Talk:Surgical technologist

Equivalent for Germany
Through the languages panel this article is linked to an "surgeon's assistant"-like article of the german wikipedia. That might be wrong. For germany it should possibly link to (OTA - Operating technical assisent).

salary
I added another place of empolyment open to ST's. Another note about responsiblities is depending on the area,budget of hospital/Surgery center your working at responsiblities can be very different this is why I put in circulator's responsiblilty under cleaning and shaving PreOp.

An unknown editor posted that the salary range for an ST in the US is 24,000 - 33,000. Although the lower limit sounds about right. However, I work as an ST and make significantly more than the upper limit, so I have removed it. Dsmdgold 01:49, 8 December 2005 (UTC)

what they need to know
what do the technologists need to know to get a job (not a degree, but certain skills) —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 137.87.66.6 (talk) 19:42, 18 January 2007 (UTC). CST's do not work under the supervision of RN's unless the RN is 'scrubbed in' and acting as the First Assist. Surgical techs operate under the supervision of the surgeon(s) and the First Assist(if present). It can also be argued that since a CST can rule that a break in technique has occurred and request a halt of the procedure, and that the sterile field is the responsibility of the tech, that the Surgical Technologist can be said to be an integral part of the surgical team with their own responsibilities for which they are responsible for overseeing. Cameron Pellicore, CST cpellicore@yahoo.com — Preceding unsigned comment added by 96.28.38.21 (talk) 03:07, 31 July 2011 (UTC)

We should add...
this was in operating department practitioner, but it also applie to surgical technologist, what do you people think?

Anaesthetic stage During this stage of a patient's care, ODP's prepare the drugs and equipment needed for the patient to undergo anaesthesia. This may invlove setting up anaesthetic machines, intravenous drugs/fluids and devices to maintain the patient's airway (e.g.laryngeal masks). ODP's will also communicate with the patient when he/she arrives into theworking alongside the surgeon, passing the instruments within the sterile field. Swabs and instruments are all accounted for by the ODP to verify nothing has been "left inside" the patient. The ODP may also work in the circulating role during the surgical stage of a patient's care. In the circulating role, the ODP will provide extra materials to the scrubbed person, help position the patient on the operating table and plan ahead to supply what the surgeon may need during that case. They may also set up additional equipment needed, and act as a link between the scrub team and the rest of the hospital.

[edit] Recovery stage When the operation has finished, the patient is taken to the recovery unit where the ODP will assess the patient and monitor the patient's physiological signs. The ODP will then provide treatment and other interventions allowing the patient to fully recover from the effects of anaesthesia. The ODP will also assess if the patient needs help from a physician or can be safely discharged to the ward. anaesthetic room, verifying the pre-op checklist for allergies and past medical history.

[edit] Surgical stage The ODP's function during the scrubbed role involves the ODP washing his/her hands for the aseptic procedure. Wearing a sterile gown and gloves, preparing all the sterile instruments/equipment to be used for the operation and Chuck61007 01:57, 19 January 2007 (UTC)


 * I believe that ODP is the British term for the equivilent of the ST. However, it is my understanding that an ODP has a broader range of responsibilities than in the a ST in the US. In the US, in most institutions, a ST will not have any anesthetic role or role in recovery. If my understandings are correct, and can be verified, the two articles should be kept separtate, but each article should mention the other, and should explain in which countries the positions exist. Dsmdgold 13:28, 26 March 2007 (UTC)

First assistant merge
These two articles should not be merged. Although the First Assistant role is often done by a Surgical Technologist, it can also be done by RNs LPNs and PAs. Dsmdgold 13:32, 26 March 2007 (UTC)

Do not merge. I am a CST working on my CSFA and KCSA. States in the USA are beginning to certify/license First Assistants seperately(KY,TX). Also, you will almost never find an LPN in any OR in the USA. PA's can act as a First Assist, but are licensed differently. RN's that are usually CNOR's and 'scrub' may occasionally act as a First Assist as may a CST, however this is not the same as being certified as a First Assist and any RN or CST that that would be doing this regularly requires further education and certification. cpellicore@yahoo.com Cameron Pellicore, CST — Preceding unsigned comment added by 96.28.38.21 (talk) 19:38, 4 July 2011 (UTC) Removed Trevor Wennblom 17:40, 26 March 2007 (UTC)

Under the heading "Mozambique" it says: "A Blah Surgical technologists were introduced around 1984 in the aftermath of a long civil war that had crippled the health sector." What on earth is a Blah Surgical technologist? Is it a typo? Vandalism? A riff on Presidential candidate Rick Santorum's comment on "Blah" people? — Preceding unsigned comment added by 71.34.251.200 (talk) 04:41, 4 March 2014 (UTC)

Surgical technologist
This is a question but what do they do the most in a surgical way, give them tools or actually work on the body? 2600:100E:B064:BFA4:59A1:A596:F2CB:89B7 (talk) 17:55, 4 February 2022 (UTC)


 * The surgical tech is always in charge of the instruments and supplies pulled up to the sterile field, and also the sterility of the field (OR table/bed), itself. There are limitations on how much a ST can legally do. For example, I could not suture, cut, inject medications, or directly cauterize. There is a lot of holding retractors, (while still passing instruments with the other hand), and using your own hands/arms to assist with exposure. Rsims1867 (talk) 22:44, 1 December 2022 (UTC)

Adding some pictures.
I plan to add some pictures of surgical back table set ups. I was a surgical technologist for about 5 years, and I think reading what the duties of a ST are is one thing, but being able to see pictures of just how many instruments and supplies are sometimes involved, and the organization/precision, really adds another level of understanding to exactly what a surgical technologist does. This is also my first time jumping into Wikipedia editing, so any comments or thoughts are absolutely welcome! Rsims1867 (talk) 18:39, 1 December 2022 (UTC)