Surgical Technology | Minnesota West Community and Technical College

Skills & Competencies

Skills developed through this program

Auto-populatedfrom O*NET via SOC 29-2055.00

Skills

MonitoringActive ListeningOperations MonitoringCoordinationCritical ThinkingTime ManagementSpeakingReading Comprehension

Knowledge

Customer and Personal ServiceMedicine and DentistryEnglish LanguageEducation and Training

Abilities

Oral ComprehensionProblem SensitivityNear VisionSpeech RecognitionArm-Hand SteadinessSelective AttentionManual DexterityOral ExpressionInformation OrderingPerceptual Speed

Tasks

Maintain a proper sterile field during surgical procedures.
Count sponges, needles, and instruments before and after operation.
Scrub arms and hands and assist the surgical team to scrub and put on gloves, masks, and surgical cl
Schedule surgical procedures for patients.
Transport patients to and from the operating room.

Technology

Data base user interface and query softwareMedical softwareElectronic mail softwareCloud-based data access and sharing softwareGraphics or photo imaging software

Tools

Adjustable height instrument tablesAir driver drillsAnesthesia machinesArgon beam coagulatorsAutoclavesAutologous blood recovery systemsAutotransfusion systemsBlood/fluid warmersCarbon dioxide CO2 lasersCardiac leg wedgesCardiovascular stentsCavitronsCell saversCentral venous cathetersChest drains

Work Values

RelationshipsSupportAchievementWorking ConditionsRecognitionIndependence

Career Pathways

Occupations this program prepares you for

Auto-populatedfrom O*NET + BLS

Occupations matched to this program, with median wage, top wage, growth, and openings
SOC	Occupation	Method	Wage	Growth	Openings
Match confidence: high29-2055.00	Surgical Technologists	title_inference	$62,830 median$90,700 top	+4.5%	520

Program Pathways

Credentials this program stacks toward

No program pathways.

What You'll Learn

Key competencies developed through this program

Auto-populatedfrom NSX Competency Framework

Mastery: developing (Level 2)(based on Associate's Degree)

Sterile field integrity — monitor and sustain a proper sterile field throughout varied surgical procedures with minimal prompting from the surgical team.
Instrument and sponge reconciliation — conduct accurate pre- and post-operative counts independently and communicate discrepancies to the circulating nurse in a timely manner.
Scrub team preparation — guide new team members through the scrubbing and gowning process, ensuring compliance with aseptic technique in the OR.
Intraoperative instrument passing — anticipate surgeon needs and hand instruments, retractors, and sutures efficiently during routine general and specialty cases.
Patient draping and positioning — set up and apply sterile drapes for multiple procedure types, adapting to patient anatomy and surgical access requirements.
Technical assistance coordination — provide reliable support to surgeons and anesthesiologists by managing instrument tables and responding promptly to verbal directions.
Specimen care and chain of custody — prepare, label, and document tissue specimens for laboratory analysis, maintaining proper chain of custody throughout.
Sterilization quality assurance — verify that sterilization cycles meet required standards and document results in the facility's sterilization tracking database.
Time management in the OR — organize back table setup and turnover tasks to meet scheduled case start times across multiple daily procedures.
Critical incident recognition — identify breaks in sterile technique or equipment anomalies and report them promptly to the appropriate team member during live cases.

Program Details

Detailed information about this program

No detailed information available.

Requirements

What you need to earn this credential

No requirements listed.

Financial Aid

Eligible funding programs

No funding information available.

Scholarships

No scholarships listed.