How does the saying go again, “…behind the success of every man is a woman”? Same goes for surgical technologists, also referred to as surgical technicians, for their diligence and hard work play a major role in a successful surgery. They are indeed important members of a surgical team for their main job is to assist surgeons in the operating room during surgery. And it is not an easy task for it requires their perseverance and competency to perform well.

Surgical technicians must be cool-headed, attentive and should have iron stomachs. Their duties include preparing and sterilizing the operating room for surgery, transferring patients to and from the operating room, handing out instruments to the attending surgeon and putting back the patient’s tissues and incisions. The life of the patient on the table highly depends on a surgical technician, for contamination in the operating room could cause infections or even death. Thus, a surgical technician’s task should not be underrated.

Most employers prefer to hire certified surgical technicians as compared to non-certified colleagues. To be a certified surgical technician, one must acquire a two-year course or program accredited by the Commision on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs or Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools. Accredited programs hone their graduates to be the best in the job by giving them detailed medical background and understanding of surgical procedures and the technical skills needed in the operating room. And to make them more prepared, they are provided with both academic and hands-on training.

Surgical technicians follow the regular working hour window in a hospital. Some of the career options that appeal to surgical technicians are cardiology, pediatrics or orthopedics. A surgical technician spends most of his days inside the operating room. It is a relatively quiet place to work wherein one’s full attention is required. Those who succeed in this profession are usually diligent and are able to focus on detailed procedures for a long period of time. They must be able to provide utmost assistance to the surgeon and hand out the correct equipment even before the surgeon asks.

They are indeed life-savers and patients owe them a big part of their surgery’s success. Not only that, surgical technicians are highly-paid employees for their hard work. A certified surgical technician earns an average of $36,053 and $44,028. One of the perks of being a surgical technician is your value increases as you gain experience, and it gets even better if you pursue to specialize in areas like open-heart surgery.