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Surgical Technology
Associate of Applied Science Degree
Program Director: Daisy Gibson
Program Faculty: Marla McFerrin
A hybrid option is available for this program. Please contact the Program Director for more information.
Program Application (Spring 2025 Application available September 27th)
What is a Surgical Technologist?
Are you a detail-oriented person looking for a rewarding health career? Would you like a job where you can make a real difference in a patient’s life? If you think you would thrive in the fast-paced world of a hospital operating room, consider a career as a surgical technologist! You may be able to hold a beating heart in your hand. You may be part of a team in the operating room that works on replacing a total hip or knee in the orthopedic rotation at your site. You will certainly hand many different instruments to the surgeon in the correct fashion and at the correct time. You will be the keeper of the sterile field. The goal is for surgical technologists to be able to anticipate the next move the surgeon is going to make in order to make the surgical procedure as smooth and efficient as possible.This is a very rewarding career in the Health Science Field. It is not nursing; you do a very specific technical job and work under the RN and Surgeon.
Surgical Technologists, often referred to as “scrub nurse,” “scrub tech,” or “operating room tech,” are integral members of the operating room team. Their role includes assisting the physician during surgery by preparing and handling instruments, equipment, supplies, and medications.
Job Opportunities
Surgical Technologists usually work within the operating room itself, which may offer specialization in specific fields such as orthopedics, plastics, ENT, ophthalmic, or cardiovascular. However, technologists may qualify for work within various medical fields such as dental assistants, veterinary assistants, procurement technicians, and instrument processing technicians without much more additional education than on-the-job training. As medical technology advances, so do the opportunities for the working surgical technologist.
Curriculum
The curriculum is designed as hybrid courses of lab, classroom, online instruction and surgery clinicals to provide theoretical foundations of operating room techniques. The student will learn skills in a competency-based clinical lab and apply learned skills in the clinical facilities. Within the operating room, the student will observe and then participate in a supervised position. The student will then be expected to advance to a high level of independence by their internship.
Students who enter the program are required to rotate through clinical sites. Some clinical rotations are outside of the Great Falls area. Transportation and housing costs are the responsibility of the student.
Upon completion of the Surgical Technology Program, students will be prepared to begin a career as a surgical technologist. Students are prepared to sit for the national examination to become a Certified Surgical Technologist (CST).
The Surgical Technology Program will meet or exceed Accreditation Review Committee on Education in Surgical Technology & Surgical Assisting (ARC-STSA) benchmark standards on student retention, CST exam results, graduate job placement, employer satisfaction, and graduate satisfaction.
Application and Registration
The Surgical Technology Program has a limited number of students per year due to clinical space and various other factors. This requires the student to complete a program application one semester prior to the semester they plan to begin the program. The program begins only in the spring semester. Interested students are urged to contact the Program Director or the Advising & Career Center Advisors for student advising specific to admission requirements and criteria for program acceptance.
For more detailed information please visit the program website.
Program Accreditation
This program is nationally accredited through CAAHEP, Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs, 9355 113th Street North #7709, Seminole, FL 33775, mail@caahep.org, in collaboration with ARC-STSA, Accreditation Review Council on Education in Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting, 19751 East Mainstreet Suite 339, Parker, CO 80138, info@arcstsa.org.
Students who complete the program will be prepared to:
1. Work effectively and efficiently while providing safe and excellent patient care.
2. Demonstrate accountability and ethical decision making by engaging in legal, ethical, and safe conduct within the recognized scope of practice.
3. Properly apply all principles of sterile techniques in regards to the surgical field, instruments, supplies, and equipment. While also monitoring for proper working conditions, cleaning, decontaminating, and properly preparing for sterilization.
4. Demonstrate accuracy and integrity while applying professional standards concerning counts, medication, and specimens.
5. Demonstrate competency in maintaining composure in the surgical setting and stressful situations, exhibiting professional conduct, effective communication and fostering respectful relationships with all teams of the healthcare system.
6. Demonstrate the necessary didactic and clinical skills needed to pass the certification exam and enter into the job arena as a competent, entry-level surgical technologist.
Estimated Resident Program Cost*
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| Tuition and Fees | $10,070 |
| Lab/Program Fees | $674 |
| Program Fee | 0 |
| Books/Supplies | $2,179 |
| Total | $12,923 |
- *
Fall 2024 MUS Student Health Insurance Premiums may be changing. Please check the Health Insurance website and/or Student Central for confirmed premium rates.
Many students need preliminary math, science, and writing courses before enrolling in the program requirements. These courses may increase the total number of program credits. Students should review their math and writing placement before planning out their full program schedules.
The Great Falls College Surgical Technology Program is a limited enrollment program, accepting a restricted number of students each year. Interested students are urged to contact the Surgical Technology Program Director or Advising and Career Center Advisors for student advising specific to admission requirements and criteria for program acceptance.
Science courses with labs must be completed within five (5) years of application to the program, and other courses must be completed within 15 years of applying to the program.
Prerequisite Courses
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| AHMS 144 | Medical Terminology + | 3 |
| BIOH 201 | Human Anatomy Phys I w/ Lab (= 301) **,+ | 4 |
| BIOH 211 | Human Anatomy Phys II w/ Lab (=311) *,+ | 4 |
| NOTE: UM Western students may substitute BIOB 160, BIOH 365 & BIOH 370 for GFC MSU BIOH 201 & BIOH 211. All 3 classes are required and must have a grade of C or higher (not C-) within the last 5 years of application. | ||
| BIOM 250 | Microbiology for Health Sciences w/ Lab *,+ | 4 |
| M 088 | Mathematical Literacy (or higher) **,+ | 3 |
| PSYX 100 | Introduction to Psychology + | 3 |
| Select one of the following: | ||
| WRIT 101 | College Writing I **,+ | 3 |
| WRIT 121 | Introduction to Technical Writing **,+ | 3 |
| Subtotal | 24 | |
Program Course Requirements After Formal Acceptance
The courses below are to be taken in the order that they are listed. Admission into the Surgical Technology program is mandatory to qualify to take the courses below.
A grade of “C-” or above must be achieved in all courses to advance and graduate from the program.
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spring | Credits | |
| AHST 101 | Introduction to Surgical Technology *,+ | 3 |
| AHST 115 | Surgical Lab I *,+ | 3 |
| AHST 154 | Surgical Pharmacology *,+ | 3 |
| COMX 115 | Introduction to Interpersonal Communication + | 3 |
| PHL 221 | Introduction to Philosophy and Biomedical Ethics + | 3 |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Fall | ||
| AHST 200 | Operating Room Techniques *,+ | 5 |
| AHST 201 | Surgical Procedures I *,+ | 4 |
| AHST 215 | Surgical Lab II *,+ | 3 |
| AHST 250 | Surgical Clinical I *,+ | 4 |
| Credits | 16 | |
| Second Year | ||
| Spring | ||
| AHST 202 | Surgical Procedures II *,+ | 5 |
| AHST 251 | Surgical Clinical II *,+ | 5 |
| AHST 295 | Surgical Practicum *,+ | 5 |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Total Credits | 46 | |
TOTAL PROGRAM CREDITS: 70
- +
A grade of C- or above is required for graduation.
- *
Indicates prerequisites needed.
- **
Placement in course(s) is determined by placement assessment.