Surgical technologists don't require a lot of education or training, but they are still paid well and hold many responsibilities in surgical rooms. Operating rooms depend on surgical technologists to help ready the room and patient for surgery. As with most healthcare-related jobs, the employment and salary prospects are expected to grow through 2018, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics or BLS.
Duties
Surgical technologist's duties include prepping patients for surgery, which can include cleaning and shaving, bringing patients into the surgery room and cleaning and sterilizing surgical tools. Surgical technologists are essentially assistants to the surgery team, and help them with the patient throughout the surgery by keeping tabs on the patient's vital signs, handing the surgery team the necessary surgical tools and operating equipment. Surgical technologists that are certified via further education or training programs can also assist the surgeon by interacting directly with the surgery. Certified surgical technologists also may help anesthesiologists and take the lead for talking with the patient before and after the surgery.
Work Environment
Surgical technologists work in an inherently stressful environment. Since they work in a surgical room, the sight of blood is constant, along with foul smells. Certain surgeries are more dangerous than others, and the patient's life is sometimes at stake, which inevitably causes stress. Surgical technologists must always remain aware of their surroundings, as one mistake could cause a catastrophic disaster. Most surgical technologists must remain on call during off-days and holidays.
Education
A four-year degree is typically not required to apply for a surgical technologist position. Most employers require applications to complete training programs that are offered in most major colleges as well as community colleges. A surgical technologist can increase his job prospects by graduating from a CAAHEP-accredited program and by taking and passing a national certification exam. Passing the CAAHEP-accredited program and national certification exam awards the surgical technologist a certificate from the Liaison Council on Certification.
Salary
According to the BLS, the median annual salary for a surgical technologist was $39,400 in 2009. The salary for a surgical technologist varies dramatically by state. For example, according to the BLS, the median salary for surgical technologists in Maryland was $48,820 in 2009, while the salary in Tennessee was $37,400.
Employment
According to the BLS, surgical technologists held 91,250 jobs in 2009, with hospitals accounting for 63,890 of those jobs. The BLS predicts that jobs for surgical technologists will grow by 25 percent through 2018, with an estimated 114,700 jobs available in 2018. As the population grows older, the need for surgical technologists will grow as well.
