Today's health care industry offers a wider variety of positions than ever before. This is in part due to the expanding health care needs of about 78 million aging baby boomers. People who are 65 years or older comprise 12 percent of the population and 35 percent of all hospital stays, according to the Top Ten Reviews website.
Surgical technology can be a rewarding career choice for those looking to enter the health care arena. This option requires a two-year associate of science degree. As more and more of the baby boomer generation reaches retirement age, the demand for health care workers will rise. Even in today's stunted job market, the health care sector showed growth in March
2012 despite fewer overall job gains than in recent months, according to a U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor press release.
Responsibilities are varied for these professionals. Duties begin with preparing the OR for each surgery. Equipment must be in good working order and sterilized to prevent infection. All appropriate instruments for the specific procedure must be counted and set up. In addition, surgical technologists prepare patients for the operation by washing and disinfecting the incision area and helping the surgical team put on sterile gowns and gloves.
People who are well suited for a career as a surgical technologist tend to have an eye for detail, the ability to think critically and multitask, and have empathy for patients.
Many surgical technologists find employment at hospitals and in-patient facilities, and some work for dental surgeons.
Some states require surgical technologists to pass a certification exam given by the National Board of Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting (NBSTSA).
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