Surgical Principles and Techniques

Catalog description

This course is designed to prepare students for the roles of the surgical technologist, including duties of the scrub role and duties of the assistant circulator. Other topics covered are chart review, patient identification, skin preparation, urinary catheterization, surgical counts, draping of the surgical patient, types of incisions, principles of wound healing, hemostasis and exposure of the operative field. Insertion of surgical drains and application of surgical dressings, along with relevant medical terminology, specimen care, pharmacology and anesthesia principles are covered. Actions are emphasized that facilitate the usual sequence of the surgical procedure for all segments of perioperative care, including the preoperative, intraoperative and postoperative care of the patient. Overview of surgical specialties is included, with emphasis on minor general surgical procedures and MIS specialty specifications.