The term “OR Tech” is the common name for a Surgical Technologist, a specialized member of the operating room team. This role provides direct patient care by supporting the surgeon and registered nurses throughout the entire surgical procedure. Surgical Technologists maintain an organized and safe environment, ensuring the smooth flow of the operation from preparation to completion.
Defining the Role of a Surgical Technologist
The Surgical Technologist (ST) is an allied health professional whose primary function is to serve as the custodian of asepsis within the surgical suite. They ensure the operating room is fully stocked, all necessary equipment is functioning, and the sterile field is established and maintained. This preparation allows the surgical team to focus entirely on the patient and the procedure. The ST anticipates the needs of the surgeon, ready to pass instruments, supplies, and medications as required during the case. Their understanding of the procedure and surgical instruments makes them a crucial part of the surgical team.
Key Responsibilities and Duties in the Operating Room
Pre-operative Duties
The Surgical Technologist’s work begins with thorough preparation of the surgical environment before the patient enters the room. They gather all necessary supplies, instruments, and equipment based on the scheduled procedure and the surgeon’s preference card, ensuring sterile packages are intact and testing specialized equipment for functionality. The technologist then performs a surgical scrub, dons sterile attire, and creates the sterile setup on the back table and Mayo stand, arranging instruments systematically. They perform the initial instrument, sponge, and sharps count with the circulating nurse to establish a baseline for tracking items. Once the patient is in the room, the ST assists the surgical team with positioning, prepping the patient’s skin with antiseptic solution, and draping the patient to create the surgical field.
Intra-operative Duties
During surgery, the Surgical Technologist assumes the “scrub role,” working directly at the sterile field, often opposite the surgeon. Their primary function is to maintain the integrity of this sterile area and to anticipate the surgeon’s next move, silently passing instruments and supplies with precision. This requires immediate knowledge of thousands of instruments and their specific uses. The ST handles and prepares tissue specimens collected, ensuring they are correctly labeled and passed off the sterile field for laboratory analysis. They also coordinate the ongoing counts of sponges, sharps, and instruments with the circulator, and may hold retractors or cut suture material as directed.
Post-operative Duties
As the surgical procedure concludes, the Surgical Technologist participates in the final count of all instruments, sponges, and sharps. The ST may assist with applying a sterile dressing and helps transfer the patient from the operating table to a transport gurney for transfer to the post-anesthesia care unit. Once the patient has left the room, the technologist begins terminal cleaning and preparing the instruments for sterilization. This involves disassembling, presoaking, and transporting the used instruments to the sterile processing department. They also dispose of contaminated materials and waste products, assisting the team with preparing the operating room for the next scheduled case.
Required Education and Professional Certification
Becoming a Surgical Technologist involves completing a formal education program resulting in a certificate, diploma, or an Associate of Applied Science degree. These programs are typically offered through community colleges or vocational schools and take between nine months and two years to complete. The most recognized programs are those accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) or the Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (ABHES). Graduation from an accredited program makes a candidate eligible for a national certification examination. The most widely accepted credential is the Certified Surgical Technologist (CST) designation, administered by the National Board of Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting (NBSTSA), which is highly preferred by employers and tests knowledge across the entire scope of practice.
Essential Skills and Qualities for Success
Success in the operating room demands specific non-technical skills that complement specialized surgical knowledge. Attention to detail is necessary, as the technologist must constantly monitor the sterile field for contamination and ensure all counts are accurate. The ability to remain calm and focused under pressure is also necessary, given the time-sensitive nature of surgical procedures. Surgical Technologists must possess excellent non-verbal communication skills, often relying on hand signals to anticipate needs while maintaining the sterile field. Physical stamina, teamwork, and professional discipline are also important qualities, as the role requires standing for long periods and effective collaboration with the surgical team.
Career Outlook and Work Environment
Surgical Technologists primarily find employment in hospital operating rooms, which offer the broadest range of procedural experience. Other common work settings include outpatient surgery centers, ambulatory care facilities, and private physician or dental offices. The work schedule can often be unpredictable, requiring full-time work, including evening, night, or weekend shifts, and being on-call for emergency procedures. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects job growth for Surgical Technologists, driven by an aging population and advancements in medical technology that increase the volume of surgical procedures. The median annual wage is competitive within the allied health field, with earnings varying based on geographic location, experience, and work setting.