Allied Health: Surgical Tech (AHST)

AHST 101 Introduction to Surgical Technology

Credits: 3

Term: (S)

Prerequisite: Acceptance into the Surgical Technology Program

Corequisite: AHST 115 and AHST 154

This course introduces the career field by discussing the history and development of surgical technology, surgical patients, standards of conduct, hospital administration and organization, communication and teamwork, the operating room environment, safety standards, and biomedical science as it relates to surgical technology. The course provides an orientation to the scrub and circulatory roles of the surgical technologist in the preoperative, intraoperative and postoperative periods. Entry level skills and theories are emphasized and associated skills are presented and practiced in the Corequisite AHST 115.

AHST 115 Surgical Lab I

Credits: 3

Term: (S)

Prerequisite: Acceptance into the Surgical Technology Program

Corequisite: AHST 101 and AHST 154

This course is designed to go hand-in-hand with the AHST 101 course. The course is a hybrid, which means certain aspects of the course, such as assignments, homework, discussions, and communication, will be in an on-line format; the skills will be learned on campus in a mock operating room. This course will present entry level responsibilities and competencies of the surgical technologist and related nursing procedures in both the scrub and circulator roles. This course will include lecture, as well as hands-on, role playing, videos, problem-solving sessions, and clinical observation experiences. The class is limited to small groups, so there will be time for one-on-one teaching and assessment with each student. Each group is responsible for teaching and assisting their fellow lab members. One of the first lessons learned is teamwork and being critiqued by your team, which is a basic concept of the operating room team.

AHST 154 Surgical Pharmacology

Credits: 3

Term: (S)

Prerequisite: Acceptance into the Surgical Technology Program

Corequisite: AHST 101 and AHST 115

This course will provide the student with general pharmacological information of medications commonly used in a surgical setting, what laws pertain to them, how medications are measured, the use, dosages, routes, actions, adverse reactions, how they are labeled, and other considerations of administration. This course is an on-line internet course. This course is to be taken concurrently with Surgical Lab I where the hands-on skills will be presented.

AHST 200 Operating Room Techniques

Credits: 5

Term: (F)

Prerequisite: AHST 101, AHST 115, and AHST 154

Corequisite: AHST 201 and AHST 250

This course builds on the introductory foundational surgical technology knowledge and presents more complex knowledge and associated competencies of the surgical technologist. The course provides a continuation of the responsibilities of the surgical technologist in the scrub and circulatory roles in the preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative periods. This course provides the knowledge base that correlates with Surgical Lab II.

AHST 201 Surgical Procedures I

Credits: 4

Term: (F)

Prerequisite: AHST 101, AHST 115, and AHST 154

Corequisite: AHST 200, AHST 215, and AHST 250

This course familiarizes students with the surgical technologist’s role during surgical procedures in the preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative phases of diagnostic, general obstetrical/ gynecological, genitourinary, orthopedic and plastic procedures. This course will be an integration of face-to-face lecture and on-line presentations.

AHST 202 Surgical Procedures II

Credits: 5

Term: (S)

Prerequisite: AHST 200, AHST 201, AHST 215, and AHST 250

Corequisite: AHST 251 and AHST 298

This course familiarizes students with the surgical technologist’s role during surgical procedures in the preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative phases of otorhinolaryngologic, oral/maxillofacial, ophthalmic, cardiothoracic, peripheral vascular, and neurosurgical procedures. This course will be an integration of face-to-face lecture and online-presentations.

AHST 215 Surgical Lab II

Credits: 3

Term: (F)

Prerequisite: AHST 101, AHST 115, and AHST 154

Corequisite: AHST 250, AHST 200, and AHST 201

This course is designed to go hand-in-hand with the AHST 200 course. The course is a hybrid, which means certain aspects of the course, such as assignments, homework, discussions, and communication, will be in an on-line format; the skills will be learned on campus in a mock operating room. This course will present entry level responsibilities and competencies of the surgical technologist and related nursing procedures in the first scrub, second scrub and circulator roles. This course will include lecture, as well as hands-on, role playing, videos, problem-solving sessions, and clinical observation experiences. The class is limited to small groups, so there will be time for one-on-one teaching and assessment with each student. Each group is responsible for teaching and assisting their fellow lab members. One of the first lessons learned is teamwork and being critiqued by your team, which is a basic concept of the operating room team.

AHST 250 Surgical Clinical I

Credits: 4 (168 Contact Hours)

Term: (F)

Prerequisite: AHST 101, AHST 115, and AHST 154

This course will provide a supervised clinical experience in surgical settings providing first scrub, second scrub and circulating experience in surgical procedures. Each student will be assigned to a specific surgical facility. The facility will provide preceptors who will mentor the student through the clinical experience. In addition to the clinical experience, students will have an instructor-facilitated debriefing weekly to share clinical experiences and learn from each other.

AHST 251 Surgical Clinical II

Credits: 5 (216 Contact Hours)

Term: (S)

Prerequisite: AHST 200, AHST 201, AHST 215, and AHST 250

Corequisite: AHST 202

This course will provide a supervised clinical experience in surgical settings providing first scrub, second scrub and circulating experience in surgical procedures. However, a greater degree of proficiency and independence will be expected from students than in AHST 250. Each student will be assigned to a specific surgical facility. The facility will provide preceptors who will mentor the student through the clinical experience.

AHST 295 Surgical Practicum

Credits: 5 (240 Contact Hours)

Term: (S)

Prerequisite: AHST 200, AHST 201, AHST 215, and AHST 250

Corequisite: AHST 202 and AHST 251

This course will provide a minimally supervised clinical experience in surgical settings providing first scrub, second scrub and circulating experience in surgical procedures. A greater degree of proficiency and independence will be expected from student than in previous clinicals. Each student will be assigned to a specific surgical facility. The facility will provide preceptors who will mentor the student through the clinical experience. The internship develops the student’s competencies as a first scrub on surgical procedures and acquaints them with the professional expectations of surgical technologists as a capstone experience preparing them for initial employment. The course provides the student with the actual experience in surgical procedures, teamwork, flexibility, organization, economy in time, motion and materials, and preparation of all supplies and equipment used in the operating room in preparation for surgical procedures.