What does a Surgical Tech do?

Surgical technicians assist medical staff with patient operations. They prepare the operating rooms and spaces, arrange and track equipment, and help medical staff through the duration of the surgery. Surgical technicians sterilize equipment and ensure a surgery has enough necessary supplies. They are responsible for the preparation of sterile solutions and any medication used in the surgery and ensure all equipment for the surgery is in proper working order.

Surgical technicians bring patients to the operating room and prepare them for surgery by positioning them on an operating table and covering them with sterile drapes. They prep patients for surgery through the washing and disinfecting at sites of an incision. During procedures, they assist surgeons by helping them dress in sterile gowns and passing them instruments and other necessary sterile supplies. Surgical technicians might need a retractor or an internal organ in place during the procedure and sometimes set up robotic surgical equipment or handle specimens taken for laboratory analysis. After a procedure has concluded, they count supplies to ensure that no foreign objects are retained in the patient. Surgical technicians typically need a postsecondary nondegree award or an associate's degree and certification is also beneficial to them in finding work. Depending upon their state they may be required to adhere to regulatory standards additional regulatory standards.