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A Career as a Surgical Technologist: The Heroes of the Operating Room

Mandl School Surgical Technologost Degree Program

When most people think about surgery, minds often turn to the surgeon or perhaps the anesthesiologist, both critical figures in the operating room. However, there’s a vital role that often goes unnoticed but is crucial for the success of any surgical procedure: the surgical technologist. These professionals are the backbone of the surgical team, ensuring that operations run smoothly, efficiently, and safely. The Surgical Technologist degree program at Mandl School offers you an opportunity to start you career in this exciting field!

If you’ve ever considered a career in healthcare but aren’t sure where to start or what path to take, a career as a surgical technologist could be the ideal option. This blog will explore what a surgical technologist does, the skills needed to succeed, the steps to becoming one, and why this career can be incredibly rewarding. We’ve ben educating the finest Surgical Technologist in NYC and beyond.

What is a Surgical Technologist?

A surgical technologist, also known as a surgical technician or operating room technician, plays a key role before, during, and after surgery. They are responsible for preparing the operating room, ensuring all necessary instruments and equipment are sterilized and available, and assisting the surgical team during procedures. Our labs offer students a real life experience and prepare you for success.

Their duties include:
Preparing the Operating Room: Surgical technologists set up surgical instruments, sterile drapes, and solutions. They ensure all equipment is functioning properly and ready for use.
Assisting During Surgery: During surgery, they pass instruments to surgeons, maintain the sterile field, and anticipate the needs of the surgical team.
Post-Operative Responsibilities: After the procedure, they assist with cleaning the operating room and ensuring that all instruments are accounted for and sterilized for future use.

Why Choose a Career as a Surgical Technologist?

1. In-Demand Career with Job Stability
The healthcare sector is consistently one of the fastest-growing fields, and surgical technologists are in high demand. As the population ages and surgical procedures become more advanced and common, there’s a steady need for skilled professionals in the operating room. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment for surgical technologists is projected to grow faster than the average for all occupations.
2. Hands-On Experience in the Operating Room
If you’re someone who thrives in a fast-paced, high-stakes environment, becoming a surgical technologist can be highly fulfilling. You’ll be in the heart of the action, playing a direct role in helping save lives and improve patient outcomes.
3. Shorter Education Pathway
Unlike many other healthcare careers, becoming a surgical technologist doesn’t require a decade of education. Most surgical technology programs can be completed in two years with Mandl School, The College of Allied Health Surgical Technologist Associate Degree Program offering a quicker pathway to entering the workforce.
4. Opportunities for Advancement
A career as a surgical technologist offers plenty of room for advancement. With experience and further education, you can move into roles such as surgical assistant, or even specialize in areas like cardiovascular surgery or neurosurgery. Some technologists transition into management roles or become educators for future surgical technologists.

Key Skills Needed for Success

A career as a surgical technologist requires a unique blend of technical knowledge, attention to detail, and soft skills. Some of the most important qualities include:
Attention to Detail: Precision is critical in the operating room, and even small mistakes can have serious consequences.
Calm Under Pressure: The surgical environment can be intense. Surgical technologists need to remain calm, focused, and quick-thinking, especially in emergencies.
Teamwork: Surgical technologists work closely with surgeons, nurses, and other healthcare professionals, so the ability to communicate effectively and work as part of a team is essential.
Manual Dexterity: Surgical technologists must have good hand-eye coordination to handle instruments quickly and efficiently during procedures.
Physical Stamina: Long hours on your feet and the need to move quickly during procedures mean physical stamina is important for this role.

Conclusion: A Fulfilling Career Path

A career as a surgical technologist is a perfect fit for those who want to work in healthcare but are looking for an accessible, fast-paced, and hands-on profession. Surgical technologists make a significant difference in patients’ lives every day, helping to ensure that surgeries are safe, effective, and efficient.

If you’re interested in working in the medical field but want a faster route to entering the workforce, this career offers an exciting opportunity to be part of life-saving procedures without the long years of medical school. Plus, with job stability, opportunities for advancement, and the chance to make a direct impact, being a surgical technologist is as rewarding as it is essential. Contact our admissions department for more information. We can also have you speak with our career services to learn how Mandl School can help you after graduation. Apply today here to learn more!

Healthcare is an In Demand Career! You want one?

Healthcare Careers at Mandl School

Thinking about changing your career? Looking to build upon the career you have now? Not at all sure what to do with yourself but heard Healthcare is the future? Mandl School, The College of Allied Health can help you get started. Seriously, we’ve been doing it for 100 years.

Your Healthcare Career will Make a Difference in Your Life, Your Family’s life and the lives of so many others.

Imagine going to work every day knowing you’re making a real difference in someone’s life. You’re basically a real-life miracle worker, with the ability to heal, comfort, and bring smiles to people’s faces when they need it most.  A career in healthcare is in such high demand because people are always going to need care, and as the population grows and ages, the demand only increases.

Top 5 Reasons Why Healthcare Careers are in Such High Demand:

  1. Aging Population: The world’s population is getting older, which means more people are living longer and needing healthcare services. With conditions like heart disease, arthritis, and diabetes becoming more common with age, healthcare professionals are essential to help manage and treat these conditions.
  2. Advancements in Medicine: Medical technology is advancing rapidly, leading to new treatments, procedures, and specialties. This means there’s a growing need for trained professionals who can operate advanced medical equipment, administer new treatments, and specialize in new areas of care.
  3. Chronic Illnesses: There’s an increase in chronic conditions like diabetes, hypertension, and obesity, which require ongoing management. This means a constant need for doctors, nurses, and specialists to help patients manage their health over the long term.
  4. Global Health Challenges: Issues like pandemics, mental health crises, and public health emergencies highlight the need for a strong, adaptable healthcare workforce. Whether it’s dealing with a global pandemic or responding to natural disasters, healthcare workers are on the front lines.
  5. Diverse Opportunities: Healthcare offers a wide range of career paths—from nursing and medicine to health IT and public health. This variety attracts people with different skills and interests, leading to a constant need for new talent across the field.

In short, the demand for healthcare careers is driven by the essential nature of the work, ongoing medical advancements, and the increasing health needs of the population. It’s a field where the demand is only going to grow.  So, if you want a job that’s meaningful, exciting, and a little bit magical, healthcare is the career to start.

And Mandl School can get you started! But don’t wait…  Apply today to save your seat!

Future of Surgical Technologist

SURGICAL TECHNOLOGISTS ARE IN HIGH DEMAND

Mandl School, The College of Allied Health offers a degree in Surgical Technologist. Our program is one of the only Surgical Technologist programs offered in New York City. A degree in Surgical Technologist requires dedication, determination and focused study. Mandl’s professors and curriculum are designed to help you gain invaluable skills and prepare for internships and  exams. Our Career Development Center can help you to embark on a career path. The rewards are many. As health care needs continue to rise at a dramatic rate, Surgical Technologists are in high demand. A Mandl degree offers a clear path to opportunities for a fantastic career.

Surgical Technologist at Mandl School

SURGICAL TECHNOLOGISTS: HOW IT STARTED

The role of the surgical technologist began on the battlefields in World War I and World War II when the U.S. Army used “medics” to work under the direct supervision of the surgeon. Concurrently, medical “corpsman” were used in the United States Navy aboard combat ships. Nurses were not allowed aboard combat ships at the time. This led to a new profession within the military called operating room technicians (ORTs).

With many medical personnel overseas or performing duties in military hospitals, an accelerated nursing program with emphasis only on operating room technology was set up as an on-the-job training of nursing assistants who worked in the surgery department. These individuals studied sterilization of instruments and how to care for the patient in the operating room. Techniques, sutures, draping and instrumentation were emphasized; they also had to do clinical time in labor and delivery and the emergency room.

After the Korean War there were shortages of operating room nurses. Operating room supervisors began to recruit ex-medics and ex-corpsmen to work in civilian hospitals. These ex-military men functioned as circulators in the operating room while the scrub role or “instrument nurse” role was performed by the registered nurse. It was not until 1965 that these roles were reversed.

In 1974, an accreditation body was established to ensure quality education. The programs accredited by ARC/STSA (Accreditation Review Committee for Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting; formerly ARC-ST) are monitored for compliance with the standards. The ARC/STSA and AST board of directors recommends the associate degree as entry level surgical technology education. Mandl School offers an Associate Degree in Surgical Technologist.

SURGICAL TECHNOLOGISTS TODAY

A surgical technologist is an allied health professional working as a part of the team delivering surgical care. Surgical technologists are members of the surgical team. The members of the team include the surgeon, surgeon’s assistant, circulator nurse and anesthesia provider (anesthesiologist or nurse anesthetist). They possess knowledge and skills in sterile and aseptic techniques. The goal is for surgical technologists to be able to anticipate the next move the surgeon is going to make in order to make the procedure as smooth and efficient as possible. They do this by having knowledge of hundreds of surgical procedures and the steps the surgeon needs to take in order to complete the procedure, including the very wide range of surgical instruments they may need. They only work in surgical or perioperative areas and are highly specialized.

HOW TO BECOME A SURGICAL TECHNOLOGIST

Contact our Admissions team to discuss how to enroll in our Surgical Technologist program. We will review all requirements needed to begin including financial aid opportunities, internships, career placement and more.

During your classroom courses, you will discover operating room prep, sterilization methods, human anatomy, medical terminology, and how to appropriately use medical equipment. After passing the classroom portion of your program, students are required to complete a clinical internship. Placed with an experienced mentor in a hospital setting, prospective Surgical Technologists will participate in surgical procedures.

Considering to become a Surgical Technologist means you are ready to begin a true career path. And it starts at Mandl School! Call us at 212-247-3434 today or fill in our short form and we will get right back to you.

Healthcare Career Degree

Interested in a Healthcare Career? Overall, the Bureau of Labor Statistics expects 5 million new jobs in the sector through 2022. January 2021 is the best time to start at Mandl.

Why? Because NYC needs Healthcare Workers now. There are more opportunities in the medical industry than ever before and Mandl School can help you get started right away. Call 212-247-3434 today to learn more. We will answer all questions about class schedules, career services, program requirements, Financial Aid and our many programs including:

HEALTHCARE CAREER DEGREES

Our programs prepare you for career building internships, license exams, career placement and more.  Doctors and Dentists need Medical and Dental Assistants, hospitals require Respiratory Therapists, labs are looking for Health Care Administrators, and there is a growing demand for Diagnostic Medical Sonographers, and Surgical Technologists. These positions are part of a healthcare team focused on overall wellness and disease treatment and prevention. Our January 2021 class is going to be a fantastic opportunity for you to begin the new year right and quickly get you started on a growing career track. Call today or fill out a short form and we’ll get right back to you!

Smiling medical professional

VITAL CAREERS START AT MANDL! 

You don’t need to be a physician to have a high paying job in the healthcare field. Non-physicians fill some of the highest paid jobs in the healthcare industry! Now is challenging time in all of our lives yet one filled with great opportunities for those like you who want to work for it. The entire Mandl staff is working hard everyday to ensure you have the best health care education and career services assistance in NYC. Classes are starting – contact us today!

Make Money in Trade Career

 

Dental Assistant program at Mandl School

A Trade Career can be lucrative and rewarding. Teens need to know there are alternatives to 4 year colleges. In fact, studies are showing that there are more opportunities for skilled trade today than ever before.  Here is a great article written by Katie Bingham-Smith and published in Family Circle. Mandl School offers students an opportunity for a career focused education. The medical field is in need of employers and we offer specific training, certification prep, and degrees for some of the highest paying and most sought after careers in the US.

High paying jobs and opportunities.

High-paying jobs are available for students who choose trade school or vocational or technical education instead of bachelor’s degree programs.

My son is 15 and will be starting his junior year of high school in the fall. The talk of going to college is buzzing all around while no other options are even suggested half as much. There seems to be such a stigma around not going off to school to earn a bachelor’s ­degree, and I don’t think this is fair to our kids.

My son probably won’t go to college, at least not right away.

While I am still going to take him to visit schools to make sure it’s not what he wants to do straight after graduation, it might not change his mind about what he wants to do. For now, he feels like he wants to be a plumber like his father, and we both think that’s great.

When he was younger, he watched his dad go to work in a big truck that had different compartments and held fittings, long copper pipes, and cool PVC things that fit together like a puzzle. He loved helping him clean and organize it.

He’d take a screwdriver or wrench and sit with him under sinks when we’d drop off donuts at a job site.

As he’s gotten older, he’s gone to work with him over the years and learned how to install radiant heat, faucets, and toilets.

A Career Training education is hands on.

Career in Diagnostic Medical Sonography

My son likes to do manual labor and work hard. He’s always been happiest when he is moving his body and hates sitting in a classroom all day. The thought of going to another four years of school after graduating makes his stomach turn.

Knowing that, and seeing how his father has struggled to find good employees that know the plumbing trade, or want to work hard to learn it, has made me realize we really need to be presenting the trades as a promising career path to our kids, because they have so much to offer.

College is being shoved down their throats, and all the other options take a back seat or aren’t presented at all.

Our teens should at least know there is always a need for carpenters, plumbers, and electricians. In fact, a plumber once told me in good times, people buy and build new. And in bad times, they still need their homes to be standing and functioning properly so they hire trades-people to repair broken things—people will always need to use the bathroom and have running water.

My son’s dad has never been at a loss for work. He supported a family of five on one income by running a good plumbing business. In fact, he’s had to turn a lot of work away as he’s always had more work than he can handle.

He’s also mentioned when he does call people back to schedule a service call, they are so relieved because it’s impossible to get a plumber to come to their house.

Trades schools are a lot less expensive than four-year colleges, and lots of companies are willing to train the right person with the right work ethic. Many of our kids can get into a lucrative career, start earning money, and learn great skills right out of high school without taking on much (or any) debt.

This can allow them to earn great money to think longer and harder about what they want to do while gaining the knowledge that will help them later in life; learning to fix something yourself can save thousands a year.

Life Opportunities

Maybe they want to save for school and go later after they have gotten a feel for earning a living. Perhaps they want to work for a bit and earn enough money to travel. There is also the option to work during the day and take classes at night a bit at a time and pay as they go.

I also can’t count the times I’ve tried to find a good handyman, and when I do find one, he is usually straight out because he has so much work and has a hard time hiring someone to help him.

The trades are such a wonderful option for our kids. They are needed, they pay well, and the skills learned will be carried throughout a lifetime. The facts should be presented to them earlier in their life so it at least gets their brains wrapped around what a great way the trades can be to make a living.

Contact Mandl Today!

Contact us today to learn more about how a two year degree from Mandl can prepare you for a lucrative and lasting career that can open doors to many professional and life opportunities.

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