Operating room technicians prepare the operating room for surgical procedures
Operating room technicians, also known as surgical technologists, assist surgeons and nurses in operating rooms. These individuals might sterilize operating room equipment, take patients' vital signs or pass surgical instruments to surgeons. Most operating room technicians complete certificate or associate's degree programs in surgical technology and receive hands-on training in hospitals and other medical facilities.
Function
Operating room technicians have a number of roles to fulfill in an operating room. The main function of an operating room technician is to assist surgeons and nurses and to participate in controlling the environment in an operating room during surgery. An operating room technician assists in maintaining a clean environment, ensuring that doctors and nurses have all the required equipment and materials for surgery, prepares patients for surgery and ensures that patients are safely returned to their rooms after their procedures.
Specific Duties
Under the direction of a surgeon, an operating room technician passes instruments that are utilized during an operation; he might also cut sutures, control breathing equipment, and sterilize and restock the operating room after surgery. An operating room technician might also prepare the area of the patient's body that's being operated on by cleaning or shaving the area; deliver specimens to a laboratory; or dispose of waste that's removed during an operation.
Types
There are two types of operating room technicians: surgical technologist and first surgical technologist. A surgical technologist typically completes a certificate program or an associate's degree program in surgical technology; a first surgical technologist undergoes more advanced training and performs more duties than a surgical technologist, including having more interaction with a surgeon and assisting them with more procedures. Surgical technology is typically offered at technical and two-year academic institutions.
Career and Salary Information
In 2008, operating room technicians held more than 91,000 jobs in the United States. This number is projected to grow by 25 percent through 2018. This jump in employment is largely due to an aging population and emerging technologies that create the opportunity for new medical procedures. The average median salary for an operating room technician in 2009 was about $39,400.
Certification
Operating room technicians are often certified surgical technologists. The National Board of Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting (NBSTSA) certifies surgical technologists who have completed an accredited training program and who pass the NBSTSA examination. Certified surgical technologists are required to maintain their certification through continuing education and by retaking the examination every four years.
