surgical settings with emphasis on more complex and specialized procedures. This course is taken concurrently with ST 203. (Fall and Spring Semesters) Sixteen clinical hours (2 days)  Prerequisites: ST 201, ST 202 and SC 203/203L with a grade of "C" or better.