Surgical Technology

The Baptist Health Sciences University Surgical Technology program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) upon the recommendation of Accreditation Review Council on Education in Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting (ARC/STSA).

Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs
9355 113th St. North, #7709
Seminole, Florida 33775
727.210.2350
caahep.org

Accreditation Review Council on Education in Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting (ARC/STSA)
19751 East Mainstreet, #339
Parker, Colorado 80138
303.694.9262
arcstsa.org

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

The Surgical Technology degree program of Baptist Health Sciences University will prepare students with a solid foundation in surgical technology that will equip them for the dynamic, ever-changing field of surgery.

To prepare competent entry-level surgical technologists in the cognitive (knowledge), psychomotor (skills), and affective (behavior) learning domains.

A student is considered to be in the pre-Surgical Technology program once they are admitted to Baptist University and have declared a major. To progress from pre- Surgical Technology to the professional program, the student must have completed 12 credit hours (to include ENG 101 and MAT 110) of required program prerequisites and apply for selection into the program. To apply to the Surgical Technology major, student must currently be enrolled or have successfully completed ENG 102 and BIO 150. Cohorts begin the program course work in the spring trimester. Class size is limited and the selection process is competitive.

Steps for Applying to the Program:

Step 1: Submit an application for admission to Baptist University

Step 2: Submit all required admission documentation 

Step 3: Accept offer to attend Baptist University

Step 4: Complete and/or transfer 12 credit hours (to include ENG 101 and MAT 110) of pre-program course work with a C or better, as specified by the Surgical Technology program degree requirements.

Step 5: Submit the Allied Health Intent to Apply Form. To apply to the Surgical Technology major, student must currently be enrolled or have successfully completed ENG 102 and BIO 150

Submission of the Intent to Apply form guarantees consideration into the selection process for the program.

To be competitive in the selection process, applicants should maintain a cumulative college GPA of 2.7 or above.

Applicants should earn a B or better in all pre-program courses, to be competitive.

1. Demonstrate clinical proficiency of surgical technology practices and procedures.
2. Function as a knowledgeable entry-level surgical technologist.
3. Exhibit behavioral skills that reflect professionalism (e.g. effective communication, appropriate surgical setting rationale, and time management skills).

Technical Standards for Matriculation, Retention, and Graduation for Surgical Technology

The Associate of Science in Surgical Technology degree from Baptist Health Sciences University indicates the holder is an entry-level surgical technologist who is prepared to enter a physician-supervised operating room from a Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) curriculum-based program. Therefore, all applicants and matriculated students must possess certain essential abilities and characteristics required for completion of the AS degree that consist of certain minimum physical and cognitive abilities and emotional characteristics. This is to ensure that candidates for admission, matriculation, and graduation can complete the entire course of study and participate fully in all aspects of training, with or without reasonable accommodations.  

 To be qualified for the AS degree, future training, and subsequent certification, the candidate must demonstrate competency in eight requisite areas: critical thinking/problem solving, communication, interpersonal skills, behavioral skills, emotional stability/coping skills, physical abilities, motor skills (fine & gross) and sensory abilities. Students must demonstrate said competencies to provide safe and effective patient care in a wide variety of clinical/operating room environments. 

Baptist University is committed to the admission and matriculation of qualified students and does not discriminate based on race, color, ethnicity, sex, gender, marital status, national or ethnic origin, age, disability, creed, or religion. Candidates with disabilities can request reasonable accommodations if needed to meet these technical standards by following the University’s policies and procedures and contacting Access Services. A candidate must be able to perform these outlined technical standards in an independent manner. 

The national board examinations for surgical technology may have more stringent technical standards than outlined in this document. 

Students who accept an admission offer from Baptist University must sign an affirmation regarding compliance with the technical standards. Should a student's ability to meet the technical standards change at any point in the academic program, it is his/her responsibility to report this to the Program Chair and Access Services. 

Critical Thinking/Problem Solving 

Candidates must have the ability to measure, calculate, reason, analyze, integrate and synthesize Information sufficient for clinical judgement.

Communication 

Candidates must have the ability to effectively communicate using English verbal and non-verbal formats with faculty, patients, families, fellow students and all members of the multi-disciplinary team to monitor and assess patient and equipment function. 

Interpersonal Skills

Candidates must possess appropriate interpersonal interaction sufficient to work collaboratively with healthcare team, patients and families. 

Behavioral Skills 

Candidates must present self in a professional manner in clinical and academic settings, demonstrating integrity, accountability and reliability. 

Emotional Stability/Coping Skills

Candidates must function effectively and adapt to circumstances including highly stressful or rapidly changing situations. 

Physical Abilities 

Candidates must possess sufficient physical endurance to participate fully in the clinical and academic settings at an appropriate level. 

Motor Skills (Fine & Gross)

Candidates must possess sufficient motor function to execute movements required to perform duties with the ability to engage in skills requiring the use of gross and fine motor manipulation of arms, hands and fingers. 

Sensory Abilities 

Candidates must possess sufficient auditory, visual and tactile ability to monitor and assess health needs of the surgical patient. 

Reasonable Accommodations for Students with Disabilities  

In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, and other applicable laws, Baptist Health Sciences University provides reasonable accommodations for otherwise qualified students with verified disabilities. An accommodation will not be provided if it would result in the fundamental alteration of the program’s services or activities, or if it would impose undue financial or administrative burdens on the University. The office that assists students with disabilities at Baptist Health Sciences University is Access Services.

Additional information about Baptist Health Sciences University’s services for students with disabilities may be found at https://www.baptistu.edu. If student circumstances should change related to these technical standards, the student will promptly notify the Surgical Technology Program Chair and/or Access Services if reasonable accommodations are required at any point.

Students must complete a minimum of 120 cases as delineated below.

• General Surgery Cases Students must complete a minimum of 30 cases in General Surgery; 20 which must be performed in the First Scrub Role. The remaining 10 cases may be performed in either the First or Second Scrub Role.
• Specialty Cases Students must complete a minimum of 90 cases in various surgical specialties, excluding General Surgery; 60 which must be performed in the First Scrub Role. The additional 30 cases may be performed in either the First or Second Scrub Role. 
  • A minimum of 60 surgical specialty cases must be performed in the First Scrub Role and distributed amongst a minimum of four surgical specialties. 
    • A minimum of 10 cases in the First Scrub Role must be completed in each of the required minimum of four surgical specialties (40 cases total required).
    • The additional 20 cases in the First Scrub Role may be distributed amongst any one surgical specialty or multiple surgical specialties.
  • The remaining 30 surgical specialty cases may be performed in any surgical specialty either in the First or Second Scrub Role.
• Optional Surgical Specialties Diagnostic endoscopy cases and vaginal delivery cases are not mandatory. However, up to 10 diagnostic endoscopic cases and 5 vaginal delivery cases can be counted toward the maximum number of Second Scrub Role cases.
  • Diagnostic endoscopy cases must be documented in the category of "Diagnostic Endoscopy", rather than by specialty.
  • Vaginal delivery cases must be documented in the category of "Labor & Delivery'' rather than in the OB/GYN specialty.
  • Case experience in the Second Scrub Role is not mandatory.
  • Observation cases must be documented, but do not count towards the 120 required cases.

These are the requirements of the Revised Core Curriculum for Surgical Technology, 6th Ed. Surgical Rotation Case Requirements.

https://arcstsa.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/2014_Revised_Core_Curriculum_Surgical_Rotation_Case_Requirements.pdf