Online Surgical Technician Courses

Do you want to work in a time-honored health care field? You might think about becoming a surgical technologist, an allied health professional that is an integral part of a surgical team. Surgical technologists work under medical supervision to help surgeons conduct surgical procedures. The surgical technician’s role is to ensure safety in the operating room environment, including noting whether equipment is functioning properly and that the patient is under optimal conditions for the surgery.

Surgical technologists gain expertise in the theory and application of sterile and aseptic techniques and combines a knowledge of human anatomy, surgical procedures and the tools and technologies available for any surgery to help surgeons complete a successful surgery. As such, the surgical technician can take on many roles.

The scrub surgical technologist handles instruments, supplies and equipment necessary during a surgical procedure. This person must have knowledge on how to drape a sterile field, on which instruments to use for the procedure and to hand the correct ones to the surgeon during the procedure, and must know how to set up and clean up an operating room for each surgical procedure.

The circulating surgical technologist’s role is similar to the scrub surgical technologist, but this person has more interaction with the patient. The circulating surgical technologist helps make the patient comfortable, checks the chart and identifies the patient, assists anesthesia personnel, keeps accurate records during the procedure and more. This person also assists in cleaning the operating room and prepping for the next patient.

The second assisting technologist assists the surgeon and/or the first assistant during the operation by carrying out technical tasks other than cutting, clamping and suturing. The second assistant may hold retractors or instruments as directed by the surgeon, may sponge or perform suction, may cut suture material as directed by the physician and cal apply dressings to a closed wound.

These roles and their expanded definitions can be found at the American College of Surgeons or the Association of Surgical Technologists (AST). Both sites, especially the latter, hold plenty of information for anyone who wants to become a surgical technician.

You may learn as well that the roles of surgical technicians may vary by state and even among medical facilities. Some environments may grant more responsibility than others, depending upon your education, training and certification. In most cases, surgical technologists work in clean, well-lighted, cool environments. They must stand for long periods and remain alert during operations. At times, they may be exposed to communicable diseases and unpleasant sights, odors, and materials. Most surgical technologists work a regular 40-hour week, although they may be on call or work nights, weekends, and holidays on a rotating basis.

The role of the surgical technologist began on the battlefields in World War I, when the Army used “medics” to work under the supervision of field surgeons. So, if this is your chosen field, you are entering into a time-honored tradition. A career in surgical technology can be exciting, with many options to choose from.

Top Online Surgical Technician Degree Programs

BS in Health Services Mgmt	Virginia College Online — The bachelor's degree in Health Services Management offered by Virginia College Online provides students with a strong background in basic healthcare knowledge as well as management and leadership skills. Upon completion of the program, graduates will be well-prepared for becoming surgical technicians or managers.
AS in Allied Health	Independence University — Learn about disease prevention, sterilization and prepping for surgery through this college's associate degree in Allied Health. These are the essential skills you'll need to enter the field of surgical technology. Earning your associate's degree online enables you to progress at your own pace toward your professional goals.
AS in Health IT	DeVry University — For aspiring surgical technicians who want a bigger role in patient data management, DeVry University's associate's degree in health information technology prepares students to learn application systems and work with managing electronic health information databases. HIT professsionals work with nurse, doctors, and other health care providers.
AS in Medical Assisting	Kaplan University — Apply for this school's associate degree in Medical Assisting to achieve a strong foundation in surgical technology. This course is ideal for a fast and flexible solution to your online degree as you earn an entry-level education that concentrates on helping students acquire knowledge and develop skills in performing laboratory, clinical, and medical office procedures.
AS in Medical Assisting	Keiser University — For working adults who need a flexible class schedule, Keiser's associate's degree in medical assisting may be the ideal program for aspiring surgical techs. In most cases, this program can be completed within one year and should provide all the training needed to begin a career as a healthcare professional.
AS in Allied Health Science	South University — Try on South University's associate degree in Allied Health Science for size. This online program provides students with the information and training needed to begin a career in surgical technology, as it is designed to expose students to a broad education in general studies combined with an emphasis on life science subjects such as anatomy and physiology, chemistry, nutrition, and pathophysiology.
AABA in Health Admin	American InterContinental University — This college's online AABA in Healthcare Administration combines surgical technician training with practical training in ethics and business. This degree can prepare you to train further for an administrative position as a surgical technician, as it combines real-world business skills with specific knowledge of today's expanding field of healthcare management.
BS in Healthcare Admin	Ashford University — The BS in healthcare administration degree program offered by Ashford University is designed to provide students with a general background in healthcare while integrating management and leadership skills into the education. Graduates of this program will be well suited to begin a career as a manager within a healthcare setting.
AS in Health Info Mgmt	McKinley College Online — For individuals aspiring to become general healthcare or surgical technicians quickly, McKinley College Online offers a one-year associate's degree in health information management that will provide students with the training needed to begin an entry-level position as a technician within the healthcare industry.
AS in Medical Assisting	Mountain State University — The Mountain State University offers an online Associate of Science degree in medical assisting that prepares students for careers as surgical assistants and technicians. For those aspiring to enter the healthcare field as a cutting edge surgical technologist, the coursework offered through this degree program is well suited toward that endeavor as well.