If, after becoming a certified surgical technologist and working in the field for a period of time, you may want to advance in this allied health career. If this sounds like you, investigate becoming a Certified Surgical Assistant (CSA), or Certified Surgical First Assistant (CSFA).

Surgical assistants are medical professionals who assist both surgeons and nurses during surgical and other medical procedures. Like surgical technologists, they have specific responsibilities in the operating room, plus pre- and post-surgery duties.

A first assistant position is not an entry-level position. Because it is the next level up in skills and leadership, you must already work in the healthcare field as a surgical technologist, nurse or other health professional, preferably in a surgical capacity.

What does a surgical assistant do?

The primary duty of surgical assistant is assisting surgeons. You’re under their supervision when performing all tasks.

Typical duties include:

• Administering needles.
• Closing surgery sites.
• Collaborating with doctors, consultants and other surgical team members to ensure the proper post-operative care of patients.
• Controlling bleeding.
• Dressing wounds.
• Monitoring electronic medical equipment.
• Performing minor surgical procedures.
• Positioning and prepping patients prior to surgery.
• Resuscitating patients.

Responsibilities of a surgical assistant can be broken down into four different areas which align with most surgical assistant education programs.

Preoperative

• Facilitate positioning of the patient, taking into consideration:
  • Patient’s anatomical and physiological limits.
  • Surgeon’s preference.
  • Surgical procedure to be performed.
  • Surgical site.
• Assist circulator and anesthesia provider in some of the following ways:
  • Catheter placement.
  • Tourniquet application.
• Other procedures as needed.

Intraoperative

• Perform specific tasks utilizing appropriate techniques.
  • Achieve hemostasis by means of injection.
  • Aide in implanting, securing, and/or removal of devices and drains.
  • Apply appropriate dressing material(s).
  • Incision and layered closure of surgical sites.
  • Manipulation and dissection/removal of tissues.

Postoperative

• Aid in transfer of the patient.
• Apply specific dressing material such as splints or casts.
• Assess skin integrity.
• Follow patient to recovery as needed.

Specialty Procedures

• With appropriate training and supervision:
  • Graft and implant preparation.
  • Vein and graft harvesting,

The responsibilities of a surgical assistant help surgeons perform safe operations resulting in optimal results for the patient. Tasks are more expanded and elevated than those of a surgical technologist. The pressure is also higher, so when considering this professional career, you will have to decide if you want to deal with this type of stress on a daily basis.

Work environment

The work of a surgical assistant is every bit as physically demanding as that of a surgical technologist. You’re on your feet most of the day, and are expected to stand throughout all procedures regardless of length. You must always be attentive, anticipating what tools the surgeon may need and respond quickly when she or he asks for them.

Like surgical technologists, surgical assistants wear scrubs to minimize the possibility of infection to the patient. And similar to all members of a surgical care team, jewelry and long nails (even artificial nails) are almost always prohibited.

As a surgical assistant, if you have an entrepreneurial nature, you may decide to be self-employed. You can also work in hospital surgical units, surgery centers or private surgical medical practices. If you enjoy teaching others about the profession, you can also become an academic instructor.

Hours

Almost all surgical assistants are hired as full-time employees. Hours and weeks are long depending upon the number of surgeries scheduled in any given day or week. If you go into this career field, expect early morning hours, being called in to assist with emergency surgeries, and working on holidays and weekends.

Required education

In all cases, to become a surgical assistant you’ll need to graduate from an accredited surgical first assistant program.

In most cases, in order to enter a surgical first assistant program, you must first have an associate degree in surgical technology from an approved, accredited surgical technology program. You must also have successfully passed your Certified Surgical Technologist (CST) exam conducted by the National Board of Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting (NBSTSA).

Some surgical assistant programs may also require one or more of the following:

• Several years of experience in operating room assisting (often must be completed within the last 3-5 years).
• Proof of a current CPR certification for healthcare providers.
• Updated immunization records.
• Certain course work such as physiology, microbiology and/or medical terminology (taken within the last 7 years).

Check the admissions guidelines of the surgical assistant program you are interested in. Once you find the right educational program for you, it can be completed in as little as 12 months.

The overall objective of most surgical assistant programs is ensuring students can perform surgical assistant skills with proficiency. The curriculum provides students with the experiences necessary to document 135 or more procedures, all designed to verify competencies required of the position.

Specific program objectives will meet standards established by the various approval and accrediting organizations.

Most will be similar to the following:

• To provide a competency-based environment where students can apply their advanced knowledge of normal and pathological surgical anatomy and physiology.
• To deliver a training program in various settings where students can demonstrate preoperative, intraoperative and postoperative skills.
• To offer students opportunities to acquire and practice professional behavior in working relationships with patients and members of a surgical care team.
• To ensure students are able to communicate patient needs and surgeon preferences to all members of a surgical care team.
• To facilitate the professional leadership growth of students through knowledge of the role and how it pertains to ethical, moral and legal responsibilities.

Surgical assistant programs are carefully sequenced between clinical experiences, and classroom theory. Although you will have assisted in many procedures as part of your surgical technology degree and experiences, the clinical cases in a surgical assistant program involve utilizing more skills. The variety and intensity will be different than what you’re used to.

The concentration curriculum of most surgical assistant programs is comprised of advanced courses in surgical technology. Although you may have taken similar courses in your associate degree program, surgical assistant courses go into much more detail.

Programs may be separated into specific areas and look something like this:

Healthcare Sciences

• Microbiology
• Pathology
• Pharmacology

Technical Sciences

• Information technology
• Robotics

Surgical Technology

• Case management
• Intraoperative duties
• Preoperative duties
• Postoperative duties

Surgical Speciality Procedures

• Gynecology
• Obstetrics
• Orthopedic
• Neurosurgery
• Plastic and Reconstructive
• Clinical rotations (135 or more procedures plus observation of many more)

Professional Practices

• Ethics
• Healthcare facilities
• Legal

If you are interested in earning an a degree or certificate in surgical assisting and then taking the CSFA exam, a list of approved education programs can be found at the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP).

If you want to take the CSA exam, you can be a graduate of a surgical assistant program approved and accredited by either CAAHEP, or ABHES, the Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools as long as the program has completed the National Commission for the Certification of Surgical Assistants (NCCSA) approval process.

First-time certification

Graduates of a surgical assistant program can then become Certified Surgical First Assistants (CSFAs) or Certified Surgical Assistants (CSAs). Each credential is offered by a different organization and has different eligibility requirements.

Both of these exams are standardized tests that prove you possess the appropriate level of education, experience and skills to be a trusted surgical assistant. Passing one is required in order to work as a surgical assistant.

Certified Surgical First Assistant (CSFA) credential

The CSFA exam is administered by the National Board of Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting (NBSTSA).

Currently the test is composed of nine graded, multiple-choice questions and you must correctly answer a specific number of them to pass. All applicants for the exam must be graduates from a CAAHEP-accredited training program. In the alternative, with documentation of appropriate work experience, continuing education and certification, this requirement may be waived.

Eligibility Table

Status	Documentation Needed	Other Items to Include
Graduate of surgical first assisting program – CAAHEP approved	Evidence of graduation through one of the following: •    Notarized letter on institutional letterhead from program director or registrar (name, date of graduation, type of degree awarded); OR •    Copy of graduation certificate/diploma or transcript.	•    CSFA exam application •    Appropriate fee
Currently certified Surgical Technologist (CST) who can demonstrate appropriate experience	•    CST credential •    Verification forms from sponsoring agencies for: •    200 cases (75 general surgery; 75 in one speciality area; 50 in any other speciality area(s)) within 2 years prior to application date & during a pre-approved timeframe.	•    CSFA exam application •    Pre-authorization form •    Evidence of malpractice coverage •    Appropriate fees
Graduate of military surgical technology training program	Verification forms or case log(s) for: •    200 cases (75 general surgery; 75 in one speciality area; 50 in any other speciality area(s)) within 4 years prior to application date.	•    CSFA exam application •    Evidence of graduation (ex. DD214) and/or completion certificate) •    Appropriate fees
Current Certified Surgical Assistant (CSA)	•    CSA credential •    Verification forms or case log(s) from sponsoring agencies for: •    200 cases (75 general surgery; 75 in one specialty area; 50 in any other specialty area(s)) conducted within 2 years prior to application date. •    50 continuing education credits within 2 years prior to application date.	•    CSFA exam application •    Continuing education reporting form •    Appropriate fees

Once your application is approved, NBSTSA sends you an Authorization to Test number (ATT) and a phone number/web address for an approved testing agency. You will schedule your exam with that agency. The entire process takes 4-6 weeks to complete.

Remember, if the surgical assistant program you are considering is not CAAHEP-accredited, obtaining the CFSA credential may prove difficult. The CFSA is the credential most employers look for.

Certified Surgical Assistant (CSA) credential

The CSA credential is administered by the National Commission for the Certification of Surgical Assistants (NCCSA). Currently this exam consists of nine sections. You must correctly answer a percentage of them in order to pass.

All applicants for the exam must be graduates from a NCCSA-approved training program which is accredited by either CAAHEP or the Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (ABHES). With appropriate documentation, there are some alternatives to this, such as military training, that may be used in lieu of this requirement. Check the NCCSA website for the specific documents you may need you’ll need for your status.

Eligibility Table

Status	Documentation Needed	Other Items to Include
Graduate of surgical first assisting program NCCSA approved AND either CAAHEP approved or ABHES approved	•    Evidence of graduation •    Proof of formal training •    CST credential •    Experience affidavit •    Skills affidavit •    3 letters of recommendation from surgeons you assisted •    Verification of one year of case logs proving you were the primary assistant in at least 2250 procedures within the last 3 years.	•    CSA exam application •    Appropriate fees
New graduate (within last 12 months) of surgical first assisting program NCCSA approved AND either CAAHEP approved or ABHES approved	•    Evidence of graduation •    Proof of formal training •    CST credential •    Experience affidavit •    Skills affidavit •    3 letters of recommendation from surgeons you assisted •    Verification of one year of case logs proving you were the primary assistant in at least 2250 procedures within the last 3 years.	•    CSA exam application •    Appropriate fees
Active military surgical training	•    Evidence of graduation •    Proof of formal training •    CST credential •    Experience affidavit •    Skills affidavit •    3 letters of recommendation from surgeons you assisted •    Verification of one year of case logs proving you were the primary assistant in at least 2250 procedures within the last 3 years.	•    CSA exam application •    Appropriate fees

Once your application is approved, within 48 hours you will receive a phone call to schedule your testing date.

Required continuing education and renewal certification

Like with most professions in allied health, surgical assistants are required to take additional courses once they are certified. Depending upon the type of certification you have, the renewal criteria is different.

CSFA Renewal

Every four years, the NBSTSA requires 75 credits of continuing education for CFSA renewal. Proof of these 75 credits is submitted with your renewal application. If you happen to hold both a CST and a CSFA, when you complete 75 credits, both credentials can be renewed. Details, steps for renewal, and updates are always located on the NBSTSA site.

Eligibility Chart

Option 1	Option 2	Other Items to Include
Documentation of 75 continuing education credits earned within the 4-year cycle	Retake the CSFA exam, meeting all the initial requirements	•    CSFA renewal application •    Appropriate fees

CSA Renewal

If you possess a CSA, you are required to complete 50 CSA credits within your two-year certification period. Details, steps for renewal, and updates are located on their website.

Eligibility Chart

Option 1	Option 2	Other Items to Include
Documentation of 50 continuing education credits earned within the 2-year cycle	Retake the CSA exam, meeting all initial requirements	•    CSA renewal application •    Appropriate fees

Fees and deadlines for certification and renewal

Regardless which certification you opt for, following the eligibility requirements exactly is important or there will be delays in obtaining your certification or renewal. Without it, you may be unable to practice in the field. In the case of renewal, if you allow your certification to lapse, you may be suspended from practice until your renewal is taken care of.

Take your first-time certification exam as soon as possible after graduation. Bear in mind that while your education is extensive, it will not be enough to pass the test. Purchasing a study guide or registering to take a qualified review course immediately prior to the exam will improve your chances of passing the test.

Apply for renewal two to three months prior to the expiration of your current certification. Be sure you have participated in continuing education credits throughout the period of your certification. You will be unable to secure all the necessary hours in a short period of time. When sending in your documentation, always keep copies.

Fees for certification and renewal range from $100 to $700. If you are a member of a surgical technology support association (ASA or NSAA), fees for these tests are normally reduced. The CSFA test recognizes membership in the Association of Surgical Assistants (ASA). The CSA test recognizes membership in the National Surgical Assistant Association (NSAA). Proof of your membership is required. More information on these two organizations is located at the end of this article.

Job outlook

The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) indicates the demand for surgical assistants will rise 12% through 2026. People are healthier than ever before, and they are living longer. However, 60% of the senior American population suffer, on average, from at least two chronic illnesses. So the demand for all healthcare professionals is high. For more statistics and estimates of annual salaries, you can visit the BLS.

General skills needed for a surgical assistant

To be a successful surgical assistant, there are essential technical skills you’ll need beyond those required of a surgical technologist. In hiring situations, employers look for the following primary competencies:

• Ability to correctly respond to orders – You have to cheerfully follow orders precisely and immediately.
• Effective communication skills – You must be able to communicate all types of information to patients and members of a surgical care team.
• Handling high-pressure situations – Due to the intensity levels in an operating room, you must be able to react intuitively in short time frames.
• High attention to detail with a long attention-span – Attentiveness to anything abnormal in a patient’s vital signs is essential.
• Personal fitness – You have to lift and reposition patients, so a certain level of fitness is beneficial.
• Self-confidence – Pre- and post-surgery procedures are frequently performed alone, so you have to possess enough confidence to do them and know you’re doing them correctly.
• Strong hand-eye coordination and dexterity – Surgical work involves both large and small surgical procedures. A surgical assistant must be able to assist with both.
• Wide range of personal and professional skills – This encompasses technical skills inside the operating room and leadership skills outside of it.
• Working both independently and in a team environment – You must be comfortable working with peers as well as people in positions of authority. Outside of the OR, you will be expected to work on your own when following up with patients.

3 reasons to become a surgical assistant

Work with the latest technologies

Many surgical assistant programs provide some robotic surgical procedure training. The workplace may expose you to others. Opportunities to remain current with the most recent advances that minimize risk to patients and speed up recovery time can be exciting.

Learn something new daily

Although you acquire a lot of education when becoming a first assistant, you’ll learn even more from members of your surgical team. The more you know, the more valuable you are.

Work with a team

Working in an operating room is demanding. Team members of a surgical care unit are no less so. Collaborative team membership adds to your leadership and technical skills.

Surgical assistant organizational support

As a surgical assistant, or even a surgical assistant student, you can join the Association of Surgical Assistants (ASA). This organization supports people in the profession, and those aspiring to the career. It works toward ensuring optimal surgical patient care. It also promotes the recognition of surgical assistants and offers continuing education opportunities.

You may elect to become a member of the National Surgical Assistant Association (NSAA) on their site. They promote excellence in the field, offer educational opportunities and professional certification, and encourage the recognition of surgical assistants.

Want to start now?

Even if you are still in high school, if you are interested in the field of surgical assisting, you can begin today by acquiring a suturing kit.

The Apprentice Doctor offers these kits, complete with instructional videos. You can practice suturing, tying knots and other skills common in the field. As you’ve learned, you need a lot of self-confidence as a surgical assistant. With a suturing kit, you can begin growing that confidence as you gain agility in performing critical suturing tasks. After completing this internationally accredited program, you’ll possess advanced skills and knowledge in the field.

Learn more about the suturing mastery course.

For more information on the first step in becoming a surgical assistant, read our previous article on – Becoming a Certified Surgical Technologist.

And read an interview with a practicing surgical technologist.

I really want to become a Doctor – Is there anything I can do straight away?

Check out the Sterility and Aseptic Techniques on Apprentice Doctor Academy.

Also, explore the Scrub for Surgery Kit on Apprentice Doctor Kits.

If becoming a doctor isn’t the right career for you, but you would like to work in allied health, surgical technology may be a good option. Surgical technologists work alongside doctors and surgeons. They are frequently present during operations and provide critical assistance to operating room physicians.

What does a surgical technologist do?

The primary duty of surgical technologists is assisting surgeons during surgical procedures. They prepare operating rooms, arrange equipment, and even help in post-operative recovery rooms.

Typical duties include:

• Preparing patients for surgery.
• Transporting patients to and from operating and recovery rooms.
• Sterilizing equipment and ensuring adequate supplies for surgery are available.
• Passing surgeons instruments and other sterile supplies.
• Maintaining a sterile environment.
• Providing tools and suturing wounds for surgical team members.
• Observing and reporting patients’ vital signs.
• Organizing paperwork documenting any surgical procedure.
• Utilizing medical tools.

Surgical technologists are important members of surgical teams, especially since technologists are responsible for many preparatory tasks relating to surgeries. For example, you may be asked to prepare an operating room. This can range from setting up trays of instruments in a sterile field to preparing patients for surgery. Because you’ll know how medical equipment works you may be required to ensure all surgical machines are working properly. You will be familiar with these tasks since they are all part of a surgical technology education.

Your job duties don’t end at pre-operative care. When watching medical shows on television, you have probably seen individuals pass instruments and supplies to surgeons during an operation. Surgical technologists are frequently the individuals who do this. You may also be asked to hold internal organs in place while the surgeon operates. In some cases you may handle specimens taken for laboratory analysis.

At the conclusion of an operation, surgical technologists dress incision sites. You may be asked to take patients into a recovery room and observe them until they come out of anesthesia. Restocking operating room supplies after a procedure may be one of your responsibilities.

Duties vary from day-to-day, and sometimes hour-to-hour. It’s an exciting field with many possibilities for personal and professional growth.

Work environment

The work of a surgical technologist is physically demanding. You’re required to remain standing throughout the entire surgical procedure. Some operations are short. Others can be as long as eight or ten hours. You must be alert and constantly aware of what is happening around you for the duration of the procedure.

Being comfortable with the sight of blood, bones and internal organs is essential. You must be equally comfortable holding living organs inside a body cavity of a patient. In addition to these sights, you are exposed to unpleasant odors and possibly communicable diseases. While all precautions are taken, there is always some risk when performing this kind of a job.

Surgical technologists wear prescribed clothing called scrubs. Scrubs are special sterile clothing operating teams must wear to minimize the possibility of infection to the patient. Depending upon where you work, specific colors and types may be required. As part of this dress code, jewelry, long nails (and even artificial nails) are almost always prohibited. The risk of an earring, or acrylic nail falling into an open body cavity is too great, so this requirement is a typical standard of care.

Places you can work include hospital surgical units, ambulatory surgical centers, free-standing out-patient surgery centers or private surgical medical practices.

Hours

Although surgical technologists can work part-time, most are hired as full-time employees in hospitals and clinics. Where you work determines hours and shifts. However, since many surgeries are performed in the mornings, your day may start as early as 5:00 a.m. Hours fluctuate depending upon the daily and weekly operating room schedule. You can be called in at the last minute to assist with an emergency operation.

You may also specialize in a type of surgery, such as cardiovascular, and become a regular member of a surgical team. In those cases your hours may be a little more predictable, but they will still be long (over eight hours a day) and rigorous. Surgical technologists will have rotations where they are on call during nights, weekends and holidays.

Required education and certification

In most cases, to become a surgical technologist you’ll need some kind of a degree from an accredited surgical technology program. Graduates of these programs can then become Certified Surgical Technologists (CSTs). The CST exam is a standardized test that helps employers know you have the skills and knowledge necessary to be a capable and trusted surgical technologist.

The CST test is conducted by The National Board of Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting (NBSTSA). Their website provides comprehensive information about the exam, practice tests, and eligibility requirements.  Although some employers don’t require certification, most do. In all cases having a CST after your name enhances your employment opportunities.

You can earn a degree in surgical technology in 12-24 months. Most programs are on-ground, although some may be a combination of on-ground and on-line courses. All surgical technology programs require an externship, or internship, of surgical rotations. Practical experience is part of any surgical technology curriculum. The experiential components of the program applies what you’ve learned in the classroom to actual operating room experience. Like doctors, you’ll rotate through different types of surgeries. In these rotations you’ll determine if there is one type of operation you prefer over another.

The objectives of most surgical technology programs are:

• To provide a competency-based environment in a classroom using current models and trends in the industry.
• To deliver a training program in a setting where surgical technology students can apply the theoretical knowledge gained during the lecture portion of the training to the performance of skills used in an operating suite.
• To offer students opportunities to acquire and practice professional behavior in working with relationships with patients and members of a surgical care team.
• To facilitate the occupational growth of students by providing access to the knowledge base and applied skills necessary to become an integral member of a surgical care team.

Surgical technology programs are linear. Linear means that with some exceptions, you’re required to take the courses in a certain sequence. Surgical technology courses build upon each other. In other words, you need to know the information in one class to understand the information in the next course and so on.

Most surgical technology programs provide the study of general and specialty surgical procedures. An academic associate degree in surgical technology will include some general education courses like psychology and English composition. An associate degree takes longer to complete. However, the general education courses assist graduates in growing professionally and in developing the ability to assume roles of leadership in the work environment.

The concentration curriculum of most surgical technology programs will consist of the following types of courses:

• Medical math and calculations
• Medical terminology
• Anatomy & physiology
• Medical ethic
• Clinical procedures (general medical procedures)
• Pharmacology for the surgical technician
• Surgical technology techniques
• Surgical procedures (multiple courses)
• Specialty surgical procedures (multiple courses)
• Surgical externships (could be 500+ hours of practical application threaded through some specific courses)

Like with most professions in allied health, surgical technologists are required to take additional courses once they are certified. Every four years, the NBSTSA requires 60 credits of continuing education for CST renewal. You will have to provide proof of these 60 credits when you submit your renewal application. Details and updates are always located on the NBSTSA site.

If you are interested in earning an associate degree in surgical technology, a list of approved programs can be found at the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP), or at the Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (ABHES). Both of these organizations approve and accredit surgical technology programs.

With a surgical technology degree you can obtain employment as a Surgical Technician or Surgical Technologist.

Job outlook

The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) indicates the demand for surgical technologists is rising. This career is expected to grow at the rate of 12% between 2016 and 2026, which a faster pace than other careers.

General skills needed for a surgical technologist

To be a successful surgical technologist there are important technical skills you’ll need.

In hiring situations, employers of surgical technologists look for the following primary skills:

• Aseptic – You must understand how to maintain an environment that is free from bacteria and contamination.
• Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) – In an emergency, you may be required to keep brain function intact until an appropriate medical professional arrives on the scene. A certification in CPR is always required and something you’ll obtain as part of your education.
• Communication – You must be able to communicate verbally and also on paper (medical records and patient charting). Part of your communication skills include superior listening since care of patients includes knowing how they are feeling.
• Computer skills – Many hospitals now have their records on computer. They also record notes and observations in real time on tablets. Knowledge of computers and other technical devices will help you in securing a job.
• Organization – In this position you have to keep medical supplies, operating room instruments, and even schedules organized and free from chaos.
• Patient care – You must truly enjoy working with people and listening to what they have to say.
• Physical demand – The ability to stand for long periods of time is essential. You’ll also be required to transfer patients, so lifting a certain amount of weight is expected.
• Sterile techniques – Knowing how to set up, maintain, and remove sterile fields is required.
• Surgical procedures – You may be asked about your familiarity with various types of surgical procedures.
• Teamwork/collaboration – Surgeries are performed by surgical teams that perform well together. Since surgical technologists are vital members of these teams, you must be able to interact and get along well with team members.

5 reasons to become a surgical technologist

You can enter the field quickly – Surgical technology programs take anywhere from 12-24 months to complete. By researching approved programs, you’re apt to find one that meets your budget and your time frames.

Demand is high – Because an increase in surgical technologists is expected through 2024 (BLS), once you’re a CST, employers will be interested in hiring someone with your skills and credentials. Growth is high due to ongoing advances in surgical technology. These advances mean more surgical procedures can be performed, many with lower risks to patients. A larger, and aging population also contributes to the demand.

You can work anywhere – A CST (Certified Surgical Technologist) is a national certification, so your qualifications move with you. Additionally, since most surgical technologists are hired by hospitals, and hospitals are located throughout the United States, job opportunities exist in most places.

There is a lot of variety – Even if you specialize in a specific surgical technology area, no patient or procedure is ever the same. So your days and weeks will not be spent in repetitive task assignments. Although the pressure is high, some of the uniqueness of your days may be a good offset for you.

You can make a difference in someone’s life – Patients undergoing surgery are usually scared. Since part of your job as a surgical technologist is interacting with patients before and after surgery, you can provide assurance to them. It is also very satisfying to see patients thrive and return to their life interests after a surgery is conducted. As a surgical technologist, you will have contributed to their return to health and lifestyle.

Surgical technology organizational support

As a surgical technologist, or even a surgical technology student, you can join the Association of Surgical Technologists (AST). This organization supports people in the profession, and those aspiring to the career. It provides information on technical advances, public policy, and changes in educational standards.

Want to start now?

If this article has sparked your interest, you can begin practicing some of the skills required for a surgical technologist, regardless of your age.

Through The Apprentice Doctor you can acquire a suturing kit, complete with instructional videos. With this kit you can practice suturing, tying knots and other skills common to the field of surgical technology. You’ll grow in confidence as you gain agility in performing these critical tasks. More importantly, after completing this internationally accredited program, you’ll know without a doubt you want to become a surgical technologist.

Learn more about the suturing mastery course.

If surgical technology interests you, you may want to read:

Becoming a Certified Surgical First Assistant.

An interview with a practicing surgical technologist.

I really want to become a Doctor – Is there anything I can do straight away?

Check out the Sterility and Aseptic Techniques on Apprentice Doctor Academy.

Also, explore the Scrub for Surgery Kit on Apprentice Doctor Kits.