|
THE A.A.S. IN SURGICAL TECHNOLOGY HAS A LIMITED NUMBER OF SEATS AVAILABLE FOR ADMISSION EACH SPRING SEMESTER. THE COURSES ARE OFFERED ONCE PER ACADEMIC YEAR.
ALL FIRST-TIME FRESHMAN AND TRANSFER STUDENTS ARE ENROLLED AS LIBERAL ARTS (A.A.) STUDENTS TAKING A SEQUENCE OF COURSES WHICH, ONCE SATISFACTORILY COMPLETED, COULD LEAD TO ENTRANCE INTO THE SURGICAL TECHNOLOGY MAJOR.
The Surgical Technology Program provides the professional skills required for a career in health care. The program introduces the student to the theory and practice of Surgical Technology and Perioperative practice in the classroom, laboratory and actual clinical setting. Students are prepared to function as a professional member of the surgical team by demonstrating knowledge of aseptic techniques, surgical procedures and instrumentation. The learning environment for students facilitates the development of knowledge, skills and values for professional development. The students garner sufficient background to be able to assimilate the policies and procedures of any health care institution consistent with their scope of practice in New York State. Upon completion of the program, graduates are eligible to take the certification examination offered by the National Board of Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting (NBSTSA).
Career Opportunities
Surgical Technologists are crucial members of the surgical team. They are employed in hospital operating rooms, delivery rooms, cast rooms, ambulatory care units and central supply departments. They serve in clinics, ophthalmologists’, physicians’ and dentists’ offices. With a broad educational background combined with the specialized focus they possess, Surgical Technologists function very well in diverse areas such as medical sales, product development and research, laser technology and bio-medical engineering.
Minimum Entrance Requirements
To be considered for the Surgical Technology Program, students must pass the CUNY Assessment Tests in Reading, Writing, and Math and satisfy all requirements for existing developmental coursework.
The student must achieve a minimum grade of “C” in BIO 1100 and ENG 1200 for consideration for the program. Courses from other colleges to be applied toward program requirements must have grades submitted for them.
In order to apply for the Surgical Technology program, the student must obtain a Change of Curriculum form at the Office of the Registrar, A-101, meet with a counselor to discuss your academic performance and obtain the counselor’s signature on the form. After obtaining your counselor’s signature, you must obtain the signature of the chairperson or designee of the department of your current curriculum. Finally, the completed form must be submitted to the Allied Health, Mental Health and Human Services Department Office, where you will be instructed to meet with the Program Director during office hours.
After final grades have been recorded for the semester in which you submit a Change of Curriculum Form, your request is reviewed by the Allied Health, Mental Health and Human Services Department. Despite submission of the Change of Curriculum Form to the Allied Health, Mental Health and Human Services Department, the Registrar will not be informed of any change in curriculum status until the end of the fall semester, after prospective applicants have completed all entrance requirements and have met with the Program Director. The Registrar will notify students of the effected change, and the Program Director will send a letter of acceptance or denial in January before the start of the spring semester. Due to limited clinical site availability, enrollment in the Program is limited. Therefore, completion of the pre-requisite courses with a minimum grade of “C” is not a guarantee of admission into the Surgical Technology Program.
Retention Criteria
Criteria for retention in the Surgical Technology Program mandates that students:
- Receive no more than two grades below “C” in any of the pre- or corequisite courses with the exclusion of ENG 1200 and BIO 1100 which must be with a minimum grade of “C.”
- Earn a minimum of “C” in all Surgical Technology courses.
- Students earning less than a “C” grade in a Surgical Technology course may repeat the course one time (subject to space availability). The minimum grade for courses that are repeated is a “B.”
- A second earned grade of less than “C” in any Surgical Technology course will result in dismissal from the Program.
Any student who has not attended surgical technology courses for two or more consecutive semesters cannot be readmitted into the Surgical Technology Program unless qualifying examinations have been passed in sequential order in the courses previously completed. In accordance with the retention criteria of the Allied Health, Mental Health and Human Services Department, these examinations can be repeated only once. In addition, the student must demonstrate clinical competency by passing a Clinical Practicum examination prior to returning to any of the clinical courses.
Practicum Courses
Following the successful completion of the first semester of the program, students will enroll in Practicum Courses and will participate in actual surgical procedures in the operating rooms at various clinical agencies.
Practicum Requirements
Course Completion:
The student must complete and achieve a grade of “C” in the following courses prior to placement in the first practicum:
ENG 1200
BIO 1100
ST 100
ST 200
Malpractice Insurance – Health Clearance – CPR Certification – Criminal Background Checks
Prior to registration, students entering Surgical Technology courses in which there are laboratory experiences in hospitals and other health agencies, are required to have malpractice insurance, health clearance and a CPR (BLS) certificate and a criminal background check. The insurance policy, CPR (BLS) certificate, and health clearance must be satisfactory for the entire semester. Information on CPR Certification is available in the Nursing Department Office. Information on health requirements is available from the Health Services Office , A-108. CUNY is now providing Surgical Technology students with malpractice insurance thus it is no longer necessary to purchase individual policies.
Notes:
- Information on obtaining CPR (BLS) certification and malpractice insurance is available in the Allied Health, Mental Health and Human Services Department Office (C-206B).
- Students incur the expenses of purchasing a lab coat and KCC patch and may opt to purchase individual protective goggles.
- The academic requirements in the Surgical Technology curriculum are demanding and students are cautioned to plan their work schedules and extra-curricular activities with this in mind.
|
