Allied Health: Surgical Technology

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Location:

Allied Health and Sciences Building, 970.339.6424
 

Faculty and Advisor (Director):

Mark Urso, CST, 970.339.6539

Program Length: An Associate of Applied Science Degree in Surgical Technology can be completed in two years. Students requiring developmental coursework to meet assessment requirements will take more than the usual two years to complete the full degree.

Program Description: Intended for the individual desiring to work in an operating room setting requiring multi-tasking abilities. Skills obtained in this degree can be applied to the same-day surgical area, some clinic settings including freestanding surgical centers, and the hospital operating theater. Assisting in the operating room will be possible at an entry level with completion of the Surgical Technology degree.

Potential Opportunities: Local opportunities can be found all over Northern Colorado as well as across the United States. Preparation as a Surgical Technologist also provides experience and gainful employment for those choosing to further their education in Surgical First Assisting, Nursing, Medicine, Physician’s assistant or other health-care professions. Students are administered the National Certification Exam for Surgical Technology prior to graduation. Those choosing to go for their Baccalaureate degree in Health Care Management or Health Care Communication will find that the A.A.S. in Surgical Technology will provide many of the requirements for transfer into the Bachelor of Applied Science Degree at the University of Northern Colorado or the Bachelor’s in Health Care Management through on-line coursework with Franklin University.

Registration Requirements: All students taking this program must provide proof of their high school diploma or GED and have completed the prerequisite requirements prior to formal acceptance into the program. All students must be assessed prior to acceptance into this program and achieve a reading score of 80, English/Sentence Skills of 95 and Elementary Algebra score of 85 or take the appropriate developmental coursework before being officially accepted into this program. Some course work is restricted to department majors and must have the program advisor’s signature on the course registration before registering.

Other Requirements: Prior to entering the clinical operating room settings, students must hold a current CPR card, have completed the HBV vaccination series, have a current MMR, a current Tetanus immunization and a current TB test. The HBV series involves three immunizations, initial, one at 30 days and one at 3-6 months and a background check is also required.

Additional Student Resources: Since professional affiliations are a mark of the best medical workers, all students are encouraged to become active members of The Association of Surgical Technologists Student Organization.

Surgical Technology Advisory Committee

David Aragon, Community member

Stephanie Drobny, Student Placement Coordinator, North Colorado Medical Center

Dr. Tad Gilmore, General Surgeon (Retired)

Tammy Grant, Coordinator, Weld County Workforce Development

Dr. William Mangum, General Surgeon (retired)

Mario Mena-Mendez, CST, Surgical Technologist , North Colorado Medical Center

Emmy Lou Strathman, CST, Surgical Technologist, Orthopedic Center of the Rockies

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