Program Overview

The College of Lake County Surgical Technology Program prepares students to achieve an Associate in Applied Science degree in Surgical Technology. The degree is awarded upon successful completion of the required 61.5-67.5 credit hours of courses, including clinical practicum, as noted in the description of “Associate in Applied Science degree” in the College Catalog. Students must maintain a C (2.0) average for all work at CLC used to compute the grade point average.

The program is based on the recommendations of the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs CAAHEP, 9355 113th St. N, #7709, Seminole, FL 33775, Phone: (727) 210-2350, Fax: (727) 210-2354, www.caahep.org, and the policies of the College of Lake County.

In addition to employment as scrub surgical technologists, other employment opportunities for program graduates include positions in central sterile processing, materials management, and product and sales representatives for surgical supply businesses.

Program Format and Scheduling Policy

The Surgical Technology program offers a full-time, daytime, in-person comprehensive curriculum comprising classroom instruction, laboratory practice, and clinical training. Throughout the year, lectures are conducted in person on Grayslake campus. The laboratory component spans the initial eight weeks of the first semester, covering all essential skills necessary for operating room proficiency. Clinical experience commences in the latter half of the first semester and extends across three consecutive semesters. Placement at clinical sites is assigned to students. Students are responsible for arranging their transportation to and from these sites. It's important to note that clinical rotations may require travel of up to an hour. Additionally, students should anticipate potential supplementary expenses during clinical rotations, including but not limited to parking fees and transportation costs.

Students must be able to commit a minimum of four full days per week for the duration of the program. Didactic coursework is scheduled on Tuesdays and Thursdays, while laboratory and clinical experiences occur two days per week, typically on Monday, Wednesday or Friday, depending on clinical placement. This requirement does not include additional time outside of class dedicated to studying, homework, or other program-related activities.

Due to the variable nature of clinical scheduling, students must maintain scheduling flexibility on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays throughout the program.

College and Program Accreditation

The College of Lake County is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, a member of the North Central Association (30 North LaSalle Street, Suite 2400, Chicago, IL 60602, (312) 263-0456 or (800) 621-7440).

Surgical technologists who are applying for certification for the first time must have completed their education in a program that is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs, CAAHEP, 9355 113th St. N, #7709, Seminole, FL 33775, Phone: (727) 210-2350, Fax: (727) 210-2354, www.caahep.org. The Surgical Technology program at the College of Lake County is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs, CAAHEP, upon the recommendation of the Accreditation Review Council on Education in Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting.

Program Goals

The Surgical Technology Program of the College of Lake County (CLC) will educate highly trained and skilled surgical technologists who will provide safe, high-quality care throughout the perioperative experience. In addition, the program will also meet the needs of district health care facilities, as well as regional facilities with which CLC has a cooperative agreement, for well-trained surgical technologists.

Minimum Expectations Statement

“To prepare entry-level Surgical Technologists who demonstrate competence in the cognitive (knowledge), psychomotor (skills), and affective (behavior) learning domains as they enter the profession.”

Role of a Surgical Technologist

The Certified Surgical Technologist (CST), in the scrub role, is responsible for handling the instruments, supplies, and equipment needed during surgery. CSTs understand the procedure, anticipate the surgeon’s needs, and help provide safe, high-quality patient care while maintaining the sterile field.

CSTs take part in all three phases of surgical case management:

Preoperative
• Gather and open supplies
• Put on PPE, scrub, gown, and glove
• Set up and organize the sterile field
• Count items and assist with draping

Intraoperative
• Pass instruments and supplies
• Handle medications safely
• Anticipate surgeon and patient needs
• Perform counts
• Care for specimens
• Apply dressings

Postoperative
• Keep the sterile field until patient transfer
• Clean up instruments and supplies
• Prepare the OR for the next case

A skilled CST shows teamwork, professionalism, and a caring attitude toward patients and colleagues, while applying knowledge of anatomy, pathology, and procedures to meet each patient’s needs.

Certification and Degree Requirements

Graduates of the program are eligible to sit for the Certified Surgical Technologist (CST) Examination administered by the National Board of Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting (NBSTSA). To receive the Associate in Applied Science (A.A.S.) degree, students must successfully complete all required general education courses and meet all course prerequisites. Completion of the CST Examination is a requirement for graduation.

Program Completion and Graduation Requirements

• Students are required to complete all courses in the program with a grade of “C” or better.
• Students are required to maintain a minimum grade point of “C” or 2.0 for all work completed at CLC.
• Students are required to complete all scheduled clinical hours.

Physical and Emotional Ability Performance Standards

Students must meet the physical and emotional ability standards listed below to satisfactorily perform in the Surgical Technology program.

Students must:

• have full range of motion of joints, fine motor movements of the hands, ability to perform repetitive tasks and the ability to stoop, bend, twist, reach and occasionally kneel and squat.

• have the ability to lift and carry objects weighing up to 50 pounds.

• be able to push or pull a wheelchair, cart, or gurney.

• have adequate hearing which permits the individual to communicate in a rational and coherent manner with others in the English language.

• have the ability to examine closely images or other forms of output created by diagnostic equipment; must have color vision; must have good visual acuity for client assessment, checking medications, loading fine sutures, distinguishing and recognizing fine variations and differences in surgical instruments.

• adapt effectively to high stress environments to insure client safety.

• respond in an emotionally controlled manner in learning situations.

• be able to stand and walk 8 or more hours per clinical session.

Physical Demands for the Surgical Technology Program

Constant (67 – 100%)

• talking, seeing, and hearing

• standing for prolonged periods

• walking at average speed or faster

• responding quickly to orders

• manual dexterity

Frequent (34 – 66%)

• lifting and moving patients

• kneeling, bending, stooping

• pushing, pulling, reaching

• refraining from nourishment

Occasionally (10 – 33%)

• exert up to 100 pounds of force

Please contact the SRG department chair Elliot Eggler at (847) 543-2825 if you have questions regarding your ability to meet these standards.