Surgical Technician Programs in Kansas

Surgical Technician Training Programs in Kansas

Surgery is a significant part of the medical field, with solutions for all sorts of health problems. By attending a surgical tech school and becoming a scrub tech, you can help patients get the best care possible. You can also help busy surgeons and nurses utilize their time more efficiently.

Keep reading to learn more about becoming an operating room tech and what it’s like to work in this field. You can also learn more about the job outlook for surgical techs and how much they earn in your community. Then, check out our list of surgical tech programs in Kansas and reach out to schools near you.

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

To become an OR tech, you have to go through an approved training program at a Kansas school. Specific surgical technician requirements for graduation are set by each school, so it’s important to compare schools in your area and choose an accredited program that meets your needs.

Getting Into Surgical Tech Schools in Kansas

The admissions process for surgical tech diploma programs is straightforward and quick. You may start the application process as a high school student or as a returning adult student. You typically have to submit proof of graduation from a high school program or completion of a GED program. From there, you have to meet specific health requirements.

Health requirements are based on your ability to handle the physical demands of a surgical tech program. You may be tested on your ability to lift weight and stand for long stretches of time. Other tests include a drug screen and a titer draw to verify your vaccinations.

Admissions Requirements for Surgical Tech Schools in Kansas

High school diploma or GED
Strong physical health as demonstrated by a physical exam
Negative drug screen
Proof of vaccinations
Ability to handle the fast-paced nature of healthcare

Kansas Surgical Technology Training

Depending on which Kansas surgical tech Associate degree or certificate program you choose, requirements differ. Many programs lead to a certificate or diploma. These options are usually only about one year, requiring two semesters of full-time study. By the time you graduate, you should have between 30 and 40 credits.

An Associate’s degree is the other option to consider. Associate’s-level programs are meant to be finished in two years. During this time, you earn 60 to 70 credits. While some of your courses focus strictly on the theory of surgical technology, others focus on practical clinical skills.

After mastering practical skills in laboratory-based surgical tech courses, you may move into clinical rotations. Clinical rotations are mandatory in any accredited surgical tech degree, since surgical tech schools rely on your ability to carry out skills to assess your knowledge.

Surgical Tech Courses in Kansas

Care of the Surgical Patient (3 credits): As an OR tech, you may spend much of your time working with patients before and after surgery. It’s your job to keep them comfortable and stable. This course focuses on what patients need at each stage of surgery and how you can support them.
Pharmacology for the Surgical Technologist (2 credits): Before, during, and after surgery, patients receive a wide variety of medications. While you are not responsible for prescribing medications, it is helpful to understand how they work. This course looks at commonly used medications and how they affect the human body.
Fundamentals of Surgical Technology (5 credits): This is one of the most time-consuming classes for new OR tech students. It covers the field of surgical technology as a whole, outlining your work responsibilities and how you fit into healthcare teams. You may also learn about your scope of practice and what you are allowed to do.
Surgical Procedures (5 credits): Over the course of your career, you may oversee many types of surgical procedures. In this class, you learn about the most common procedures you may help with. Your training should explore how to set up for surgeries, assist during routine procedures, and respond to emergency situations.
Central Services Process (4 credits): As a student, you need to know how to properly sterilize equipment for use in surgical settings. That is the focus of this class, which shows you how to clean, transport, and store equipment according to medical standards.

Can You Earn a Surgical Tech Degree Online?

Many students have to balance family obligations, schoolwork, and a job. While earning your surgical tech degree online may seem like a convenient option, there are no practical ways to complete your surgical tech Associate’s degree online.

Like other clinical healthcare degrees, this program relies on clinical and lab experience. Without that hands-on experience, you may not have the skills or knowledge needed to meet the expectations of local employers.

What Other Flexible Study Options are Available?

Even if surgical assistant online programs aren’t available, there are ways you can make the most of your free time and earn a degree on your schedule. Some programs offer evening and weekend courses to accommodate students who work full-time during the week.

Other partially online surgical tech programs are offered in a blended format. In this type of surgical technician program, you do some of your coursework online and some in person. Your clinical surgical tech courses are required to be completed in a conventional manner, but you may go through your theory courses online.

Paying for Surgical Tech School in Kansas

Paying for a surgical technology Associate’s degree program may seem like an intimidating task. However, with a bit of preparation and hard work, you may uncover financial aid opportunities that can save you money.

First, you want to explore your federal financial aid options. Get started by filling out the FAFSA. The Free Application for Federal Student Aid uses your income to decide whether you qualify for federal grants or unsubsidized loans. They also offer information on program costs when you enter your school code.

Running a massive scholarship search may be key to finding local, state, and federal scholarships that are exclusively offered to surgical tech students. Once you’ve selected a surgical tech degree or surgical technician certificate, you may use Peterson’s to run a scholarship search. With an account, you can save scholarships and keep up with due dates.

Many organizations and associations offer financial aid to surgical tech students. The Association of Surgical Technologists and the Foundation of Surgical Technology are both major scholarship resources for those attending surgical tech diploma programs.

This is your chance to take your education to the next level.

Ready to get started? Use our list of surgical technology Associate’s degree programs to get in touch with schools near you.

Working as a Certified Surgical Technician in Kansas

Becoming a scrub tech could be a huge opportunity for you. The demand for healthcare professionals is growing all over the country. With your certification, you may be able to work in a wide variety of settings.

Kansas Surgical Technician Requirements

In Kansas, the field of surgical technology is not heavily regulated. You do not need certification or a license to work as a surgical tech. That doesn’t mean that local employers don’t have hiring restrictions, though. In fact, many Kansas healthcare facilities have strict surgical technician requirements. They may prefer to hire those who have become Certified Surgical Technologists through the National Board of Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting.

To take the NBSTSA exam, you must graduate from a CAAHEP-accredited school. The testing fee is $190 for members and $290 for non-members. At the end of each four-year licensure period, you must renew and provide proof of at least 60 continuing education credits.

Where are the Best Surgical Tech Jobs in Kansas?

Graduates of surgical technician certificate programs may work in quite a few types of healthcare facilities. Hospitals are one of the most common employment options. You may work in an emergency room, which involves a constantly-changing schedule and the ability to handle emergency surgical procedures as they become necessary. Others go on to work in specific departments of local hospitals. If you go this route, you may have the chance to become an expert in specialized surgical procedures.

Outpatient facilities are another option to consider. Rather than handling emergent procedures or those that require long periods of hospitalization, you may work with minor surgical procedures that have a quick recovery time.

Common Surgical Technician Job Duties in Kansas

With your surgical technology program Kansas diploma, you should have a clear vision of what your daily work may be. There’s a lot that’s entrusted to operating room techs, and you should be ready to take on whatever is assigned to you by physicians, nurses, and managers.

Scrub techs often work first, second, and third shifts. Some facilities run on a 12-hour schedule, which may let you maintain full-time status while only working a few days per week.

When you first arrive for your shift, you may get a rundown of the previous shift from the surgical tech you’re relieving. This involves finding out which surgical procedures occurred on their shift and learning about the needs of remaining patients.

As you start your shift, it’s important for you to be ready for whatever comes your way. This means stocking equipment and disposable tools to keep every surgical room ready to go.

Depending on the scheduling procedures of your facility, you may have a prescheduled list of surgeries that you help with during each shift. In this case, it’s essential to stick to your schedule and arrive on time to each procedure. Otherwise, you may set back surgeons’ schedules.

After each surgery, it’s often your job to clean up and return the surgical room to a spotless state. This ensures that it’s ready for the next scheduled or emergency surgery.

At the end of your shift, you may restock each room and prepare reports for the surgical techs coming on for the next shift.

Kansas Surgical Tech Salaries

As a general rule, the national need for healthcare professionals is growing quickly. That may make this the ideal time to learn more about earning a surgical technology AAS in Kansas. Between 2014 and 2024, job openings for Certified Surgical Technologists may swell 15% throughout the country (Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2017). Salaries vary across Kansas. On average, Kansas surgical techs earn $40,250 per year (BLS, 2017).

A lot goes into your own personal job outlook and salary potential. As a new graduate, you may begin on the low end of the salary scale. However, as you gain experience and earn more seniority, you may significantly boost your earning ability. Your areas of specialty may also play a role. Getting more experience in a high-demand area may make you a great asset to a local healthcare facility.

Surgical Technology Resources in Kansas

When you’re attending one of the surgical tech programs in your area, you can start building your professional network. The more you learn about this industry while you’re still a student, the more easily you may transition into your professional role.

Many surgical tech Associate programs have student groups for aspiring surgical technologists. Become active in any student groups that are relevant to your field; the students sitting next to you in class today may be your professional peers tomorrow.

In the field of surgical technology, many relevant professional associations run on a national scale. As a member, you can attend national events and get locked in with smaller local groups.

Now that you know what it takes to become a scrub tech, you may be ready to find a surgical technology certificate KS program that suits you. Consider your schedule and your learning preferences as you tour local schools. You want to get plenty of clinical experience, since this may make it easier for you to secure a position after graduation. Take the plunge now. Explore our list of surgical technician programs in Kansas to learn more, and then request information from accredited surgical technology schools in Kansas to begin.