Faculty Syllabus

Introduction to Surgical Technology

SRGT 1505

DESCRIPTION

Orientation to surgical technology theory, surgical pharmacology and anesthesia, technological sciences, and patient care concepts.

The Austin Community College Surgical Technology Program is committed to equitably serving our diverse student population as well as our community by dedicating ourselves to prepare proud, competent entry-level surgical technologists in the cognitive (knowledge), psychomotor (skills), and affective (behavior) learning domains. Our dedicated team of instructors provides effective teaching of surgical technology combining both physical skills taught in the laboratory and clinical settings along with didactic classroom instruction to give our students the understanding of relevant pathophysiologies, the surgical procedure to address them and the role of the surgical technologist therein. This information allows our graduates to provide excellent patient care as contributing members of the healthcare team.

• Credit Hours: 5
• Classroom Contact Hours per Week: 3 (16 week course)
• Laboratory Contact Hours per Week: 6 (16 week course)

Transferability of workforce courses varies. Students interested in transferring courses to another college should speak with their Area of Study (AoS) advisor, Department Chair, and/or Program Director.

PREREQUISITES

BIOL 2401, BIOL 2402, BIOL 2420, HPRS 1106, HPRS 2300, any MATH except MATH 1333 and admission into the Surgical Technology program.

COREQUISITES

SRGT 1509, SRGT 1244 and SRGT 1160

This course and all surgical technology (SRGT) co-requisites must be taken and passed in the same semester in order to complete the program. Dismissal, withdrawal or failure from this course will also result in dismissal from SRGT 1509, SRGT 1244 and SRGT 1160. Withdrawal deadlines apply. 

COURSE RATIONALE

The focus of this course is on the fundamentals of surgical technology. The practices associated with aseptic technique and working within the sterile field are of particular importance. Orientation to surgical technology theory, surgical pharmacology and anesthesia, and patient care concepts are included in the focus of this course. 

GRADING SYSTEM

Final grades are determined by the percentage of total points offered if, and only if, all checkoff exams have been successfully completed.

Clinical Modules and BLS certification to Castlebranch               100 points

Written Tests X 4 (100 points each)                                       400 points

Check-off Exams: Circulating Skills X 5 (100 points each)          500 points

Comprehensive Final Exam                                          100 points

Video Critique                                                                                  50 points

Clinical Readiness Exam                                                100 points

                                                                           total   1250 points         

A = 90-100%

B = 80-89%

C = 70-79%

D = 60-69%

F = less than 60%

****Final grades are computed only if the Clinical Readiness Exam for this course is passed. Failure on the Clinical Readiness Exam will result in failure in this course.****

To progress to the next semester, a grade of “C” or better must be achieved. Failure to achieve a “C” or better will result in dismissal from the program. Re-entry rules apply.

NOTE: Other assignments may be given at the subject instructor’s discretion. If additional assignments are given, the assignment’s “total points possible” will be added to this course’s “total points possible” and computed in the final grade.

Late Assignment Policy:

1.     Late Submission Penalty:

·       Assignments turned in after the due date will incur a penalty of 10% of total points per day for the first five days.

· If a student is absent, any assignment that was due the date they are out will be due the day they return with no penalty.  If the assignment is not turned in on the day of return, the penalty will be added for any subsequent days the assignment is late.

2.     Maximum Grade After Five Days:

·       If an assignment is submitted five or more days late, the highest grade achievable will be a 50% of the original total grade regardless of performance

3.     Final Deadline:

·       All assignments must be submitted no later than 05/08/2026. Any assignment not turned in by this date will receive a zero.

1. Healthcare Facility Organization and Management

a. Didactic

i. Compare the different roles of the team members in the surgical setting 

ii. Identify the proper chain of command in the operating room 

iii. Describe the healthcare facility (HCF) departments that provide direct and indirect patient care 

iv. Describe the healthcare agencies that impact the provision of surgical services

2. Physical Environment

a. Didactic

i. Discuss the location of the surgical services within the healthcare facility 

ii. Describe basic floor plan designs for surgical services 

iii. Explain the principles underlying the design of the surgical department 

iv. Describe the floor plan of the operating room 

v. Summarize the components that comprise the environmental systems

vi. Describe the principles of environmental system safety controls

3. Physical Preparation of the Patient I – Transfer and Transport

a. Didactic

i. Describe the physical preparation that the surgical patient may receive before the surgical procedure 

ii. Identify methods of patient transport 

iii. Discuss the principles of transporting a patient 

iv. Discuss the principles of transferring a patient 

v. Identify equipment utilized for transferring the surgical patient

b. Skill Applications

i. Demonstrate the principles of safe patient transport and transfer

4. Needs of a Patient I – Holistic Patient

a. Didactic

i. Evaluate the holistic needs of the surgical patient

5. Needs of a Patient II – Patient Responses

a. Didactic

i. Identify responses concerning the needs of the patient population

6. Needs of a Patient III – Patient Susceptibility

a. Didactic

i. Discuss the needs of susceptible populations

7. Death and Dying

a. Didactic

i. Evaluate perceptions regarding death and dying

ii. Define the various causes of death 

iii. Discuss the definitions of death 

iv. Compare and contrast responses to the process of death 

v. Evaluate the various coping strategies and mechanisms

vi. Analyze quality vs. quantity of life

vii. Evaluate the process when a patient's death occurs in the operating room 

viii. Discuss the issues regarding organ and tissue recovery from a deceased individual

ix. Discuss the issues related to suicide

8. Management and Leadership

a. Didactic

i. Identify the characteristics of a successful leader 

ii. Discuss the functions and roles of leadership 

iii. Explore pathways to advance in management roles

9. Ethical and Moral Issues

a. Didactic

i. Review the American Hospital Association’s (AHA) Patient Care Partnership 

ii. Understand the influence of ethics in professional practice 

iii. Discuss the role of morality during ethical decision-making 

iv. Discuss examples of ethical situations and problems in the health profession 

v. Discuss key elements related to developing a surgical conscience 

vi. Review principles of patient confidentiality, including verbal and written 

b. Skill Applications

i. Demonstrate the key elements related to developing a surgical conscience

10. Legal Issues and Risk Management

a. Didactic

i. Analyze the concepts of law 

ii. Define the various types of legal doctrines 

iii. Discuss the concepts that influence the standards of conduct

iv. Analyze the legal elements of proper documentation 

v. Describe the types of sentinel events 

vi. Summarize the intentions of risk management

11. Interpersonal Relationships: Communication Skills

a. Didactic

i. Define and describe types of communication relationships 

ii. Discus goals of communication

iii. Describe the significance of content and tone in communication 

b. Skill Applications

i. Demonstrate principles of communication in the surgical setting

ii. Demonstrate body language and non-verbal communication

12. Interpersonal Relationships: Teamwork

a. Didactic

i. Discuss methods for successful surgical team participation 

ii. Discuss strategies for the attainment of effective team goals 

iii. Compare and contrast individual skills vs. collaboration roles and responsibilities

b. Skill Applications

i. Demonstrate principles of teamwork in the surgical environment

13. Interpersonal Relationships: Conflict Issues

a. Didactic

i. Identify the skills necessary to resolve conflict in the workplace 

ii. Distinguish the types of behavioral concerns found in society 

iii. Discuss the strategies to negotiate effective problem resolution 

iv. Evaluate the methods to prevent conflict in the surgical arena

14. Professionalism Management 

a. Didactic

i. Describe the characteristics of the professional surgical technologist

ii. Compare and contrast professional organizations related to the profession

iii. Describe the credentialing options available to the surgical technologist

15. Physical Preparation of the Patient II – OR Bed and Accessories

a. Didactic

i. Identify the sections of the OR table

ii. Explain the functions of the OR table

iii. Describe the various types of accessory devices

iv. Evaluate the uses of accessory devices

16. Physical Preparation of the Patient III – Positioning

a. Didactic

i. Explain the factors to be taken under consideration when the patient position is selected 

ii. Describe the surgical positions

b. Skill Applications

i. Demonstrate basic positioning of the surgical patient

17. Physical Preparation of the Patient IV – Urinary Catheterization

a. Didactic

i. List the indications for urinary catheterization 

ii. List the items to be taken under consideration when performing urinary catheterization 

iii. List the supplies required to perform urinary catheterization 

iv. Explain the steps for performing urinary catheterization 

v. Discuss the principles of monitoring output 

b. Skill Applications

i. Demonstrate urinary catheterization

18. Physical Preparation of the Patient V – Prepping

a. Didactic

i. Explain the factors to be taken under consideration to perform the patient skin prep

ii. Describe the various types of skin prep supplies 

iii. Compare different skin prep solutions 

iv. Explain the steps for completing a patient skin prep

b. Skill Applications

i. Demonstrate skin preparation

19. Perioperative Documentation

a. Didactic

i. Summarize the purpose of documentation

ii. Describe the documents found in the surgical patient’s chart 

iii. Discuss the purpose of informed consent 

iv. Describe the types of informed consent 

b. Skill Applications

i. Demonstrate participation in the surgical safety checklist process

20. Patient Identification and Time-Out Procedure

a. Didactic

i. State the purpose of patient identification 

ii. Describe the patient identification procedure according to the patient situation 

iii. Describe the purpose of the time-out procedure 

iv. Identify the sequence for the time-out procedure 

v. Recall who will participate in the time-out procedure 

vi. Identify the time-out components 

b. Skill Applications

i. Participate in the identification process of a surgical patient

21. Anesthesia and Surgical Pharmacology

a. Didactic

i. Analyze the principles of anesthesia administration and explain the necessity of each component of anesthesia preparation of the surgical patient 

ii. Compare and contrast methods, agents, and techniques of anesthesia administration and preparation 

iii. Correlate anesthesia monitoring devices with patient hemostasis 

iv. Explain anesthesia complications and interventions 

v. Calculate medication conversions and dosages (HPRS2300)

vi. Apply general terminology to medication use)

b. Skill Applications

i. Demonstrate the safe use of medications and solutions handling in a surgical environment

22. Specimen Care and Handling

a. Didactic

i. Describe specimen types 

ii. Discuss methods of obtaining specimens

iii. Identify specimen collection containers 

iv. Describe the procedures for handling the transfer of specimens 

v. List required labeling components 

vi. Discuss the procedure for managing a specimen incident 

b. Skill Applications

i. Demonstrate specimen handling and the validation process

23. Hemostasis

a. Didactic

i. Analyze the principles of surgical hemostasis

ii. Differentiate between various methods of hemostasis 

b. Skill Applications

i. Demonstrate the surgical technologist’s role in hemostasis

24. Post-Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU)

a. Didactic

i. Analyze the postoperative care of the surgical patient 

ii. Describe potential surgical patient complications 

iii. Describe the assistive role of the surgical technologists

iv. Describe equipment and supplies

v. Discuss the criteria for patient discharge

25. Assistant Circulator Duties (included in lectures above)

a. Didactic

i. Discuss the perioperative duties of the assistant circulator

b. Skill Applications

i. Demonstrate the perioperative duties of the assistant circulator to include documentation

PROGRAM LEVEL STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES Upon successful completion of the program, students will be able to: Apply theoretical concepts and exhibit practical proficiency in surgical aseptic technique, surgical procedures and patient care. Students will be able to: ● Apply a basic understanding of human physiology and surgical anatomy to the perioperative role of a surgical technologist. ● Demonstrate a basic understanding of the concepts of pharmacology. ● Demonstrate theoretical and practical proficiency in surgical aseptic technique, surgical procedures and patient care. ● Relate diagnosis with surgical procedure. ● Integrate learning from one surgical procedure into subsequent surgical procedures. Analyze the relationship between pathophysiology, anatomy and surgical procedures. Students will be able to: ● Utilize appropriate medical terminology. ● Relate anatomy with surgical procedure. Analyze patient care situations and know how to act ethically and in compliance with appropriate standards of patient care protocols. Students will be able to: ● Identify and assume appropriate responsibility for patient care.