Earn your surgical tech degree in two years from NMC located in Omaha, Nebraska.
Become a Vital Member of the team as a Surgical Tech.
Surgical Technologists (also Surgical Techs, or Surg Techs) help prepare patients for surgery and ensure that surgical instruments are sterile and the operating room is organized for the medical team. They also support quality patient care before and after surgeries.
Professionals in this discipline (those, of course, not squeamish at the sight of blood) often may advance to the position of first assistant, where they may perform additional procedures such as cleaning and cauterizing blood vessels and closing wounds. A Surgical Tech works under the direct supervision of a surgeon and the medical team.
Surgical Techology Program Info
- This is a two-year, accredited Associate of Science Degree program.
- The surgical tech program is designed according to guidelines of the Association of Surgical Technologists (AST).
- Participants in this program study human anatomy, microbiology and surgical technology and learn critical thinking and communication skills through a combination of classroom instruction, lab experience and clinical-based practice.
- A strong aptitude for health sciences as well as professionalism and a genuine empathy are essential.
- In the final semester of the program, students are eligible to sit for the Certified Surgical Technologist (CST) exam, and are prepared for employment as soon as they graduate.
Surgical Tech Salary & Job Outlook
The Bureau of Labor Statistics indicates that the median surgical tech salary in the U.S. in 2010 was $39,920 per year, with an average projected job growth until 2020 of 28 percent.
Surgical Tech Professional Organizations
Program Accreditation
The Surgical Technology Program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) upon the recommendation of the Accreditation Review Committee on Education in Surgical Technology (ARC ST/SA).
Admissions
Application Deadline:
Applications accepted all year long and reviewed on a rolling basis. |
Program Start Date:
Fall 2013
|
Prospective students may apply anytime and are accepted from deadlines throughout the year. Qualified applicants will meet with an admissions recruiter as part of the process. The meeting will be scheduled upon receipt of all application materials. Students will be notified of their admission by letter or phone.
Program Admissions Criteria
Applicants are evaluated on the basis of the following criteria:
- Minimum cumulative GPA of 2.5
- High school record
- ACT composite of 20 or above, SAT critical reading and mathematics scores of 950, if within 2 years of high school graduation
- Demonstration of success in previous math and science courses: Algebra, Biology, Chemistry and Anatomy & Physiology recommended
- College record
- Fulfillment of program technical standards
- Demonstration of excellent written, verbal and interpersonal communication skills
- Completion of college Chemistry prior to enrollment is strongly recommended
Program Application Process
To be considered for admission the following items must be submitted to the Admissions Office:
For More Information Contact:
Melissa Siedlik
Admissions Coordinator
(402) 354-7206
Melissa.Siedlik@methodistcollege.edu
Tuition & Fees
Attending Nebraska Methodist College represents a major investment in your future. For most students, attending college takes planning and sacrifice. NMC recognizes that and is committed to helping you find every avenue to finance your education. View the Tuition by Program & Degree page for a comprehensive list of all fees.
| Tuition per credit hour: $528 |
First Time Freshmen:
Financial Assistance
At NMC we offer financial aid to our students, and help you understand what financial resources are available to you. View our Financial Assistance page to learn about the Financial Assistance process, policies and options.
Scholarships
Nebraska Methodist College scholarships consist of funds generously provided by the Methodist Hospital Foundation to assist our students. View our Scholarships page to learn more.
All students are required to complete specific coursework. This list should only be used as a curriculum guide. Course listings and required curriculum are subject to change.
Included within this list is the Educated Citizen Core Curriculum. All students seeking to complete an undergraduate degree at Nebraska Methodist College must complete this set of Arts & Sciences requirements. As an educated citizen, NMC graduates are competent practitioners and respond productively to the complex dynamics of the world, utilizing a diversity of disciplines and perspectives.
First Year - Fall Semester
This course provides instruction and practice in writing, with emphasis on the recursive processes of generating, drafting, revising and editing. Students develop skills in producing and evaluating written communications in private and public contexts.
This course will introduce students to terminology used in the health care professions. The origins of medical terms will be studied with an emphasis placed on understanding the suffixes, prefixes, combining forms and root words used in health care terminology. At the end of the course the student will be able to comfortably understand, translate and discuss issues related to their profession using appropriate terminology.
This course is an overview of general inorganic/organic and biochemistry with an emphasis on relationship to biological sciences. Includes a laboratory.
This course introduces students to basic information required for further study and understanding of Anatomy and Physiology, as well as further study of all health care related subjects. Terminology that is specific to the medical field is introduced. Basic principles of chemistry, physics, embryology, developmental biology and histology are reviewed. This course focuses on enabling students to learn and understand the anatomy (structure) and physiology (function) of the integumentary, nervous, skeletal, and muscular systems. Laboratory experience will include cadaver study.
- Credits: 4.0
- Prerequisites: High school or college chemistry
Access to healthcare is greatly affected by one's command of language. Students in this course engage in the exploration of language and culture then apply these concepts to the healthcare environment through service-learning and community engagement. Students develop practical communication skills that enable effective cross-cultural work with health professionals and clients with backgrounds different from their own.
First Year - Spring Semester
There is a strong relationship between thinking clearly and expressing thoughts in formal writing and public speaking. Using the skills of logic and critical thinking, students will examine ideas, analyze and evaluate the arguments of others, and advocate for their own ideas. Students will be introduced to the NMC Portfolio process.
- Credits: 3.0
- Prerequisites: HUM 150 is to be taken in the first semester
INTRODUCTION TO PSYCHOLOGY This course is designed to merge science with a broad human perspective and to engage both the mind and the heart. It sets forth the principles and processes of psychology and is sensitive to student‘s needs and interests. It helps students gain insight into the important phenomena in everyday life, to feel a sense of wonder about seemingly ordinary human processes and to see how psychology addresses issues that cross disciplines.
or
LIFE-SPAN PSYCHOLOGY The Life-Span perspective involves several basic contentions: development is life-long, multidimensional, multi-directional, plastic, historically embedded, multi-disciplinary and contextual. Three imperative developmental issues are explored: maturation and experience, continuity and discontinuity and stability and change. Students study how humans develop and how they become who they are.
This course explores the ways in which human beings make and remake the meaning of their social world through the production of culture. It employs sociological methods to explore the construction of the dominant, white subculture in the United States. The same methodologies are employed to examine the construction of subcultures in the United States, including those based on race, ethnicity, gender and sexual orientation.
The structure and function of the special senses, along with the endocrine, circulatory, lymphatic, respiratory, digestive, urinary and reproductive systems are stressed in this course. Laboratory experience will include cadaver study.
- Credits: 4.0
- Prerequisites: SCI 225
the student to the broad field of surgical technology. General information including the historical development of surgery, functions of hospitals and accrediting agencies will be addressed. Students will become familiar with basic principles of aseptic technique and surgical conscience as it relates to best practices and patient outcomes. Fundamental patient care skills including patient transport and positioning are taught and assessed in the laboratory. Professional expectations, standards, and behaviors of the perioperative team members will be introduced during this course. The student will be required to complete a course in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (BCLS).
- Credits: 1.0
- Prerequisites: Enrollment in ST Program. Corequisite: SUR 101L
In the laboratory setting, the student will identify surgical instrumentation and learn how to utilize specialized equipment as well as demonstrate the skills that are necessary to successfully perform in the role of the surgical technologist in the clinical setting while under the supervision of O.R. personnel in the clinical portion of the program.
- Credits: 1.0
- Prerequisites: Enrollment in ST Program. Corequisite: SUR 101
First Year - Summer Semester
This course introduces the students to the historical background of microbiology, microbial structure and metabolism, and the relationship between humans and microorganisms. It includes disease production, transmission of disease-causing organisms, epidemiology, and immune defense mechanism. Principles of sanitation, disinfection, sterilization and wound healing are emphasized. Students learn techniques of standard precautions, specimen collection, preparation of cultures, and microscopic slide preparations with gram stain. An understanding of the medical impact of microorganisms on each body system and the environment is also addressed.
This course introduces the student to the practice of surgical technology. The preoperative roles of the surgical technologist in the circulator and first scrub role will be thoroughly examined. Preoperative patient diagnostic procedures, principles of sterilization, skin preparation and draping of surgical patient is included. Surgical and aseptic technique during the preoperative and intraoperative phases of the operative procedure is included in this course. Students will gain knowledge of suture and surgical instrumentation utilized during the intraoperative process and will perform basic general case preparation with understanding of patient disease process, procedural steps, and technique necessary for optimal patient outcomes. Students will research, formulate, and present individual and group projects to enhance learning of course material. Student will be introduced to the physical principles of mechanics, heat, sound, electricity, magnetism, and light as they apply to the operation of laser, robotic, and electrical surgical equipment. The laboratory setting will be used to reinforce material taught didactically. Students will be asked to engage in personal reflection and peer review of laboratory skills. Student must successfully complete performance competency in this course.
- Credits: 6.0
- Prerequisites: SUR 101, SUR 102, SC 225
Second Year - Fall Semester
A study of medications used in the operating room with an emphasis on the common drugs used in the surgical area is completed in this course. Examination of the administration, actions, interactions, side effects, and terminology of perioperative medications is included. Legal responsibilities of the surgical technologist, common calculations, and safety measures performed in a sterile field to assure patient safety are practiced. Students will actively participate in group presentations enhancing didactic teaching and complete medication cards and two written reports during this course.
- Credits: 2.0
- Prerequisites: Math Concepts- competency, SUR 120
This course will expand on the role of the surgical technologist in the scrub role. Case and room preparation, aseptic technique, counts, suture and procedural steps for a wide variety of cases are introduced in this course. Students will complete individual and group presentations to enhance classroom learning. A hospital based lab practicum and observation will be included in this course. The laboratory setting is used to enhance and reinforce material taught didactically. Students will participate in active peer review of laboratory performance. Student must successfully complete clinical performance competency in this course.
- Credits: 4.0
- Prerequisites: SUR 120
This course is designed to apply basic surgical anatomy, instrumentation and procedural steps combined with a consistent method of reinforcement in the clinical site. The students are assigned to a clinical site where they will apply theoretical knowledge while gaining aptitude, skills and proficiency necessary to function in non-complex situations as a surgical technologist.
- Credits: 6.0
- Prerequisites: SUR 210, SUR 200 Co requisite: SUR 265
This course will include the study of current trends, professional and interpersonal skills in the health care setting, and case review. Concurrent review of clinical rotation and participation in the surgical team will occur during this course. Students will also be introduced to fundamental principles of evidence-based practice. Students will participate in journal review and present articles pertaining to their current clinical practice to classroom peers. Students will also prepare a paper for publication consideration on a relevant clinical topic. All assigned clinical paperwork will be reviewed during this course.
- Credits: 1.0
- Prerequisites: Co requisite: SUR 220, SUR 250
Second Year - Spring Semester
Students may choose a Humanities elective course.
This course provides an overview of the laws and ethics the student should know to help give competent, compassionate care to patients that is also within acceptable legal and ethical boundaries. This course will also give students the tools and guidance to facilitate the resolution of the many legal and ethical questions that they may reasonably expect to face as a student, and later as a health care practitioner. Emphasis on professional liability, scope of practice, ethical and personal obligations in relationship to medical mistakes and surgical patient outcomes is included. Students will also utilize a wide variety of real-life experiences and legal cases related to the text material.
Concurrent review of clinical rotation and participation in the surgical team through case studies and completion of clinical paperwork requirements will occur during this course. The student will develop the reflective practitioner model with direct applications to the experience of the surgical technologist in the workforce. Students will create a power point presentation on a surgical case study following course guidelines, and present study to peers in classroom setting. Students will prepare journal article on surgical case or surgical concept for dissemination and discussion.
- Credits: 1.0
- Prerequisites: SUR 270
The surgical technology student will continue to build on the concepts gained in ST 250 during this course. Surgical anatomy, instrumentation, and procedural steps for each case are reinforced. The student will function as a part of the surgical team in an operating room setting applying theoretical knowledge while gaining the aptitude, skills and proficiency necessary to function in complex situations and cases.
- Credits: 6.0
- Prerequisites: SUR 250 Co-requisite: SUR 268
This course is designed to give specialized instruction in various areas of surgical technology. Employability skills will be reviewed and applied. Students will be introduced to techniques and exercises in preparation for the national CST exam. Written and oral presentations by the students are key elements of this course. All students meeting eligibility requirements will be required to seat the national Certification Exam administered by the National Board of Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting (NBSTSA) within 30 days of graduation date. Successful completion of exam and proof of graduation allows graduate to use credential Certified Surgical Technologist (CST).
- Credits: 2.0
- Prerequisites: must be taken in the final semester of the ST Program
This course is designed to prepare associate degree students for the required portfolio presentation they deliver in their final semester. Students will apply the reflective process to the goals of the Educated Citizen Core Curriculum in online assignments and in an in-person presentation. A complete portfolio, successful completion of the course, and successful presentation are required as the culminating assignment before graduation.
Faculty
Our faculty is highly experienced and credentialed in their own fields, giving you constant real-world insight you can use. While any instructor can recite from a textbook, ours go a step further and draw from vast personal experience. Instructors here care as deeply about their students as they do the subject matter and it shows.
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