The Pros And Cons Of Surgical Technology Programs In Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College

Register to read the introduction… Training programs last nine to twenty-four months and lead to a certificate, diploma, or associates degree (www.bls.gov, par. 3). In college, students go through three semesters of surgical technologist courses. First semester required courses consist of: English Composition I, Fundamentals of Surgical Technology, Principles of Surgical Techniques, and Surgical Anatomy. Second semester contains classes like: Surgical Microbiology, Basic and Related Surgical Procedures, and Specialized Surgical Procedures I. Third semester courses include: Specialized Surgical Procedures I, Advances Surgical Procedures, and Certification and Role Transitions. The total amount of hours in each semester will be forty-six. MGCCC includes an in-state tuition of $1,150 per semester, but also includes other costs, for instance, a fifty dollar registration fee, a ten dollar online fee, a thirty dollar book service charge, a three dollar technology fee, and a career-technical program fee (www.mgccc.edu, par. 1). Before becoming a surgical technologist, achieving a certification is recommended. Certification is provided by the Liaison Counsel on Certification for the Surgical Technologist and it is national, which means that technologists can work in any state once they are certified. Recertification is required every six years (Hayes 843). Graduates are usually offered jobs in the same hospital where they received clinical training (Ferguson 540). Population growth, longevity, and more advanced medical procedures have contributed to a growing demand for surgical service (Hayes 845). Surgical technologists can basically be hired anywhere in the world. Every city, every state, and every country will have sick people who need medical assistance, which means surgical techs will always be in demand. However, techs advance by specializing in one particular area, such as neurosurgery (Mayo 2). Surgical technologists’ salaries range anywhere from $32, 490 to $46, 910 which varies with experience, education, and response to the economy of a given region of the country. Techs get many benefits which include medical, vision, dental, and life insurance. Retirement plans, sick leave, and paid vacations are also offered (www.bls.gov, par. 6). Most surgical technologists work a regular forty-hour week, some may be on a rotating basis (www.bls.gov, par. 2). Most surgeries are scheduled in the morning/early afternoon. Techs who work day shift are at the hospital at seven in the morning. They may have surgeries one after the other through his/her entire shift, but no matter what shift, techs are trained to work in every type of surgery (Hayes 841). In addition to surgical technologists’ benefits, they also have many drawbacks. For example, they spend a numerous amount of time on their feet and have to wear a uniform. Terri says, “The biggest problem is dealing with certain physician’s personalities.” (Terri 1). However, those are not the only disadvantages. Techs work under great pressure. The need for surgery may be life or death; they cannot assume every procedure will go as expected. If all does not go well, nerves may fray and tempers may flare (Ferguson 541). Surgical technologists cannot wear their hearts on their sleeve. For those who would like to get out of the operating room atmosphere, there are positions available in sales and management with companies that see medical operating room equipment, instruments, and supplies to hospitals and physicians. There are also other related jobs such as surgical assistant, ambulance attendant, medical assistant, nurse aide, physical therapy aide, and etc. (Hayes 844). Being a surgical technologist …show more content…
More than none the stress and disadvantages make the job overwhelming. On the other hand, the fact that being in the operating room and helping save a life makes it all worth it, right? There could be no better bliss than telling a family that all is going to be okay. Just around the corner from a waiting room is an OR, a surgical techs “home away from home”, a place where miracles happen.

Works Cited

Bureau of Labor Statistics. Surgical Technologists. U.S. Department of Labor.
April 12, 2011. Web. 12 Jan 2012. http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos.htm
Ferguson. “Surgical Technologists.” Encyclopedia of Careers and Vocational Guidances, 14th edition. New York: InfoBase Publishing 2008. Print.
Hayes, David. “Surgical Technologists”. Exploring Health Care Careers. Chicago. Ferguson Publishing Company. 1998. Print.
Mayo School of Health Sciences. Surgical Technology Career Overview. 2012. Web. 12 Jan 2012. http://www.mayo.edu/mshs/surg-career.html
Terri. Email interview. 22 Jan 2012.
Tuition and Fees. 2012. Web. 29 Jan 2012.