Surgical Technology (A.A.S.)


Career Information

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Additional Information

Surgical Technologists are allied health professionals who work under medical supervision to facilitate the safe and effective conduct of invasive surgical procedures. A Surgical Technologist possesses expertise in the theory and application of sterile and aseptic technique and combines the knowledge of human anatomy, surgical procedures, and implementation tools and technologies to facilitate a physician's performance of invasive therapeutic and diagnostic procedures.

A.A.S. in Surgical Technology Curriculum and Admissions Requirements

APPLY ONLINE

 

 
 
Application Deadlines

Application for fall admission is due by May 31 of each year.

Only students who are accepted will be notified by mail.

Surgical Technology Entrance Exam

Additional ranking points can be obtained for either (1) ACT/ACT Residual score of greater than 19, or (2) A defined score on an assessment exam. All tests scores must be less than 5 years old.

The assessment exam currently being used is theHESII-A2. This test consists of three sections including math, reading, and vocabulary. To receive the additional ranking points, the candidate must achieve 80% or better in each of the three sections.

For information regarding exam scheduling and cost, please visit the Counseling & Testing Website or call 423-585-6800

Program Admission Requirements

Students intending to apply to the Walters State Community College Surgical Technology program may begin working on the general education courses at any time. All prerequisite program courses must be completed prior to application. The program professional courses must be taken in sequence and are offered only at the Walters StateSevierr County Campus except for the clinical courses. 

Walters State Community College is supported by state funding and therefore must consider in-state residents before out-of-state residents for acceptance into the Surgical Technology program. Please contact the Office of Admissions for assistance in determining Tennessee residency. 

The Surgical Technology program adheres to the core performance standards adopted by the Tennessee Board of Regents. Admission to and progression in the Surgical Technology program is not based on these standards but should be used to assist the student in determining whether accommodations or modifications are necessary. The standards are:

  • Critical thinking ability sufficient for clinical judgment;
  • Interpersonal abilities sufficient to effectively interact with individuals, families, and
    groups from a variety of social, emotional, cultural, and intellectual backgrounds;
  • Communication abilities sufficient for interaction with others in verbal and written
    form;
  • Physical abilities sufficient to move from room to room and maneuver in small
    spaces;
  • Gross and fine motor abilities sufficient to provide safe and effective surgical care;
  • Auditory abilities sufficient to monitor and assess surgical needs;
  • Visual ability sufficient for observation and assessment necessary in surgical care;
  • Tactile ability sufficient for physical assessment.

If a student believes that one of more of the standards cannot be met without accommodation or modification, the Surgical Technology program will determine whether or notaccommodations or modification can be reasonably made. A student should contact the Director of Surgical Technology for assistance. 

 

Eligibility Criteria for Admission

  1. Have an overall minimum GPA of 2.0;
  2. Have official copies of previous college transcripts sent to WSCC Admissions Office;
  3. Attach an unofficial copy of your college transcripts to the application.

 

Selection Criteria

These items are the areas in which students are awarded program application ranking points.

  1. Grades 1st received in program BIOL courses
    (Students who complete BIOL 2010/11, 2020/21, and 2230/31 prior to program admission increase their chances of academic and clinical success in the Surgical Technology program.)
  2. Students who are enrolled in BIOL 2010/2011 and BIOL 2020/2021 for summer term will be given consideration, with possible conditional admission into the Surgical Technology program pending final summer grades.
  3. Designated Admission Exam: ACT 19 or > or HESII-A2 > 80% on all sections. Admission exams must have been completed within the last 5years;
  4. Overall GPA in all required general education and prerequisite courses;
  5. Completion of all general education requirements;
  6. Qualified applicants will be contacted by phone to schedule an interview.
WSCC Health Programs Immunization Requirements
Program Cost

Walters State Tuition and Fees
All tuition and fees are subject to change by the Tennessee Board of Regents.

*A Specialized Allied Health Science Fee of $25 per credit hour will be applied to all Allied Health Science courses. See Tuition and Fees link above.

** Program courses taken in an online format are subject to a distance education fee.

 

Books, Supplies and Additional Program Expenses

Books
Visit Walters State Bookstore for book titles and prices
Supplies
Uniforms, clinical and lab supplies
Liability Insurance
Physical examination and immunizations
CPR certification
Criminal background check/Drug screening
Credentialing Requirements
Location
Lecture and lab classes for the Surgical Technology program are held on the Walters State Community College, Sevier County Campus. Labs are conducted on the Walters State Community College Sevier County Campus.
Graduate Competencies

Upon program completion, the graduate will be able to:

  • Correlate the knowledge of anatomy, physiology, pathophysiology, and microbiology to their role as a Surgical Technologist.
  • Demonstrate a safe and professional level of practice and knowledge in their role as a Surgical Technologist.
  • Acquire an understanding of the ethical, legal, moral, and medical values related to the patient and the surgical team during the perioperative experience.
  • Correlate the elements, action, and use of medications and anesthetic agents used during the perioperative experience.
  • Implement safe practice techniques in regards to perioperative routines, patient transportation, positioning, and emergency procedures.
  • Integrate principles of surgical asepsis as part of the perioperative experience.
  • Accurately apply knowledge and skills of a professional Surgical Technologist to address the biopsychosocial needs of the surgical patient.
  • Perform proficiently and competently as an entry-level surgical technologist in the cognitive, psychomotor, and affective learning domains.
  • Value the professional attributes of the Surgical Technologist.

 

Surgical Technology Clinical Case Requirements

Surgical Specialty Min #1st Scrub Min #2nd Scrub Total # Cases Required

General Surgery

20 10 30

Surgical Specialties

Cardiothoracicc, ENTT, Eyes, GU, Neuroo, ObGYNN, OMFSS, Orthopedics, Peripheral Vascular, Plastics, Procurement/Transplant

60 30 90

Diagnostic Endoscopy

Bronchoscopy, Colonoscopy, Cystoscopy, EGDD, ERCPP, Esophagoscopy, Laryngoscopy, Panendoscopy, Sinoscopy, Ureteroscopy

  10
(2nd scrub only)
 

Labor and Delivery

  5 vaginal deliveries
(2nd scrub only)
 
Totals 80 40 120

 

Students must complete 120 cases with a minimum of 240 clinical hours. 30 cases in General Surgery with 20 cases minimum in the first scrub role. 90 cases must be completed in various surgical specialties. 60 in the first scrub role. 15 cases in any one specialty is the most that can be counted toward the 120 case total. Once the student has reached the minimum requirements, they can continuing with any cases available and must keep a record of those cases.

All clinical cases must be documented on the clinical case log, including observation cases (although these cases do not count toward the 120 total cases).

10 endoscopy and 5 vaginal deliveries can be counted toward the maximum number of second scrub cases (maximum number being 40), but these are not required. 

Career Information

The program will increase the number of surgical technologist employees to meet the over 12% increase expected for the 2016-2026 period of time as noted on the Bureau of Labor Statistics May 2017 Job Outlook Data. Surgical technology is considered a high skill-high wage allied health profession and data from the State of Tennessee notes a need for 2970 surgical technologists in the state by 2017. The median annual salary for Tennessee surgical technologists is projected in the range of $43,310.

Surgical Technologists are allied health professionals who work under medical supervision to facilitate the safe and effective conduct of invasive surgical procedures at a hospital. A Surgical Technologist possesses expertise in the theory and application of sterile and aseptic technique and combines the knowledge of human anatomy, surgical procedures, and implementation tools and technologies to facilitate a physician's performance of invasive therapeutic and diagnostic procedures.

The clinical component of the program shall be educational in nature.? The student shall not be substituted for personnel during the clinical component of the program. Each student will be assigned a preceptor to direct and teach in the clinical setting.

 

What should I do if I do not receive notification?

If you know you are qualified

  • a grade of C or better in BIOL 2010/2011 and BIOL 2020/2021
  • completed computer competency
  • grade point average of at least 2.0 excluding developmental courses
  • completed all required developmental courses

Your name is most likely on an alternate list. If space becomes available, you will be notified by the first day of class of the semester.

 

If you think you might not have been qualified

Please contact a health program advisor to assist you in planning your course work to increase your chance of success next year. 

Advisors are available Monday thru Friday 8:30 a.m.-4:00 p.m.
Please call 865.286.2782 to schedule an appointment

 

If you were qualified but not accepted

You will need to reapply for the next admission period.

  • It is the student's responsibility to make sure transcripts are forwarded from transferring institutions to WSCC Admissions Department promptly.
  • Only completed applications will be considered for admission.
Program Outcomes

Surgical Technology Outcomes

  2021 2022
2023
Retention   94%  81% 76%
 CST Pass Rate  86% 92% 69%
 Graduation Placement  87%   100%

 

Accreditation

Tennessee Code Annotated 68-57-101 states persons employed as a surgical technologist in the state of Tennessee shall:

  • Have completed a program accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs CAAHEPP);or
  • Successfully completed the surgical technologist exam offered by the National Board of Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting NBSTSAA).

Walters State Community College Surgical Technology program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation on Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) and the Accreditation Review Council on Education in Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting (ARC/STSA). Graduates from an accredited program will be eligible to take the national certification examination administered by the National Board of Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting NBSTSAA).


Commission on Accreditation on Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP)

Phone: 727.210.2350
Fax: 727.210.2354
https://www.caahep.org/


Accreditation Review Council on Education in Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting (ARC/STSA)

Phone: 303.694.9262
Fax: 303.741.3655
https://www.arcstsa.org/

 

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