CTHSS-SURGICAL
TECHNOLOGY
PROGRAM
CERTIFICATE PROGRAM IN SURGICAL TECHNOLOGY
COURSE:
INTRODUCTION TO SURGICAL TECHNOLOGY
Department
Head/Instructor
Instructor
Office hours
Office location
Karen V. Dempsey
Office phone
E-mail
(203) 397-4031 Ext. 386
Contact hours:
Monday – Friday 7:30am – 3:00pm
Course Description:
Terry M. Kennedy
M-F 7:30am-7:50am; 2:00pm-3:00pm; by appointment
229D
karen.dempsey@ct.gov / terry.kennedy@ct.gov
This course is designed to introduce the student to the first steps of developing a surgical
conscience, of understanding the legal and ethical concepts and responsibilities of a
Surgical Technologist. The course also provides the student with methods to respond
professionally and interpersonally with others in all types of communication skills
while working in the role of a Surgical Technologist. The student will also learn
safety guidelines for their environment and the workplace.
I. Professional Responsibility and Relations
Desired Outcome
The learner will be able discuss the reasons for surgical intervention and describe the organizational structure of
hospitals and out-patient surgical centers. The learner will also develop an understanding of their role as a surgical
technologist.
Performance Objectives
1. State the primary goal of surgical intervention
2. Match the reasons for surgical interventions with their correct descriptions.
3. List the three main types of hospitals and describe the facilities where surgery can be performed.
4. Describe a typical hospital organizational chart and match the position described for surgical services with their
correct descriptions.
5. List the hospital departments that interact with the surgical suite to provide continuity of care.
6. List the members of the surgical team, distinguish between sterile and non-sterile members and match the surgical
team members with their correct functions.
7. List areas of employment for the Surgical Technologist, ways of receiving training and complete a statement
concerning the job description of the Surgical Technologist.
8. Select the job responsibilities and functions of the Scrub Role and the Circulator role.
9. List the limitations of the Surgical Technologist.
Content Outline
1. Primary goal of surgical intervention
2. Reasons for surgical intervention
a. Diagnostic
b. Palliative
c. Prophylactic
d. Restorative
3. Three main types of hospitals
4.
1
a. Nonprofit
b. Proprietary
c. Tax-supported
Facilities where surgery can be
a. performed
b. Hospital based units
c. Satellite surgery center
CTHSS-SURGICAL
TECHNOLOGY
PROGRAM
CERTIFICATE PROGRAM IN SURGICAL TECHNOLOGY
COURSE:
INTRODUCTION TO SURGICAL TECHNOLOGY
d. Freestanding ambulatory surgery center
e. Office based surgery center
f. Ambulatory care center/surgicenter
g. Clinic
5. Typical hospital organizational chart
6. Typical hospital organizational
a. structure for surgical services
b. Director of Surgical Services
c. Outpatient Surgical Services Clinical
Manager
d. Operating Room Clinical Manager
e. Assistant Clinical Manager
f. Post-Anesthesia Recovery Unit Clinical
Manager
g. Business Manager
h. Staff Nurses
i. Surgical Technologist
j. Patient Care Associates
k. Clerical Personnel
7. Hospital departments on which the
surgical suite depends to give continuity
of patient care
a. Direct patient care
b. Indirect patient care
8. Members of the surgical team
a. Surgeon
a. Assistants to Surgeon
b. Scrub Person
c. Anesthesia Provider
d. Circulator
e. X-ray Technician, Pathologist or Specialist
9. Sterile and unsterile surgical team
members
a. Sterile members
a. Sterile
b. Sterile field
b. Unsterile members
10. Surgical team members and their
Functions
a. Surgeon
b.
Assistants to surgeon
a. Physician’s Assistant
b. Non-physician first assistant
c. Second assistant to surgeon
c. Anesthesia provider
d. Scrub role
e. Circulator
11. Ways of receiving training and areas of
employment for Surgical Technologists
12. Job description of the Surgical
Technologist
a. Job title
b. Nature of position
c. Duties
d. Responsibilities
e. Skills required
13. Job responsibilities of the Scrub role
and Circulator role
a. Preoperative
b. Intraoperative
c. Postoperative
14. Limitations of the Surgical Technologist
15. Critical Thinking
a. Management skills
i. Assessment
ii. Planning
iii. Implementation
iv. Evaluation
v. Predicted outcome
b. Procedural management
i. Patient factors
ii. Surgeon’s factor
iii. Procedural factors
iv. Unanticipated factors
- Pathology/comorbidity
- Unintended injury
- Hemorrhage
- Anesthesia related
II. Interpersonal Relationships and Communication Skills
Desired Outcome
The learner will to be able to apply effective interpersonal relationship and communication skills as they relate to
surgical technology.
Performance Objectives
1. Distinguish among the types of relationships.
2. Select factors needed for good relationships.
3. Arrange, in order, Maslow’s Hierarchy of Human Needs.
4. List the causes of stress in the operating room, the impact of stress on the body and methods of
2
CTHSS-SURGICAL
TECHNOLOGY
PROGRAM
CERTIFICATE PROGRAM IN SURGICAL TECHNOLOGY
COURSE:
INTRODUCTION TO SURGICAL TECHNOLOGY
coping with stress.
5. Select true statements concerning psychosocial stress in the patient and within the surgical
team
6. Match means of communications with their correct descriptions.
7. State the purposes of communication among hospital team members.
8. List the essential components of effective communication.
9. List the effective listening skills utilizing components of communication.
10. Describe effective speaking skills.
11. Identify means of communication that enable other hospital departments to relate to the
surgical suite and assure continuity of patient care and safety.
12. Select true statements concerning the importance of effective communication for patients
undergoing surgery.
13. Match techniques for therapeutic communication.
14. Match blocks to therapeutic communications to their examples.
15. Select communication requirements of the surgical team during surgery.
Content Outline
1. Types of Relationships
a. Social
b. Professional
c. Therapeutic
2. Factors needed for good relationships
a. Effective communication
b. Recognizing and meeting your needs
c. Recognizing and meeting others’ needs
d. Behaving in the correct manner
3. Maslow’s Hierarchy of human needs
a. Physiological
b. Security
c. Social
d. Ego
e. Self-actualization
4. Causes of stress in the OR, the impact of
stress on the body and methods of coping
with stress.
a. Stress
b. Stressors
c. Physical wear and tear
d. Physical response to stress
5. Psychosocial stress in the patient and
among surgical team members
a. Patient’s reactions to fear and
anxiety
b. Stress may be especially acute in
children
c. Elderly experience confusion,
depression, and many need extra
care
d. Surgical team members need to
look for these signs and act
accordingly
6. Goals of communication
a. To give information
b. To obtain information
c. To express feelings
d. To solve problems
e. To persuade others to change
7. Means of communication
a. Verbal
b. Nonverbal
8. Purposes of communication among hospital
team members
a. Accurate records
b. Promotion of employee relations
c. Promotion of teamwork
d. Provision of continuity of care
e. Identification of patient
f. Ensure legal aspects
9. Essential components of effective
communication
a. Sender
b. Sender
c. Receiver
d. Feedback
10. Effective listening skills utilizing
components of communication
a. Defer judgment
b. Listen for whole message
c. Pay attention
d. Listen completely
e. Paraphrase what was heard
11. Effective speaking skills
a. Assess
b. Plan
c. Present
d. Listen
e. Evaluate
12. Means of communication that enable other
hospital departments to relate to the surgical
3
CTHSS-SURGICAL
TECHNOLOGY
PROGRAM
CERTIFICATE PROGRAM IN SURGICAL TECHNOLOGY
COURSE:
INTRODUCTION TO SURGICAL TECHNOLOGY
suite and assure continuity of patient care
and safety
a. Records
b. Requisitions
c. In-service programs
d. Computers
e. Verbal
13. Importance of effective communication for
patients undergoing surgery
a. Basis of continuum of care
b. Stress and anxiety create need for
communication
c. Patients’ verbal and nonverbal
responses
d. Effective communication
14. Techniques for therapeutic communication
a. Use of broad open statements
b. Use of general leads
c. Giving information to patient
d. Sharing observations with patient
e. Acknowledging patient’s feelings
f. Reflecting to encourage the patient
g. Selective reflecting
h. Use of silence
i. Clarifying
j. Validating
15. Blocks to therapeutic communication
a. Using clichés
b. Giving approval
c. Requesting an explanation
d. Belittling the patient’s feelings
e. Expressing disapproval
f. Defending
g. Changing the subject
16. Communication requirements of the surgical
team during surgery
III. Legal and Ethical Responsibilities
Desired Outcome
The learner will be able to complete statements concerning surgical conscience and ethics and match areas of legal
responsibility to their correct definitions.
Performance Objectives
1. Discuss accountability for personal actions and obligations.
2. Match common areas of legal responsibility in surgery affecting the surgical technologist.
3. List operating room incidents that could lead to litigation
4. Match the criteria used to establish negligence in court cases involving the surgical team.
5. Match the terms related to credentialing to their correct definitions.
6. Discuss surgical conscience.
7. Complete the statements concerning ethics.
8. List ways of making ethical decisions as a surgical technologist.
9. List resources that help a surgical technologist interpret and follow professional standards of
conduct.
10. List items in the surgical technologist’s code of ethics.
11. Complete the statements concerning standards of professional practice.
12. Select the true statements concerning the Patient’s Bill of Rights.
Content Outline
1. Accountability for personal actions and
obligations.
2. Common areas of legal responsibility in
surgery affecting the surgical technologist.
a. Guiding medical principles
i. Aeger primo
ii. Doctrine of reasonable
man
iii. Primum non nocere
iv. Respondent superior
v. Res ipsa loquitor
b.
3.
4
Accountability and liability
i. Assault
ii. Battery
iii. Liability
iv. Corporate liability
v. Personal liability
vi. Product liability
c. Law and tort terms
d. Negligence terms
Operating room incidents that could lead to
litigation
CTHSS-SURGICAL
TECHNOLOGY
PROGRAM
4.
5.
6.
CERTIFICATE PROGRAM IN SURGICAL TECHNOLOGY
COURSE:
INTRODUCTION TO SURGICAL TECHNOLOGY
Criteria used to establish negligence in court
cases involving the surgical team
a. Damage
b. Dereliction/failure to meet
standards
c. Foreseeability of harm
d. Proximate cause of injury or
damage
e. Standard of due care
Terms related to credentialing
a. Credentialing
b. Accreditation
c. Certification
d. Licensure
e. Registration
Surgical conscience
a. professional honesty
b. conscientiousness
c. Honesty in actions
d. Respect for others
e. moral integrity
f. strict aseptic technique
g. confidentiality
h. nondiscriminatory treatment of
patient
i. commitment to cost containment
j. Barriers
- stress
- peer apathy
7.
Ethics
a. Autonomy
b. Beneficence
c. Fidelity
d. Justice
e. Nonmalificence
8. Making ethical decisions as a surgical
technologist
a. Identify moral aspects of care
b. Gather relevant facts
c. Clarify and apply personal values
d. Understand ethical theories and
principles
e. Interdisciplinary resources
f. Propose alternative actions
g. Apply code of ethics
9. Resources that help a surgical technologist
interpret and follow professional standards
of conduct
a. Continuing education
b. Colleagues
c. Medical journals
d. World wide web
10. Items in the surgical technologist’s code of
ethics
11. Standards of professional practice
12. Patient’s Bill of Rights
IV. Environmental Safety
Desired Outcome
The learner will be able to follow evacuation and personal safety guidelines for conducting yourself safely at school
and at work.
Performance Objectives
1. Discuss ways of developing good safety attitude.
2. Complete statements concerning personal safety guidelines.
3. List the general steps and guidelines for reporting defective equipment.
4. List expectations for a safe environment at school and work.
5. State the purpose of a MSDS.
6. Match the MSDS sections to the information each contains.
7. Match hazard placards and label symbols to their hazards.
8. Identify hazards using the NFPA 704 hazard triangles.
9. Match methods by which hazardous materials can enter the body.
10. Complete the statements concerning the principles of body mechanics.
11. List the basic types of emergencies.
12. Discuss severe weather guidelines.
13. Arrange, in order, the steps to follow on receiving a bomb threat.
14. Complete statements on the guidelines for general evacuation.
15. Describe the disabled person’s fire evacuation responsibilities.
16. Identify components of fire by labeling the sides of a fire tetrahedron.
5
CTHSS-SURGICAL
TECHNOLOGY
PROGRAM
CERTIFICATE PROGRAM IN SURGICAL TECHNOLOGY
COURSE: INTRODUCTION TO SURGICAL TECHNOLOGY
17. Match the extinguisher pictograph to the extinguishers intended purposes.
18. Match fire extinguisher symbol shapes to fire classification letters.
19. Match the extinguisher pictograph to the extinguishers intended purposes.
20. List the characteristics of fires appropriate for handling with a portable fire extinguisher.
21. Arrange, in order, the general steps in using a fire extinguisher.
22. List fire prevention guidelines.
23. Complete statements concerning electrical safety.
24. Select the true statements concerning basic equipment safety.
Content Outline
7. Ways of developing a good safety attitude
a. Focus on the task
b. Stay alert
c. Do the job right
d. Prioritize
e. Think, then act
f. No fooling around
g. Take responsibility for actions
h. Avoid unnecessary risks
8. Personal safety guidelines
a. Know emergency numbers
b. Comply with safety rules
c. Be alert
d. Be familiar with the location of
fire-fighting and first aid equipment
e. Use proper tools for the job
f. Follow instructions
g. Wear persona protective equipment
h. Use and store potentially hazardous
materials correctly
i. Tag and report defective equipment
j. Use proper body mechanisms
k. Conduct self in a safe manner
l. Keep work area clean
9. General steps and guidelines for reporting
defective equipment
a. Usually inspect equipment for use
b. Immediately report defective
equipment
c. Tag the equipment for repair
d. Remove the equipment from
operation
10. Expectations for a safe environment at
school or work
h. Adequate lighting
i. Clean air
j. Comfortable ergonomic seating
k. Working emergency alarm system
l. Clearly marked exits
m. Clear, barrier for walkways
n. Posted safety rules
o. Posted evacuation rules
p.
q.
r.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
6
Mandatory training
Personal protective equipment (PPE)
Designated smoking and nonsmoking
areas
s. MSDS
Purposes of a Material Safety Data Sheet
a. Inform user about the material
hazards and uses
b. Level of protective gear needed
c. First aid treatments
d. How to respond to accidents
MSDS sections of information
a. Chemical name
b. Hazardous ingredients
c. Physical characteristics
d. Fire and explosion data
e. Reactivity
f. Usage, handling and storage
g. Special protection and precautions
Hazard placards and label symbols
a. Corrosive
b. Explosive
c. Flammable
d. Harmful to food
e. Infectious
f. Oxidizing
g. Poisonous
h. Radioactive
Hazards using the NFPA 704 hazard
triangles
a. NFPA 704 hazard triangle
b. Health, fire and reactivity hazards
and ratings
c. Other specific hazards and their
abbreviations and symbols
Methods by which hazardous materials can
enter the body
a. Ingestion
b. Absorption
c. Inhalation
Principles of body mechanics
a. Use body correctly
CTHSS-SURGICAL
TECHNOLOGY
PROGRAM
CERTIFICATE PROGRAM IN SURGICAL TECHNOLOGY
COURSE: INTRODUCTION TO SURGICAL TECHNOLOGY
d. Class D – yellow star
25. Extinguisher pictographs
26. Characteristics of fires appropriate for
handling with a portable fire extinguisher
a. Fire is contained
b. Flames not higher than person’s
head
c. Heat does not prevent person from
getting close
d. Size of fire allows person to stand
upright
e. Fire cannot block person’s only
escape route
f. Not a lot of smoke
g. Fire is not near other fuels
27. General steps in using a fire extinguisher
a. Identify fire
b. Pull pin
c. Aim extinguisher
d. Squeeze
e. Sweep
28. Fire prevention guidelines
29. Electrical safety
a. Fuses
b. Circuit breakers
c. Grounding
d. Ground fault
30. Basic equipment safety
a. Remove rings
b. Secure hair
c. Personal protective equipment
d. Use equipment and tools as
intended
e. Never use equipment without
training
f. Inspect equipment prior to use
g. Disconnect power equipment
before maintenance
h. Turn power switches off before
plugging or unplugging
i. Never pull cord to disconnect
j. Hands should be dry
k. Keep cords out of the way of traffic
l. Do not leave or store equipment in
aisles
b.
c.
17.
18.
19.
20.
21.
22.
23.
24.
Good body mechanics
Techniques for good body
mechanics
d. Good posture
e. Correct standing posture
f. Correct standing posture
g. Correct lying posture
h. Moving correctly
i. Lifting correctly
Basic types of emergencies
a. Fires
b. Mechanical failures
c. Bomb threats
d. Severe weather
e. Natural disasters
f. Accidents
g. Health problems
Severe weather safety guidelines
a. Before severe weather occurs
b. During severe weather
Steps to follow on receiving a bomb threat
a. Answer the call
b. Obtain information
c. Alert superiors
d. Follow evacuation plans
e. Do not return to the building
Guidelines for general evacuation
procedures in a fire emergency
a. Upon discovery of a fire
b. At the sound of an alarm
Disabled person’s fire evacuation
responsibilities
a. Pre-emergency responsibilities
b. Evacuation responsibilities
Components of fire
a. Oxygen
b. Fuel
c. Heat
d. Chemical chain reaction
Fire classification by fuel source
a. Class A
b. Class B
c. Class C
d. Class D
Fire extinguisher symbol shapes
a. Class A – green triangle
b. Class B – red square
c. Class C – blue circle
7
CTHSS-SURGICAL
TECHNOLOGY
PROGRAM
CERTIFICATE PROGRAM IN SURGICAL TECHNOLOGY
COURSE: INTRODUCTION TO SURGICAL TECHNOLOGY
V. Workplace Safety
Desired Outcome
The learner will able to follow basic health care workplace safety guidelines, including Standard Precautions and
those safety guidelines for workplace violence, hazard communications, protection from blood borne pathogens,
radiation, electrosurgery and laser use.
Performance Objectives
1. Describe OSHA regulations required of employees.
2. Discuss OSHA and its role in workplace health and safety.
3. Discuss OSHA risk factors for violence to health care workers.
4. Name the four main components to any effective safety and health program that also apply to
preventing workplace violence.
5. List the responsibilities of management and employees in creating an effective workplace
violence prevention program.
6. Complete statements concerning OSHA-recommended engineering controls and workplace
adaptation can effectively prevent or control workplace violence hazards.
7. Complete statements concerning OSHA-recommended administrative and work practice
controls to help prevent workplace violence.
8. List records that are important to the success of a workplace violence prevention program.
9. Select true statements concerning hazard communications and information on a chemical
label.
10. Describe personal protective equipment (PPE) and their protective requirements.
11. Describe major types of reactions to latex and methods of preventing latex allergy.
12. Discuss blood borne pathogens including the following: concern to operating room
professionals; the types of hepatitis; comparison of the human immunodeficiency virus and
the hepatitis B virus.
13. List examples of devices that can cause sharps injuries, discuss causes of suture needle and
scalpel injuries and guidelines for handling sharps.
14. Explain the differences between Universal Precautions and Standard Precautions.
15. Describe the three types of ionizing radiation, their characteristics and radiation safety
practices.
16. Discuss safeguards for preventing electrical and fire hazards in the operating room.
17. Describe the different laser classes and their characteristics.
18. Discuss laser hazards especially those concerning the eyes and skin as well as the precautions
for using lasers safety.
19. Demonstrate maneuvering a wheelchair and stretcher safely.
Content Outline
1. OSHA regulations required by employer
a. Written policies and procedures
b. CDC guidelines
c. Protection from high noise levels
d. Adequate ventilation
e. Radiation exposure minimized
f. Fire and electrical safety standards
g. Laser safety training
2. OSHA and its role in workplace safety and
health
a. Federal law
b. U.S. Labor Department
c. Major requirements for employer
and employee
d.
3.
4.
8
Records kept on employee
occupational injuries and illnesses
OSHA risk factors for violence to health
care workers
Four main components to any effective
safety and health program that also apply to
preventing workplace violence
a. Management commitment and
employee involvement
b. Work site analysis
c. Hazard prevention and control
d. Safety and health training
CTHSS-SURGICAL
TECHNOLOGY
PROGRAM
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
CERTIFICATE PROGRAM IN SURGICAL TECHNOLOGY
COURSE: INTRODUCTION TO SURGICAL TECHNOLOGY
Responsibilities of management in creating
an effective workplace violence prevention
program
Responsibilities of employees in creating an
effective workplace violence prevention
program
OSHA-recommended engineering controls
and workplace adaptation can effectively
prevent or control workplace violence
hazards
OSHA-recommended administrative and
work practice controls to help prevent
workplace violence
Records that are important to the success of
a workplace violence prevention program
Hazard communications
a. Employer development hazardous
communications program
b. Hazardous communications
standard
c. “Right to Know”
Information found on a chemical label
a. Chemical name
b. Chemical ingredient
c. Name, address and phone number
of manufacturer
d. Procedure for use, handling,
storage and disposal
e. How to handle spills
f. Signal works that identify chemical
hazardous levels
g. Critical first aid instruction-type of
fire extinguishers
h. Personal protective equipment
i. Other information about the
chemical
Basic healthcare workplace safety guidelines
Personal protective equipment
a. Employer development hazardous
communications program
b. Hazardous communications
standard
c. “Right to Know”
Types of reactions to latex
a. Irritation dermatitis
b. Delayed cutaneous hypersensitivity
c. Immediate reaction
Ways of preventing latex allergies
a. Nonlatex gloves
b. Powder hand rashes
c. Report hand rashes
d. Appropriate work practices
e.
16.
17.
18.
19.
20.
21.
22.
23.
24.
25.
26.
27.
9
Learn to recognize the symptoms
of latex allergies
Blood borne pathogens
Five different types of hepatitis
a. Hepatitis A
b. Hepatitis B
c. Hepatitis C
d. Hepatitis D
e. Hepatitis E
Blood borne pathogens and their concern to
operating room professionals
a. Hepatitis B virus
b. Hepatitis C virus
c. HIV
d. AIDS
Chart comparing HIV and HBV
a. Transmission
b. Incubation
c. Symptoms
d. Prognosis
Devices that can cause sharp injuries
a. Wire sutures
b. Hollow injection needles
c. Guide wires
d. Stylets
e. Drain trocars
f. Laparoscopic trocar
g. Orthopedic drill bits
h. Urethra suspension needle
i. Needle point cautery
j. Sharps
Common causes of suture needles and
scalpel injuries
Guidelines for handling sharps and sharp
boxes
Blunt needle categories
a. Least blunt needles
b. Intermediate blunt needles
c. Extremely blunt needles
Guidelines for safe blunting suturing
techniques
Differences between Universal Precautions
and Standard Precautions
Standard Precautions
Substances included in Standard Precautions
that require hand protection
a. Blood
b. Sputum
c. Urine
d. Feces
e. Nasal secretions
f. Vomitus
g. Spinal fluid
CTHSS-SURGICAL
TECHNOLOGY
PROGRAM
28.
29.
30.
31.
32.
33.
34.
35.
CERTIFICATE PROGRAM IN SURGICAL TECHNOLOGY
COURSE: INTRODUCTION TO SURGICAL TECHNOLOGY
h. Semen
i. Cerebrospinal fluid
j. Synovial fluid
k. Pleural fluid
l. Peritoneal fluid
m. Pericardial fluid
n. Amniotic fluid
o. Nonintact skin
p. Mucous membrane
Instances that require hand washing
a. At the beginning of the shift
b. Before and after prolong patient
contact
c. Before invasive procedures
d. Before contact with susceptible
patients
e. Before and after touching wounds
f. After contact with body substances
g. Anytime in doubt
h. At the end of the shift
CDC Guidelines for proper hand washing
Workplace issues
a. Keep hair short or restrained
b. Keep fingernails short and clean
c. Minimum jewelry
d. No necklaces or hoop earrings
e. Do not wear eyebrow, nose, tongue
or other body piercing jewelry
Characteristics of radiation
a. Mild effects
b. Delayed effects
c. Serious effects
d. Universal symbol
Three types of ionizing radiation
a. Alpha
b. Beta
c. Gamma
Radiation safety practices
a. Patient safety
b. Personnel safety
Conditions that require immediate
notification of the health care facility
radiation safety officer
a. Radioactive contamination
b. Deliberate misuse
c. Known or suspected personnel
contamination
d. Accidents
Compressed gases and their traditional U.S.
cylinder colors
a. Oxygen – green
b. Nitrous oxide – blue
c. Carbon dioxide – gray
36.
37.
38.
39.
40.
41.
42.
43.
44.
45.
46.
10
d. Nitrogen – black
e. Helium – brown
f. Cyclopropane – orange
g. Air – yellow
Flammable anesthetic gases
a. Cyclopropane
b. Diving/ether
c. Ethyl/ether
d. Ethyl/chloride
e. Ethylene
Common fire ignition sources in the
operating room
a. High intensity light cords
b. Electrosurgical/cautery equipment
c. Lasers
Types of burns
a. Thermal
b. Electrical
c. Chemical
d. Radiation
Possible health care related causes of patient
thermal burns
a. Equipment malfunction
b. Pooling of prep solution
c. Alcohol sponges
d. Phenol use
e. Hyperthermia unit
f. Physical fire
Static electricity
Grounding operating room electrical
equipment
Safeguards for preventing electrical and fire
hazards in the operating room
a. Personnel safeguards
b. Environmental safeguards
Laser classes
a. Class I
b. Class II
c. Class III
d. Class IIIb
e. Class IV
Specular and diffuse laser beam reflections
a. Specular reflectance
b. Diffuse reflectance
Laser viewing hazards
a. Intrabeam of direct beam
b. Intrabeam of specularly reflected
from a flat surface
c. Intrabeam of specularly reflected
from curved surface
d. Extended source of viewing of a
normally diffuse reflection
Laser beam hazards to the eye and skin
CTHSS-SURGICAL
TECHNOLOGY
PROGRAM
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
CERTIFICATE PROGRAM IN SURGICAL TECHNOLOGY
COURSE: INTRODUCTION TO SURGICAL TECHNOLOGY
Thermal burn to the eye
Thermal-acoustic damage to the
eye
Photochemical damage
Other hazards
Skin hazards
47. Precautions for safety using lasers
a. Patient safety precautions
b. Personal safety precautions
c. Environmental safety precautions
VI. Instrumentation
Desired Outcome: The learner will be able to identify instrumentation and the uses of each as well as determine
instruments used in different surgical procedures.
Course Objectives:
1. Identify the classifications, names, parts, materials, finishes and uses of basic surgical instrumentation.
2. Understand the relationship between instrument type and usage.
3. Apply knowledge of basic surgical instrumentation to specific surgical procedures.
Content Outline
I. Instruments
A. Classifications
1. Cutting/dissecting
2. Grasping/holding
3. Clamping/occluding
4. Retracting/exposing
5. Probing
6. Suturing
7. Viewing
8. Dilating
9. Aspirating
10. Accessory
B. Parts
1. Tip
2. Jaw
3. Box lock
4. Shank
5. Ratchet
6. Finger rings
C. Materials
1. Stainless steel
2. Titanium
3. Alloys
D. Finishes
1. Bright, mirror
2. Satin, dulled
3. Ebonized
II. Care and handling
A. Intraoperative
1. Passing techniques
2. Safety precautions
B. Prior to reuse
1. Cleansing methods
a. Washer/sterilizer
b. Ultrasonic cleaner
c. Terminal sterilization
2. Lubrication
3. Preparation for sterilization
a. Check function and integrity
b. Set assembly
Course Evaluation: Exams, quizzes, homework and classroom activities.
Course Grade: The course grade for students in Surgical Technology will be weighted according to the following
activities and assignments:
10 % Project: This category include broad based assessment of class discussion and participation as well as
presentations (Oral or written) and role playing.
10 % Quizzes: This category may include but is not limited to formal assessment which incorporates in class or
take home assignments
11
CTHSS-SURGICAL
TECHNOLOGY
PROGRAM
CERTIFICATE PROGRAM IN SURGICAL TECHNOLOGY
COURSE: INTRODUCTION TO SURGICAL TECHNOLOGY
70% Course Assessments: This includes all forms of testing assessments. All students must achieve a grade of
at least 75% on the course assessment. Students who retake the formal assessment will receive an average of
the two grades. Make-ups due to absences will follow the policies of both attendance and grading.
10 % Common Assessment: Common assessments given at the end of this course will count 10% of the total
grade. All students must achieve a grade of at least 75% on the common assessment. Students who retake the
common assessment will receive an average of the two grades. Make-ups due to absences will follow the
policies of both attendance and grading.
Texts for this Course
Surgical Technology For the Surgical Technologist
978-1-4180-5168-6
Caruthers
Right of Revision Statement:
The Eli Whitney Technical School, the Surgical Technology Program, Department Head and
instructors reserve the right to revise the syllabus at any time.
12