In celebration of Surgical Tech Week, which is Sept. 17-23, Shands Jacksonville would like to thank and honor all of its surgical technologists for their dedication and hard work.
Surgical technologists, in collaboration with surgeons, anesthesiologists, registered nurses and other surgical personnel, are responsible for providing an optimal surgical environment for patient care. They combine knowledge of human anatomy and surgical procedures to facilitate a physician in invasive, therapeutic and diagnostic procedures.
Surgical technologists are responsible for three phases of surgical patient care.
- Preoperative: donning the correct OR attire and personal protective equipment, as well as gathering necessary equipment or supplies
- Intraoperative: giving equipment and supplies to the surgeon, caring for specimens and dressing applications
- Postoperative: preserving a sterile environment until the patient is transported, maintaining equipment and supplies for future use and preparing the OR for next patient
Surgical technologists who attain professional certification demonstrate a broad knowledge of the field and can be employed in almost any surgical suite in the country.
Shands Jacksonville has one of the highest numbers of certified surgical technologists in the city and is a primary clinical site for the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs’ Accredited Surgical Technology programs.