Graduation Requirements

SURGICAL TECHNOLOGY GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS

• Comply with all formal procedures for graduation in accordance with College policy. See College Catalog.
• Completion of all course curriculum (See Curriculum) and clinical requirements.
• Graduates are required to take the National Certification Exam from the National Board of Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting

Surgical Rotation Case Requirements:

I. The surgical technology program is required to verify through the surgical rotation documentation the students’ progression in the scrub role in surgical procedures of increased complexity as he/she moves towards entry-level graduate competency.

II. Students must complete a minimum of 120 cases as delineated below.

A.   General Surgery cases

1. Students must complete a minimum of 30 cases in General Surgery; 20 which must be performed in the First Scrub Role. The remaining 10 cases may be performed in either the First or Second Scrub Role.

B.   Specialty cases

1. Students must complete a minimum of 90 cases in various surgical specialties, excluding General Surgery; 60 which must be performed in the First Scrub Role. The additional 30 cases may be performed in either the First or Second Scrub Role.

a.  A minimum of 60 surgical specialty cases must be performed in the First Scrub Role and distributed amongst a minimum of four surgical specialties.

(1) A minimum of 10 cases in the First Scrub Role must be completed in each of the required minimum of four surgical specialties (40 cases total required).
(2) The additional 20 cases in the First Scrub Role may be distributed amongst any one surgical specialty or multiple surgical specialties.

b. The remaining 30 surgical specialty cases may be performed in any surgical specialty either in the First or Second Scrub Role.

C.   Optional surgical specialties

1. Diagnostic endoscopy cases and vaginal delivery cases are not mandatory. However, up to 10 diagnostic endoscopic cases and 5 vaginal delivery cases can be counted toward the maximum number of Second Scrub Role cases.

a. Diagnostic endoscopy cases must be documented in the category of “Diagnostic Endoscopy”, rather than by specialty.
b. Vaginal delivery cases must be documented in the category of “Labor & Delivery” rather than in the OB/GYN specialty.

D.   Case experience in the Second Scrub Role is not mandatory.

E.   Observation cases must be documented, but do not count towards the 120 required cases.

How to count/record cases:

• Student must meet the five criteria in order to count/document the case in the First Scrub Role.
• If one of the five criteria is not met, the case must be recorded in the Second Scrub Role as long as the five criteria for Second Scrub Role are met, or it would then be documented as observation. 
• Cases will be counted and documented according to surgical specialty (exception being diagnostic endoscopic cases; refer to above).
• Examples of counting cases

a.   Trauma patient requires a splenectomy and repair of a Lefort I fracture.

• Two cases can be counted and documented since the splenectomy is general surgery specialty and repair of LeFort I is oral-maxillofacial surgical specialty.

b.   Patient requires a breast biopsy followed by mastectomy. It is one pathology, breast cancer, and the specialty is general surgery; therefore, it is counted and documented as one procedure – one case.

c.   Endoscopic cases that convert to an open case (e.g.: Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy converted to an Open Cholecystectomy) are counted and documented as one (1) procedure—one case.

First Scrub Role: Student shall perform the following duties with proficiency.

1. Verify supplies and Equipment Needed for the surgical procedure
2. Set-up the sterile field with instruments, supplies, equipment, medication(s) and solutions needed for the procedure.
3. Perform counts with the circulator prior to procedure and before the incision is closed.
4. Pass instruments and supplies to the sterile surgical team members during the procedure.
5. Maintain Sterile Technique as measured by recognized breaks in technique and demonstrate knowledge of how to correct with appropriate technique.

Second Scrub Role: defined as the student who is at the sterile field who has not met the criteria for the first scrub role, but actively participates in the surgical procedure by completing any of the following:

1. Sponging
2. Suctioning
3. Cutting Suture
4. Holding Retractors
5. Manipulating endoscopic camera

Observation Role: the student who is in the OR performing roles that do not meet the criteria for First or Second scrub role.
These observations must be documented, but are not included in the 120 required cases.

Accreditation and Eligibility for Certification

The Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) accredits the Surgical Technology program.

CAAHEP
1361 Park Street
Clearwater, FL 33756
Phone 727-210-2350    Fax: 727-210-2354

Students who complete the Surgical Technology program are required to sit for the national certification exam. The exam will be given at the completion of the program at the college.

The National Board of Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting (NBSTSA)
6 West Dry Creek Circle, Ste. 100
Littleton, CO 80120
Toll Free:   1.800.707.0057    Fax: 303.325.2536

Establishing Eligibility to Test
The National Board of Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting (NBSTSA) retains the sole authority to establish eligibility requirements and make all final decisions regarding eligibility.

Before testing, individuals must first establish eligibility by submitting the appropriate examination application form along with the correct fees. NBSTSA does not refund processing fees for ineligible candidates.

Once approved, NBSTSA provides candidates with an Authorization to Test number (ATT), and both the phone number and web address to contact the testing agency to schedule the test.

NBSTSA accepts all properly completed applications from qualified applicants regardless of the applicant’s age, sex, race, religion, marital status, disability or national origin.

Certified Surgical Technologist - Examination Content Outline

CST-Content-Outline for Certification  Exam

I. Perioperative Care: 105 items (Recall - 42, Application - 59, Analysis - 4)

A. Preoperative Preparation: 29 items (Recall - 10, Application - 17, Analysis - 2)
B. Intraoperative Procedures: 66 items (Recall - 28, Application - 36, Analysis - 2)
C. Postoperative Procedures: 10 items (Recall - 4, Application - 6, Analysis - 0)

II. Additional Duties: 20 items (Recall - 6, Application - 12, Analysis - 2)

A. Administrative and Personnel: 10 items (Recall - 2, Application - 7, Analysis - 1)
B. Equipment Sterilization and Maintenance: 10 items (Recall - 4, Application -5, Analysis - 1)

III. Basic Science: 50 items (Recall - 20, Application - 30, Analysis - 0)

A. Anatomy and Physiology: 30 items (Recall - 12, Application - 18, Analysis - 0)
B. Microbiology: 10 items (Recall - 4, Application - 6, Analysis - 0)
C. Surgical Pharmacology: 10 items (Recall - 4, Application - 6, Analysis - 0)

Copyright © 2012. National Board of Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting