Different Types Of Surgical Tech Jobs

A SURGEON WORKS DIRECTLY WITH A NEW SURGICAL TECHNOLOGIST

Experts are projecting a huge jump in the number of healthcare facilities around the world by the turn of next decade This means more and more job opportunities are being created. If you are interested in building a safe and secure career in the healthcare industry, then you should consider becoming a surgical tech.

Surgical technicians are responsible for assisting a surgeon with specific duties before, during, and after a surgical procedure. Of utmost importance is their role in ensuring a sterile environment so that there is no chance of contamination or infection.

Other job responsibilities include preparing the operating room, taking stock of necessary surgical equipments, and providing assistance to the surgeon during the operation.



Specialty Settings

Surgical technicians generally specialize in one particular setting; therefore, available jobs tend to vary. It is not surprising to see a surgical technician working in a critical care unit, dentist’s office, outpatient surgical center, or general hospital.

The one you have depends on the type of skills you have been trained in or the setting where you work. For this reason, there are different types of surgical tech schools and community colleges that provide specific skill-set training to the trainees.

Hospital Positions

Most surgical technician jobs are found in a hospital setting. Surgical technicians assist registered nurses and surgeons before, during and after the surgery. They are responsible for cleaning the operating room and sterilizing the surgical instruments in adherence to hospital policy. They must arrange all the equipments that the surgeon may need, such as gloves, masks, syringes, scalpels, etc.

During a procedure, a surgical technician supplies the equipments to the nurse when needed while at the same time monitoring the patient’s vital signs. Hospital surgical technicians work long hours and must be ready to take care of on-call requirements.

Specialized Surgical Technician Jobs

Job trends for surgical technicians are very bright. Thanks to an increasing number of outpatient surgical centers, the need for well-trained surgical technicians who can perform similar duties to those provided in hospitals is enormous. For every surgeon, there is a team of at least three surgical technicians assisting with the procedure.

Surgical technicians who work in the critical care units have to work under enormous pressure, as they are constantly addressing medical emergencies that must be handled efficiently and swiftly.

Those working in outpatient centers handle lighter surgical procedures. Even a dentist needs surgical technicians to assist him during dental surgeries. The surgical tech jobs in the dentist’s office highly desirable, as it is not only lucrative but they get to learn a great deal on the job.



Traveling Surgical Technicians

While the job description is the same as a hospital-based professional, a traveling surgical technician is guaranteed more job opportunities with a dose of adventure thrown in. As a traveling surgical technician, you work for a traveling health care company that specializes in providing medical facilities throughout the world. These companies appoint surgical technicians to specific locations for various medical projects.

Traveling surgical technicians are expected to perform the same duties as a stationary hospital professional: preparing the surgical room, taking stock of surgical equipment, prepping patients, and assisting the surgeon during a procedure. The main difference is you work on specific projects for limited duration in different parts of the world.

The main perk to working in this field is that all travel expenses are borne by the hospitals or the doctors. The average surgical tech salary is significantly higher for those who are traveling. You can enjoy long travels to foreign destinations while doing the work you were trained in. If this interests you, research accredited surgical technician schools to make sure they cover all the material you will need for this position.




A SURGICAL TECHNOLOGIST LOOKS ON AS SURGEONS WORK ON A PATIENT