Surgical Technology
Program Director: Donnis Hunter, LVN, CST, SA-C
Office: Allied Health Building, Office 125
Email: hunterdt@lamarpa.edu
Phone: 409-984-6367
The Surgical Technology Program provides instruction to prepare graduates for entry level positions in surgical technology. Courses allow students to acquire the skills and knowledge necessary to function in the surgical suite and deliver competent care to patients. Surgical technologists are responsible for preparing supplies and equipment for surgical procedures, assisting surgeons during operative procedures by passing instruments, ensuring that equipment functions properly and that the operative procedure is conducted under conditions that maximize patient safety.
Successful completion of this program results in the student earning an associate degree and allows graduates to take the National Certified Surgical Technologist Exam.
The Surgical Technology Program is fully accredited by the Accreditation Review Council on Education in Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting (ARC/STSA), and the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP).
Admission Requirements
The Surgical Technology Program is a selective enrollment program.
Individuals interested in enrolling in the Surgical Technology Program must apply to Lamar State College Port Arthur and submit a program application for the Surgical Technology Program.
Complete information about requirements and application forms are available from the Allied Health Department and the LSCPA website.
The number of students admitted to any class is governed by the requirements of the accreditation agencies.
Applicants are ranked according to their score on the Admission Criteria Rating Form. In any given admission period, those applicants having the highest scores are the applicants admitted to the program. Lamar State College Port Arthur is an open access institution. All available slots are filled with the most qualified applicants.
Successful completion of academic prerequisites does not guarantee admission to the program.
Students who plan to apply for the Surgical Technology Program must complete prerequisite courses with a 'C' or better. Upon completion, the pre-requisite courses may earn students a Certificate of Completion for Nurse Aide.
To enroll in the prerequisite NURA classes (NURA 1301/1160), a student must first complete the criminal background check process with the agency chosen by LSCPA.
Once student's are admitted into the Surgical Technology program a drug screening will be required to meet the clinical facility requirements.
Clinical Case Requirements for Graduation
FIRST SCRUB: ( All Five Criteria)
Verify supplies and equipment needed for the surgical procedure.
Set up the sterile field with instruments, supplies, equipment, medication(s) and solutions needed for the procedure.
Perform counts with circulator prior to the procedure and before the incision is closed.
Pass instruments and supplies to the sterile surgical team members during the procedure.
Maintain sterile technique as measured by recognized breaks in technique and demonstrate knowledge of how to correct with appropriate technique.
SECOND SCRUB: ( active participant in entire case- not met all criteria for first scrub but has completed any of the following)
Sponging
Suctioning
Cutting Suture
Holding Retractors
Manipulating Endoscopic Camera
OBSERVATION: (Student did not met criteria for first or second scrub)
Student observed case in the OR not counted as toward required case count but documented by program.
Students are expected to complete a total of 120 scrubbed procedures during the combined semesters of SRGT 1461 Clinical Practice I and SRGT 1462 Clinical Practice II.
The total number of cases the student must complete is 120.
Students are required to complete 30 cases in General Surgery.
Twenty of the cases must be First Scrub Role.
Students are required to complete 90 cases in various surgical specialties.
Sixty of the cases must be First Scrub Role and evenly distributed between a minimum of four surgical specialties.
The Surgical Technology Program is required to verify through the surgical rotation documentation the students progression in First and Second Scrubbing surgical procedures of increased complexity as he/she moves toward entry level graduate abilities.
Diagnostic endoscopy cases and vaginal delivery cases are not mandatory, but up to 10 diagnostic endoscopy cases and 5 vaginal delivery cases can be counted toward the maximum number of second scrub role cases.
Observation cases must be documented, but do not count toward the 120 required cases.
COUNTING CASES: Cases will be counted according to surgical specialty. Examples: Trauma patients that require a splenectomy and a repair of a Lefort 1 fracture. Two cases can be counted and documented since the splenectomy is in the general surgery specialty and the repair of the Lefort I fracture is Oral-maxillofacial specialty. Patients require 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.
Students not completing a minimum of 120 cases scrubbed in General, Genitourinary, Gynecology, Orthopedic, and Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) surgeries will be reviewed by the (NBSTSA) National Board of Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting to determine eligibility to test for certification.
Certification
Students who complete the Surgical Technology Program coursework as well as meet all other requirements are entitled to take the national certifying exam through the National Board of Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting (NBSTSA). Qualifying students will take the NBSTSA certifying exam at the end of Level 3 of the Surgical Technology Program. A student successfully passing the NBSTSA certifying exam will acquire the credential of Certified Surgical Technologist (CST) upon graduation.