As the nation’s population continues to age, the health care industry will need skilled workers in a variety of fields such as radiography, physical therapy, and surgical technology.For the first time, West Kentucky Community and Technical College is allowing individuals interested in surgical technology to enroll in the fall or spring semesters. WKCTC previous only accepted new surgical technology students in the fall, said Debbie Swain, program coordinator. “We know there is a need in our region and throughout the nation for surgical technologists,” Swain said. “West Kentucky is determined to help fill that need.”
WKCTC is offering its last pre-admission conference for Spring 2016 admission into the surgical technology program at 3:00 p.m. Tuesday, September 8 in the Allied Health Building, Room E108. Classes for that session begin January 11, 2016. In order to be considered for selection into the surgical technology program, applicants must have attend a surgical technology pre-admission conference and must complete the admissions process before October 1. Once accepted, WKCTC’s surgical technology program can be completed in two semesters with an additional intersession.
Surgical technologists are members of operating room teams who under the supervision of a surgeon or other surgical personnel ensure that the operating room is safe and that equipment functions properly. Their duties include setting up surgical instruments and equipment, ensuring the equipment works properly, preparing sterile drapes, and sterile solutions. During surgery, surgical techs pass instruments and other sterile supplies to surgeons and surgeon assistants, but they also may hold retractors, cut sutures, and help count sponges, needles, supplies, and instruments. Surgical technologists may also help prepare, care for, and dispose of specimens taken for laboratory analysis, help apply dressings and help transport the patient to the recovery room.
Surgical techs in the West Kentucky region make from $13.23 to $22.56 an hour. The annual national wage range for surgical technologists is $27,510 - $54,300.
A WKCTC 1982 surgical technology graduate, Swain has worked as a surgical technologist for more than 30 years and has taught at West Kentucky for 20 years. She said she tells her students every year that there is never a boring day in the operating room (OR). When she chose surgical technology as her career, Swain said she wanted to play an active role in health care.
“Being in the OR and having the opportunity to be actively involved in a patient’s health care, I saw as a true honor and privilege when I started,” she said,” and I still feel that way today. “
For more information about the program contact Swain at debbie.swain@kctcs.edu or call 885-GO-WKCTC.