Course Descriptions

Surgical Technology Course Descriptions

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SURG-103 - INTRODUCTION TO SURGICAL TECHNOLOGY  5 credits
An introduction to surgical technology focusing on selected aspects in the development of surgical technology as a technical profession, concepts of patient care, legal, ethical responsibilities, and team members in surgery. Knowledge and skill common to patient care and surgical procedures: asepsis, the environment, sterilization and processing of goods, universal precautions, scrubbing, gowning and gloving, classification and recognition of instruments and supplies are presented in lecture and in the STCC operating room. Surgical terminology is included. Lecture three hours, lab four hours on campus in the STCC operating room and at hospitals. PREREQUISITE: admission to the Surgical Technology program; all health, technical standards, and CORI completed. COREQUISITE: SURG-103L
SURG-104 - INTRODUCTION TO SURGICAL TECHNOLOGY  6 credits
An introduction to surgical technology focusing on selected aspects in the development of surgical technology as a technical profession, concepts of patient care, legal, ethical responsibilities and team members in surgery. Knowledge and skill common to patient care and surgical procedures: asepsis, the environment, sterilization and processing of goods, universal precautions, scrubbing, gowning and gloving, classification and recognition of instruments and supplies are presented in lecture and in the STCC operating room. Surgical terminology is included. Lecture four hours, lab four hours on campus in the STCC operating room and at hospitals. PREREQUISITE: Admission to the Surgical Technology program; all health, technical standards, and CORI completed. COREQUISITE: SURG-104L, BIOL-132
SURG-204 - PRINCIPLES AND PRACTICES OF SURGICAL TECHNOLOGY  4 credits
Content common to surgical procedures is presented in this course, which builds on SURG-103 and focuses on such topics as occupational safety, methods of hemostasis, care and handling of specimens, incisions, wound closure, drains, dressing, needles, suture materials, endoscopic surgery, anesthesia, and complications of surgery. Selected surgical procedures are included as prototypes to explain content. Safe handling of instruments, and additional instruments and supplies are included. PREREQUISITES: SURG-103, BIOL-132: COREQUISITE: SURG-207.
SURG-205 - PRACTICES COMMON TO SURGICAL PROCEDURES (7 WEEKS)  1 credit
This laboratory course takes place in the operating room on the STCC campus. Hands-on experiences in planning for, setting up, carrying out, and breaking down a case, and preparing and handling supplies and instruments common to most surgical procedures are the focus of this course. The class meets four hours a week for seven weeks. The content from SURG-103 and SURG-204 is integrated into this experience. Students must pass this experience in order to take SURG-206. PREREQUISITES: SURG-103, BIOL-132; COREQUISITE: SURG-204.
SURG-206 - BIOTECHNOLOGY AND CLINICAL PRACTICE IN SURGERY (7 WEEKS)  2 credits
This clinical rotation in a hospital provides the first opportunity for the student to "scrub" on surgical operations and work with specialized tools (biotechnology.) Knowledge and skills from SURG-103 and SURG-204 are applied. Students will be participating in setting up, carrying out, and breaking down a surgical case, and will experience the environment of the work and team members. Planned clinical conference will provide time for exposure to biotechnology and specialized instruments and discussion of the experience. Offered 12 hours a week for seven weeks; will start after spring break. Saturdays may be used. Clinical starts at 6:45 a.m. PREREQUISITES: SURG-103, SURG-205; COREQUISITES: SURG-204, BIOL-232.
SURG-207 - PRACTICES COMMON TO SURGICAL PROCEDURES  2 credits
This laboratory course takes place in the operating room on the STCC campus. Hands-on experiences in planning for, setting up, carrying out, and breaking a case, and preparing and handling supplies and instruments common to most surgical procedures are the focus of this course. The class meets four hours a week for seven weeks. The content from SURG-104 and SURG-204 is integrated into this experience. PREREQUISITES: SURG-104, BIOL-132; COREQUISITE: SURG-204, SURG-206
SURG-208 - CLINICAL PRACTICE IN SURGERY 1  2 credits
This clinical rotation in a hospital provides the first opportunity for the student to "scrub" on surgical operations and work with specialized supplies and equipment. Knowledge and skills from SURG-104 and SURG-204 are applied. Students will be participating in setting up, carrying out and breaking down a surgical case and will experience the environment of the work and team members. Planned clinical conference will provide time for exposure to biotechnology and specialized instruments and discussion of the experience. Offered 8 hours a week for fifteen weeks. Saturdays may be used. Clinical starts at 6:45 a.m. PREREQUISITE: SURG-104 COREQUISITES: SURG-204, SURG-207, BIOL-232
SURG-306 - HEALTH PROBLEMS AND SURGICAL SPECIALTIES 1  4 credits
Regional anatomy, common health problems, patient care considerations, anesthesia, surgical procedures, specialty instruments, supplies and interoperative complications form the organization of this course. Selected surgical specialties are presented, for example: surgery of the abdomen, urogenital, operative obstetrics/gynecological, cancer, and others. Surgical terminology, pharmacology, and safe handling of drugs on the operative field are included. PREREQUISITES: SURG-206, BIOL-232, BIOL-121. COREQUISITE: SURG-307.
SURG-307 - CLINICAL PRACTICE IN SURGERY 2  5 credits
Clinical experience in surgery with exposure to the overall operation, policies, and procedures of practice. The student is immersed in the work for the first scrub and assisting circulator in an operating room. Application of previous courses, STCC operating room laboratory experience, and rotations in surgical specialties will provide an opportunity for skill acquisition, safe practice, and the development of professional behaviors. With repeated experiences, students will demonstrate the ability to recall sequence in planning for, selling up, carrying out, and breaking down a surgical procedure, as well as working with specialized tools (biotechnology.) Clinical conferences provide an opportunity for students to discuss their experiences. Lab hours are 20 hours per week for 15 weeks, PREREQUISITES: Completion of semesters 1-2 and summer session, all health requirements; COREQUISITE: SURG-306, SURG-308, SURG-309.
SURG-308 - PHARMACOLOGY AND PATHOLOGY  2 credits
This course will provide students with a foundation in pharmacology and pathology. This will prepare the student to safely and appropriately prepare and manage operating room medications, solutions and specimens. This lecture class meets two hours per week for 15 weeks. The content from SURG-104 and SURG-204 is integrated into this course. PREREQUISITES: Completion of semesters l and 2 and summer session. COREQUISITE: SURG-306, SURG-307.
SURG-309 - THE ROLE OF THE SURGICAL TECHNOLOGIST 1  1 credit
This course will provide students with a knowledge and understanding of the unique organization behavior in the operating room. Classes will consist of lecture, group discussion and role-play. This class meets one hour per week for 15 weeks. The experiences from SURG-104, SURG-207, and SURG-306 will be incorporated into this course. PREREQUISITES: SURG-204, SURG-207, SURG-208, BIOL-121 and BIOL-232; COREQUISITES: SURG-306, SURG-307, and SURG-308
SURG-403 - ROLE OF THE SURGICAL TECHNOLOGIST 2  2 credits
Leadership aspects of the surgical technologist as a technical professional are the capstone experience of the program. State-of-the-art issues in health care and in clinical practice; emerging into the work world; career opportunities; career seeking and achieving strategies are discussed. Certification, registration, licensure are selected topics also. Students prepare and present a clinical paper. PREREQUISITE: Completion of semesters 1-3. May be taken in last semester only.
SURG-408 - HEALTH PROBLEMS AND SURGICAL SPECIALTIES 2  4 credits
A continuation of SURG-306/SURG-307 with additional surgical specialties presented, for example: neurology, pediatrics, trauma, transplant, eye, cardiac surgery, and others. Students will be expected to transfer and build on previous content and experiences. PREREQUISITE: all 100, 200, and 300 courses with the exception of CMPA-103 or general elective. COREQUISITE: SURG-409.
SURG-409 - CLINICAL PRACTICE IN SURGERY 3  6 credits
A continuation of SURG-307. With clinical experience in surgical specialties planned to expose the student to the overall policies and procedures of a hospital operating room. This final semester experience builds on previous knowledge and skills for skill acquisition, safe practice, and the development of professional behaviors. During this experience, the students will serve in various roles as first scrub, selected first assistant, and will practice as a technical professional. Clinical conferences will provide opportunity to discuss this experience. Clinical hours 24/week, starting at 6:45 a.m. PREREQUISITES: SURG-306, SURG-307; COREQUISITE: SURG-408.