Surgical Technology

Pamela Halfhill, MS, Chair
Phone: (419) 995-8366
Email: halfhill.p@rhodesstate.edu
Office: TL 102E

The Surgical Technology program at Rhodes State College prepares students for a career as a member of a surgical team in four semesters. A surgical technologist is an allied health professional who assists the surgeon, registered nurse, and anesthesiologist as a member of the surgical team. To ensure proper surgical case management, the surgical technologist prepares and passes all sterile instruments during the surgical procedure while maintaining the sterile field and anticipating the needs of the surgeon. The surgical technologist helps to meet the needs of patients in the operating rooms of hospitals, ambulatory surgery centers, physician offices, diagnostic facilities, and other agencies where surgery is performed. Learn more about this career at www.ast.org.

Technical Standards
See here for details.

Tech Prep Partner
​See here for details.

Surgical Technology

Associate of Applied Science

Prospective students are required to:

1. Be 18 years of age
2.  Attend a mandatory program briefing to learn detailed program requirements and career opportunities. 
3. Complete 16 hours of observation arranged by the student
4. Have and maintain a 2.0 GPA
5.  Complete the American Heart Association Basic Life Support (CPR) prior to the first spring semester of the program.

Minimum acceptable mental and physical qualifications of a Surgical Technology student include the following abilities:

1. Work in a standing position for long periods of time and do frequent walking.
2. Lift and transfer patients up to six inches (6”) from a stooped position, then push or pull the weight up to three feet (3’).
3. Lift and transfer patient from a stooped to an upright position to accomplish bed-to-chair and chair-to-bed transfers.
4. Physically apply up to ten pounds (10#) of pressure to bleeding sites, or in performing CPR.
5. Respond and react immediately to verbal instructions/requests and to auditory signals from monitoring equipment; perform auditory auscultation without impediment; discriminate directed sounds in a noise cluttered environment.
6. Physically perform up to a twelve-hour shift clinical laboratory experience.
7. Perform close and distance visual activities involving objects, persons, and paperwork, as well as discriminate depth and color perception.
8. Discriminate between sharp/dull and hot/cold when using hands.
9. Perform fine and gross motor skills with both hands with dexterity, agility and steadiness of movement.
10. Communicate effectively, both orally and in writing, using appropriate grammar, vocabulary, and work usage.