Course Description

Provides an overview of the surgical technology profession and develops the fundamental concepts and principles necessary to successfully participate on a surgical team. Topics include: orientation to surgical technology, asepsis and the surgical environment, basic instrumentation and equipment, principles of the sterilization process, and application of sterilization principles.

Competency Areas		Hours
Orientation to Surgical Technology		Class	5
Asepsis and the Surgical Environment		D. Lab	2
Basic Instrumentation and Equipment		P. Lab/O.B.I.	0
Principles of the Sterilization Process		Credit	6
Application of Sterilization Principles

Prerequisite:	Program admission
Corequisite:

Course Guide

Competency	After completing this section, the student will:	Hours
Competency	After completing this section, the student will:	Class	D.Lab	P.Lab/ O.B.I.
ORIENTATION TO SURGICAL TECHNOLOGY		24	0	0
Professional responsibilities and relations	Discuss the roles of hospitals in delivering patient care.
	Discuss the role of surgical team members.
	Describe the chain of command in a hospital setting.
Operating room environment	Describe the physical aspects of the operating room environment.
	Distinguish between restricted and unrestricted areas of the operating room suite.
	Select equipment needed in each operating room.
	List equipment needed in each operating room.
	State two purposes of operating room attire.
	Discuss environmental hazards of the O.R. environment including radiation, fire, electrical, body mechanics, communicable diseases, penetrating injuries, anesthetic gases, and burns.
Legal, ethical, and historical aspects of surgery	List factors used to establish negligence.
	Identify resources that may help a surgical technologist interpret and follow professional standards of conduct.
	Define terms related to voluntary and statutory credentialing.
	Define surgical conscience.
	Discuss specific O.R. incidents that could potentially result in litigation.
	Discuss situations that may result in ethical conflicts.
ASEPSIS AND THE SURGICAL ENVIRONMENT		10	48	0
Principles and concepts of aseptic technique	Define terms related to asepsis.
	Discuss sources of contamination.
	Discuss the principles of asepsis and their applications.
	Describe methods for disinfecting a surgical suite.
	Describe methods of chemical and physical disinfection.
	List the actions of various chemical disinfectants and antiseptics.
	Discuss factors affecting selection of an antimicrobial agent.
Scrubbing, gowning, and gloving	Explain the basic techniques of scrubbing.
	Demonstrate the basic techniques of scrubbing.
Creation and maintenance of a sterile field	Demonstrate the preparation of the operating room prior to setting up a sterile field.
	Demonstrate the opening of sterile supplies.
	Demonstrate preparation of supplies and instruments on the sterile field.
	Demonstrate the initial steps for starting a surgical procedure.
	Demonstrate intraoperative handling of sterile equipment and supplies.
	Explain postoperative routines.
BASIC INSTRUMENTATION AND EQUIPMENT		5	2	0
Specialty equipment	Identify common types and uses of special equipment.
	Discuss the types, care, and handling of endoscopes.
	Discuss the types, care, and handling of power tools.
Basic instrumentation	List the classifications of surgical instruments by function.
	Define the classifications of surgical instruments by function.
	Describe methods of care and handling of surgical instruments.
	Identify basic instruments.
	Assemble specified instrument sets
PRINCIPLES OF THE STERILIZATION PROCESS		15	0	0
	Discuss environmental factors that influence the growth of microorganisms
	List factors that determine the effectiveness of antimicrobial procedures.
	Describe the physical methods of antimicrobial control and an application of each.
	Describe the chemical methods of antimicrobial control and an application of each.
	Describe ways in which chemicals kill or inhibit the growth of bacteria.
	List methods of sterilization.
	Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of each method of sterilization.
	Describe the types of steam sterilizers and their utilization
	Identify the parts of a steam sterilizer and state the function of each.
	Discuss the chemical and biological methods of monitoring the sterilization process.
	Interpret sterilization record documentation.
	Discuss decontamination of instruments and equipment.
	Demonstrate instrument/equipment preparation for the sterilization process.
	Describe the use of universal precautions in the central service department.
	Discuss environmental hazards in the central service department.
APPLICATION OF STERILIZATION PRINCIPLES IN THE CLINICAL/ LAB SETTING		0	6	0
	Demonstrate the decontamination of instrumentation/ equipment.
	Demonstrate instrument/equipment preparation for the sterilization process.
	Demonstrate safe operation of sterilizers.
	Demonstrate appropriate procedures for care and maintenance of sterilizers
	Demonstrate use of quality control methods used to monitor the sterilization process: to include chemical and biological monitors.
	Identify basic surgical instrumentation.
	Demonstrate proper care and handling of instruments.
	Demonstrate the ability to assemble instrument pans.
	Demonstrate safety practices in central service.
	Demonstrate appropriate work place practices in the performance of central service assigned duties.

Suggested Resources

Suggested Resources include textbooks shown below or most current edition.

Books

Allmers, N., & Verderame, A. (1997). Appleton & Lange's review for the surgical technology examination, ARCO (4th ed.). East Norwalk, CT: Appleton & Lange.

Association of Operating Room Nurses. (1990). AORN standards and recommended practices for perioperative nursing (rev ed.). Denver: Author.

Association of Surgical Technologists. Core curriculum for surgical technology (5^th ed.). Littleton, CO: Association of Surgical Technologists.

Atkinson, L. J., & Kohn, M. J. (2003). Berry & Kohn's introduction to operating room technique (10^th ed.). New York: McGraw-Hill.

Beckett, B. (1997). Identifying surgical instruments. (2^nd ed.). Cal: Beckett.

Fuller, J. (2003). Surgical technology: Principles and practice (4^th ed.). Philadelphia: Saunders.

Rothrock, J. (2002). Alexander's care of the patient in surgery (12^th ed.). St. Louis: Mosby.

Tighe, S.M. (2003). Instrumentation for the operating room. St. Louis: Mosby.

Thomas, C. L. (Ed.). (2001). Taber's cyclopedic medical dictionary (19^th ed.). Philadelphia: F. A. Davis.

Van Way, C. W., & Buerk, C. (1995). Pocket manual of basic surgical skills. St. Louis: Mosby.

Audiovisuals

Dr. Katner speaks on AIDs, #6684 [Videocassette]. (1989). Atlanta: Georgia Department of Education.

Dr. Katner teaches about AIDs, #6605 [Videocassette]. (1989). Atlanta: Department of Education.

i [Film]. Somerville, NJ: Ethicon.

Fundamentals of aseptic technique, DG-1223 [Film]. Danbury, CT: American College of Surgeons.

Infection control [Film]. Somerville, NJ: Ethicon.

Infection control: Disinfection, sterilization, and asepsis, #915 [Film]. Garden Grove, CA: Trainex.

Inhospital sterilization, DG-1368 [Film]. Danbury, CT: American College of Surgeons.

Is this case dirty? -- O.R. sanitation, DG-1313 [Film]. Danbury, CT: American College of Surgeons.

Pioneers of surgery [Videocassette]. (1988). City, State: Nova.

Proper operating room attire, DG-1209 [Film]. Danbury, CT: American College of Surgeons.

Scrubbing, gowning, and gloving: Update, DG-1488 [Film]. Danbury, CT: American College of Surgeons.

Surgical scrub procedure, #1213 [Film]. Paramus, NJ: Karol Media.

Surgical technology: A professional opportunity. (1989). Littleton, CO: Association of Surgical Technologists.

Standard