Surgical Services AS Overview (2059) Limited Access
Type of Award
AS - Associate in Science
Program Website
www.palmbeachstate.edu/career-pathways/pathway-health.aspx
Program Description
This program is designed to prepare the student for employment as a Surgical Technologist. In both simulated and clinical surgical environments, students will practice preparing, setting up and maintaining a sterile field, preparation of supplies and equipment for surgery; and patient preparation. Course content includes surgical technology concepts, surgical techniques and procedures. Clinical learning experiences in an operating room and related areas are an integral part of this program. Students in the Surgical Services Associate in Science degree program learn through classroom, laboratory instruction and clinical experiences in the operating room and related areas.
Program Learning Outcomes
For detailed information, visit www.palmbeachstate.edu/learningoutcomes/Program-Learning-Outcomes.
Program Application Requirements
- Attend program information session.
- Submit a complete Surgical Services A.S. degree program application.
- BSC2085, BSC2085L, BSC2086, and BSC2086L must be taken within the last 10 years.
Admission Requirements
Students must complete the following courses with a grade of C or higher before being admitted to the program:
- BSC2085 Anatomy and Physiology 1
- BSC2085L Anatomy and Physiology 1 Lab
- BSC2086 Anatomy and Physiology 2
- BSC2086L Anatomy and Physiology 2 Lab
- HSC2531 Medical Terminology
Completion Requirements
Students must complete all courses with a grade of C or higher.
Please note that CAAHEP accreditation requires the following requirements for completion of the Surgical Services A.S, degree program and to be able to take the National Board of Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting (NBSTSA) exam for professional certification.
- The total number of cases the student must complete is 120.
- Students are required to complete 30 cases in General Surgery. Twenty of the cases must be in the first scrub role.
- Students are required to complete 90 cases in various surgical specialties. Sixty of the cases must be in the first scrub role and evenly distributed between a minimum of five surgical specialties. However, 15 is the maximum number of cases that can be counted in any one surgical specialty.
- The Surgical Services A.S. degree program is required to verify through the surgical rotation documentation each student's progression in first and second scrubbing surgical procedures of increased complexity as they move toward entry-level graduate abilities.
- Diagnostic endoscopy cases and vaginal delivery cases are not mandatory, but up to 10 diagnostic endoscopic cases and five vaginal delivery cases can be counted toward the maximum number of second scrub role cases.
- Observation cases must be documented, but do not count toward the 120 required cases.
- Counted cases: cases will be counted according to surgical specialty. Examples:
- Trauma patient requires a splenectomy and repair of a Le Fort I fracture. Two cases can be counted and documented since the splenectomy is general surgery specialty and repair of Le Fort I is an oral maxillofacial surgical specialty.
- Patient requires a breast biopsy followed by mastectomy. It is one pathology, breast cancer, and the specialty is general surgery; therefore, it is counted and documented as one procedure - one case.
Program Length
This is a two year program and requires a full-time commitment.
Location
The program is offered at the Lake Worth campus.
For More Information
Contact Jo Lana Cota, cotaj@palmbeachstate.edu, 561-868-3830
Employment Opportunities
Graduates of the program are eligible for employment in hospital operating rooms, outpatient surgical centers, labor and delivery units, physician's offices and medical sales positions.
Career Path Notes
The Surgical Services A.S degree program provides students with necessary job skills and motivation in keeping with standards of practice as established by the Association of Surgical Technologists (AST) and the Association of Operating Room Nurses (AORN), enabling them to qualify for, secure, maintain and advance in gainful employment in the field of surgical technology.
Courses from this program may transfer into Palm Beach State's Bachelor of Applied Science degree in Supervision and Management. For more information, visit www.palmbeachstate.edu/bachelors/default.aspx.
In addition, courses from this program may transfer to other colleges and universities that allow students to transfer into a four-year program. For more information, contact the college or university to which you wish to transfer.
Career Center
www.palmbeachstate.edu/Career
For more information about employment opportunities, including job outlook and salary information, visit: Occupational Outlook Handbook: www.bls.gov/ooh
O-Net Online: www.onetonline.org
Required courses:
Program Prerequisites (Credits: 11)
| BSC2085 | Anatomy and Physiology 1 (AA) | 3 Credits |
| BSC2085L | Anatomy and Physiology 1 Lab (AA) | 1 Credit |
| BSC2086 | Anatomy and Physiology 2 (AA) | 3 Credits |
| BSC2086L | Anatomy and Physiology 2 Lab (AA) | 1 Credit |
| HSC2531 | Medical Terminology (AA) | 3 Credits |
Required Courses (Credits: 34)
| STS1302 | Introduction to Surgical Technology (AS) | 3 Credits |
| STS1304C | Introduction to Surgical Techniques (AS) | 3 Credits |
| STS1323C | Surgical Techniques and Procedures 1 (AS) | 3 Credits |
| STS1340C | Pharmacology and Anesthesia (AS) | 3 Credits |
| HSC1434C | Central Sterile Clinical (AS) | 3 Credits |
| STS2324C | Surgical Techniques and Procedures 2 (AS) | 3 Credits |
| STS2365 | Leadership for Surgical Services (AS) | 3 Credits |
| STS2944C | Surgical Specialties Clinical 1 (AS) | 5 Credits |
| STS2945C | Surgical Specialties Clinical 2 (AS) | 5 Credits |
| STS2955C | Capstone for Surgical Technology (AS) | 3 Credits |
General Education (Credits: 19)
| ENC1101 | College Composition 1 (AA) | 3 Credits |
| MCB2010 | Microbiology (AA) | 3 Credits |
| MCB2010L | Microbiology Lab (AA) | 1 Credit |
| PSY2012 | Introduction to Psychology (AA) | 3 Credits |
| Or | |
| SYG2000 | Introduction to Sociology (AA) | 3 Credits |
| SPC1017 | Fundamentals of Speech Communication (AA) | 3 Credits |
| Any course from Mathematics - Area III | 3 credits |
| Any course from Humanities - Area II | 3 credits |
Total Credit Hours: 64
Course Sequence
Term One - Fall (Year One) (Credits: 13)
| BSC2085 | Anatomy and Physiology 1 (AA) | 3 Credits |
| BSC2085L | Anatomy and Physiology 1 Lab (AA) | 1 Credit |
| ENC1101 | College Composition 1 (AA) | 3 Credits |
| SPC1017 | Fundamentals of Speech Communication (AA) | 3 Credits |
| HSC2531 | Medical Terminology (AA) | 3 Credits |
Term Two - Spring (Year One) (Credits: 13)
| BSC2086 | Anatomy and Physiology 2 (AA) | 3 Credits |
| BSC2086L | Anatomy and Physiology 2 Lab (AA) | 1 Credit |
| PSY2012 | Introduction to Psychology (AA) | 3 Credits |
| Or | |
| SYG2000 | Introduction to Sociology (AA) | 3 Credits |
| Any course from Mathematics - Area III | 3 credits |
| Any course from Humanities - Area II | 3 credits |
Term Three - Summer (Year One) (Credits: 4)
Term Four - Fall (Year Two) (Credits: 15)
| STS1302 | Introduction to Surgical Technology (AS) | 3 Credits |
| STS1304C | Introduction to Surgical Techniques (AS) | 3 Credits |
| STS1323C | Surgical Techniques and Procedures 1 (AS) | 3 Credits |
| STS1340C | Pharmacology and Anesthesia (AS) | 3 Credits |
| HSC1434C | Central Sterile Clinical (AS) | 3 Credits |
Term Five - Spring (Year Two) (Credits: 11)
| STS2324C | Surgical Techniques and Procedures 2 (AS) | 3 Credits |
| STS2365 | Leadership for Surgical Services (AS) | 3 Credits |
| STS2944C | Surgical Specialties Clinical 1 (AS) | 5 Credits |
Term Six - Summer (Year Two) (Credits: 8)
| STS2945C | Surgical Specialties Clinical 2 (AS) | 5 Credits |
| STS2955C | Capstone for Surgical Technology (AS) | 3 Credits |
Total Credit Hours: 64