National Surgical Technologists Week is arguably the most important week of surgical technology students’ training. It is the time to emphasize the importance of our profession, certification, and the tremendous value we bring to the operating room team.
National Surgical Technologist Week is filled with special recognition for students at Glendale Career College (GCC) in Glendale, California. At GCC, NSTW has been an annual event for the past 25 years. Students are recognized for their outstanding academic achievements and the campus shows its appreciating with special events, including visits from local surgeons who are active in the Program Advisory Committee for Surgical Technology.
To be a surgical technologist and celebrate every year during our National Surgical Technologists Week is truly an honor. Surgical technologists play a vital role in patient care during surgical procedures, and it is surprising to see how few people know who we are and what we do.
Since 2005, the ARC/STSA Board of Directors annually awards multiple scholarships as part of its commitment to the advancement of surgical technology and surgical assisting education. The ARC/STSA Scholarship Program is designed to assist surgical technology and surgical assisting student members and educators in their pursuit of higher education in the professions. At the March 2016 meeting, the Board of Directors awarded $5,050 (combined) in scholarships.
The ARC/STSA Board of Directors recently reviewed the thresholds for, and beginning August 1, 2016, implemented changes to, the graduate and employer outcomes in response to in-depth data analysis and solicited program director feedback.
Preceptors are the seasoned surgical technologists and surgical assistants who have worked in the operating room for a particular service, such as neuro, obstetrics and gynecology, vascular, general and ENT, and have mastered the techniques used by most, if not all, of the surgeons that have privileges. The preceptor is one of the most important and relevant members of the healthcare education team.
Wondering how your Surgical Technology program’s outcomes compare to the rest of the nation? Well, now you can find out quickly. The ARC/STSA has compiled and published national statistics outcomes covering the last three reporting years.
Need money for your education? Then you’re at the right place! Multiple scholarships to be awarded to surgical technology and surgical assisting students and educators. Find out more about the 2017 ARC/STSA Scholarships and get application forms.
Just when you thought the summer could not get any better, the ARC/STSA Board of Directors made some significant changes to the way Graduates and Employers are surveyed at its 2016 spring meeting. The new process includes streamlined Graduate and Employer Survey tools as well as a major change in the timeline administration.
In the May issue of the e-newsletter, we asked readers to tell us how long it takes to fill out the online annual report once all the required information is collected.
