Standards & Requirements
The following is used as a guideline for the prospective student so that he/she may
understand the requirements and essential job functions necessary for successful completion
of the Surgical Technology Program. This list isn't intended to be all-inclusive,
but rather a detail of the basic physical demands of the profession of surgical technology.
Surgical technologists must be able to:
Surgical technologists must be able to:
- Stand, bend, stoop and/or sit for long periods of time in one location with minimal or no breaks.
- Bend, twist and lift a minimum of 50 pounds.
- Function for longer periods of time without a break.
- Demonstrate sufficient peripheral vision to anticipate and function while in the sterile surgical environment.
- Hear and understand muffled communication without visualization of the communicator’s mouth/lips with significant background noise.
- Hear activation/warning signals on equipment.
- Detect odors sufficient to maintain environmental safety and patient needs.
- Manipulate instruments, supplies and equipment with speed, dexterity and exceptional eye-hand coordination.
- Ambulate/move around without assistive devices.
- Assist with, and/or lift, move, position and manipulate, with or without assistive devices, the patient who is unconscious.
- Communicate and understand fluent English both verbally and in writing.
- Be free of reportable communicable diseases and chemical abuse.
- Function without allergic reaction in an environment with substantial latex exposure.
- Demonstrate immunity to rubella, rubeola, tuberculosis and hepatitis B, varicella or be vaccinated against these diseases.
- Possess short- and long-term memory sufficient to perform tasks such as, but not limited to, mentally tracking surgical supplies and performing anticipation skills intraoperatively.
- Demonstrate the use of positive coping skills under stress.
- Demonstrate calm and effective responses, especially in emergency situations.
- Exhibit positive interpersonal skills in patient, staff and faculty interactions.
- Make appropriate judgment decisions.
If the applicant is unable to perform any of the designated tasks, upon request, °µÍø½ûÇø
will make reasonable accommodations if they don't constitute an undue hardship on
the college and if those accommodations don't interfere with the performance of any
essential functions of a surgical technologist’s duties.