Surgical Technician Programs in Delaware

Surgical Technician Training Programs in Delaware

Choosing the right healthcare career is an important part of building a career that you look forward to every day. Are you detail-oriented and able to think quickly in stressful situations? Do you have strong communication skills and an interest in surgical procedures?

If so, you may be ready to earn a surgical technology Associate’s degree, certificate, or diploma. At a surgical technologist program in Delaware, you can learn how to properly store, clean, and sterilize surgical equipment. You may also learn about the sterilization standards of operating rooms in hospitals and outpatient surgery centers.

Curious and ready to learn more?

Get in touch with surgical tech diploma programs today.

What Kind of Surgical Technician Training Do I Need in Delaware?

When you decide to pursue a surgical tech degree, you make the choice to enter one of the most expansive fields in the United States. Healthcare is a field that reaches every state and population, so it’s one of the most stable in terms of employment.

Whether you want to earn a surgical technician certificate or a surgical technology Associate’s degree, you can get started now by contacting OR tech programs in Delaware.

Getting Into Surgical Tech Schools in Delaware

Your educational journey starts with getting accepted to a surgical technician program. The admissions process is similar to what is required in other two-year technical programs.

You must have a GED or high school diploma by the time you start classes, although you may get accepted to a program while you’re still finishing up your high school diploma. You also need to undergo a rigorous health check, which includes a physical that tests your strength, a TB test, and a drug screen.

Application Documents

Application and application fee
Professional and educational references
Health screening forms
Proof of high school diploma or GED
Authorization form for a background check

Delaware Surgical Technology Training

Compared to many other healthcare careers, a career in surgical technology doesn’t require a long period of training. If you decide to start your career with a surgical technology Associate degree, you may graduate and be on the way to your first surgical job in just two years.

Even schools that require more than 60 credits aim to have students graduate in two years by offering summer coursework. Surgical tech diploma programs and certificate options are even quicker, often requiring just two to three semesters of study.

Surgical Tech Courses in Delaware

Anatomy and Physiology (5 credits): This course is required in just about all surgical tech programs, since it lays the groundwork for all surgeries that you may participate in as a surgical tech. After learning the core body systems, you may learn about specific organs and functions.
Introduction to Surgical Technology (2 credits): Taking this class helps you get a better understanding of what you do as a scrub tech and what responsibilities you may have in the operating room.
Surgical Technology (7 credits): After taking the introductory course above, you may jump into this in-depth class. You study surgical tools, instruments, techniques, and procedures. Hands-on experience is very important in this class, encompassing laboratory work and clinical work.
Pharmacology (2 credits): The focus of this class is medication. While you may study pharmacology in general, you should focus specifically on the medications used to numb and sedate patients prior to surgery.
Ethical Issues in Healthcare (3 credits): Ethical issues arise in any healthcare career. After taking this class, you should understand what your duty is to your patients and your supervising surgeons.
Surgical Technologist Clinical Experience (3 credits): Most surgical tech programs require more than one class of clinical experience, although one three-credit course is the minimum requirement. You work with different surgeons to get an understanding of what they expect, giving you the chance to meet their standards.

What Options Are Available in Surgical Assistant Online Programs?

You may be looking for a certified surgical tech program online, but due to the nature of this field, there are no options that allow you to earn your entire surgical tech degree online. You need to get hundreds of hours of hands-on experience to become a Certified Surgical Technologist, an option that isn’t available with online programs.

How Can I Start Earning a Surgical Tech Associate’s Degree Online?

Although you can’t finish your entire surgical tech certification online, you can get the ball rolling with online courses. If your surgical technician program has general education requirements, consider taking your English, mathematics, and history courses online.

Once you start the main part of your surgical tech degree, you might even have the chance to finish some of your theory-based courses online.

Paying for Surgical Tech School in Delaware

After you pick a surgical tech school, you can move on to figuring out your financial aid options in Delaware. It’s a good idea to start with federal financial aid, since you may have quite a few options if you can demonstrate financial need. Make sure you have your school code on hand and then start filling out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid. Grants do not have to be repaid, so you may want to maximize your grants and scholarships before accepting student loans.

With the variety of scholarship resources for students working toward a surgical technician certificate, take full advantage of local, state, and national options, such as scholarships awarded by the Association of Surgical Technologists. Ensure that you regularly search Peterson’s to find out about any new scholarships in your area or any award programs with close deadlines.

Working as a Certified Surgical Technician in Delaware

By the time you officially have your surgical tech Associate degree, you should be eager to start your career and put all your new techniques to work. Start building connections with local employers and healthcare institutions to find out what their surgical technician requirements are and how you can improve your chances of getting hired.

Delaware Surgical Technician Requirements

One of the benefits of completing your surgical technician education in Delaware is the straightforward certification process. Statewide, there are no licensing requirements for surgical technicians, so you can legally start working as soon as you graduate.

However, certification is a main hiring requirement for most employers, so you may want to start the certification process as soon as you have your degree. You can submit your application to the National Board of Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting. The testing fee is $190 for members and $290 for non-members, so it may be worth your time and the networking benefits to join. Once you’ve become certified, earn 60 continuing education credits every four years by attending surgical tech courses and seminars.

Where are the Best Surgical Tech Jobs in Delaware?

Many surgical tech programs have long-standing relationships with local employers and healthcare institutions. This benefits you when you’re ready to start working, since you may already have references from respected employers in your community. If you make a great first impression in clinical rotations, you may even look for jobs at your clinical sites.

Most scrub tech graduates work in hospitals, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (2017). Depending on which part of Delaware you live in, you may work in various departments to meet institutional needs or you may be assigned to one specific department. In both types of jobs, you can get plenty of experience and build up your ability to handle high-stress healthcare situations.

You may also look for job openings at outpatient surgical centers. Surgical centers are often open standard hours, limiting your night, weekend, and holiday requirements.

Surgical Technician Requirements and Hiring Standards in Delaware

GED or high school diploma
Certified Surgical Technologist certification
Experience working as an operating room tech
Willingness to pass a drug screen and physical exam
Willingness to work on-call, night, and weekend shifts

Common Surgical Technician Job Duties in Delaware

Once you get to your new workplace, what are you expected to do? There are lots of job duties that commonly fall to surgical technicians. You can use the guidelines set by the Delaware State Assembly as a starting point.

These guidelines establish your scope of practice, helping you avoid the legal issues that can come with taking on more responsibilities than what you’re trained for. On top of that, most employers are willing to give a clear list of job duties to job applicants, ensuring that you know exactly what is expected of you on the job.

Operating Room Tech Jobs and Responsibilities

Counting and organizing surgical tools and instruments
Setting out equipment for each surgery
Sterilizing equipment and returning it to its proper place after a procedure
Remaining in place during surgery to hand a surgeon tools, return them to the cleaning area, and hold patients in position
Document pre-surgery, post-surgery, and surgical observations
Report any unexpected changes to supervisor
Count tools and equipment before a surgery is finished

Delaware Surgical Tech Salaries

Salaries in Delaware tend to be higher than national averages, which is the case in most New England states. Throughout Delaware, the average salary for a surgical technologist is $44,730 per year (Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2017).

Working in a major metropolitan area may positively affect your salary potential. In the Dover area, the average income is $45,630 per year (BLS, 2017). Those who work in the Wilmington metropolitan area report a mean income of $46,090 per year (BLS, 2017).

The future of surgical technology is bright; the Bureau of Labor Statistics expects demand for surgical technologists to increase 15% between 2014 and 2024 (2017). You may improve your personal job outlook by being open to working in rural areas. Rural areas of New England are often heavily underserved by healthcare professionals, leading to a significant shortage of healthcare providers.

Surgical Technology Resources in Delaware

Networking is one of the most important parts of your new healthcare career. In this field, there are always new ways to do things, to work more efficiently, and to improve the patient experience. Without an established professional network, it may take you months or even years to learn about these developments.

You can build connections with surgical professionals by attending local events, joining national organizations, and taking advantage of continuing education events.

Continuing Education Surgical Tech Programs and Associations

Your journey to a new career begins at accredited surgical technology schools. Delaware programs provide students with the choice of earning diplomas, certificates, or Associate’s degrees.

Getting the right training and hands-on skills is essential to becoming a skilled surgical technologist. Why not pursue a career that puts you in a position to change patients’ lives and improve access to healthcare in your community?