Critical Thinking

The prospective surgical technologist student must:

• Possess critical thinking ability sufficient for clinical judgment.
• Possess short/long term memory sufficient to perform tasks including but not limited to mentally tracking surgical supplies and performing anticipation skills intraoperatively.
• Demonstrate calm and effective responses, especially in emergency situations.

Health Standards

The prospective surgical technologist student must be able to:

• Stand, bend, stoop, and/or sit for long periods of time in one location with minimum/no breaks.
• Lift a minimum of 20 pounds. (50 pounds is required in many healthcare settings).
• Demonstrate sufficient peripheral vision to anticipate and function while in the sterile surgical environment.
• Refrain from nourishment or restroom breaks for periods up to 6 hours.
• Demonstrate sufficient visual ability to load a fine (10-0) suture onto needles and needle holders with/without corrective lenses and while wearing safety glasses.
• Hear and understand muffled communication without visualization of the communicator's mouth/lips and within 20 feet.
• Hear activation/warning signals on equipment.

Technical Standards

The prospective surgical technologist student must be able to:

• Manipulate instruments, supplies, and equipment with speed, dexterity, and good hand-eye coordination.
• Ambulate/move around without assistive devices.
• Assist with and/or lift, move, position, and manipulate the patient who is unconscious with or without assistive devices.

Communication Standards

The prospective surgical technologist student must be able to:

• Communicate and understand fluent English both verbally and in writing.
• Communicate both verbally and non-verbally in an effective manner with staff, patients, and physicians, in order to explain procedures, give instructions, and obtain information.

Interpersonal Standards

The prospective surgical technologist student must be able to:

• Make appropriate judgment decisions.
• Demonstrate the use of positive coping skills under stress.
• Demonstrate calm and effective responses, especially in emergency situations.
• Exhibit positive interpersonal skills during patient, staff, and faculty interactions.

Immunizations

The prospective surgical technologist student must:

• Be free of reportable communicable diseases and chemical abuse.
• Demonstrate immunity (natural or artificial) to Measles, Mumps, Rubella, Tuberculosis, and Hepatitis B, or be vaccinated against these diseases.