Surgical Technologist at St. Luke’s an Important Member of the Surgery Team

Surgical Technologies
801 Ostrum Street
Bethlehem, PA 18015
484-526-4466

St. Luke’s Surgical Technology Program Philosophy

The Surgical Technologist is an integral member of the surgical team who works under the supervision of the surgeon, anesthesiologist and registered nurse to meet the health care needs of the surgical patient. The Surgical Technology Program emphasizes the scrub role during surgery.

The Surgical Technology Program has a responsibility to provide quality education to its students. Surgical technology education is a developmental process which is designed to provide the student with fundamental abilities to assume his/her role in meeting the health care needs of the surgical patient. Competencies, attitudes, and values are developed utilizing the three domains of learning combined with adult learning principles to enhance the personal and professional growth process of all students.

• Cognitive Domain: Acquisition, comprehension and application of knowledge will be achieved by utilizing course lectures, discussions, group activities, simulation, independent study and examinations.
• Psychomotor Domain: Ability to perform the required skills in a variety of surgical settings will be developed through demonstration and return demonstration in the classroom laboratory and clinical environments.
• Affective Domain: Learning experiences are designed to foster a positive classroom environment. The maintenance of an environment of mutual respect will encourage learning, promote professionalism and establish the value of surgical technology as a profession.

The Surgical Technology Program faculty has a responsibility to provide quality education to its students. Current clinical practice and knowledge of surgical technology along with ongoing development of communication and teaching skills are essential to meeting this responsibility.

Faculty believes surgical technology is a profession committed to the health care of individuals in the perioperative setting. A holistic approach is used to meet the ever changing needs while recognizing the uniqueness of the individual. Perioperative nursing strives to aid the individual to maintain equilibrium with the environment through methodologies that promote, maintain and restore wellness.

Surgical technology education is a process that fosters physical, intellectual and psychosocial development through individual expression, group interaction and independent learning. Students acquire knowledge and understanding of its application through strategies that synthesize perioperative nursing knowledge, scientific principles and their application to professional surgical nursing practice in a multicultural community.

Learning is a life-long process that produces goal directed behavioral changes in the learner. The quality of learning is enhanced by an environment that stimulates motivation and self-direction and encourages accountability.

The St. Luke’s Surgical Technology Program is an integral part of the community it serves. School resources and the contributions of faculty and students provide leadership with other organizations in the development of solutions to problems that affect the health care needs of the community.

St. Luke’s Surgical Technology Program Mission

• Provide a supportive atmosphere by caring for students, faculty, patients and each other.
• Promote accountability by encouraging professional behavior and attitudes.
• Provide specialized surgical care with knowledge and pride in an environment conducive to education, self-esteem, comradery, and respect for ourselves and others.
• Provide optimal patient outcomes through clinical activities, utilizing a team concept resulting in safe, efficient and cost effective care.

St. Luke’s Surgical Technology Program Goals

The primary goal of the St. Luke’s Surgical Technology program is to ensure that graduates are able to gain and successfully maintain employment in entry level positions throughout the community. The following are essential elements in accomplishing the primary goal and for the continuing success of the program.

• Utilize all 3 domains of learning (cognitive, psychomotor, and affective) combined with adult learning principles to enhance the professional and personal growth process of all students.
• Ensure a positive environment that inspires and motivates students to learn new information and tasks.
• Provide an atmosphere conducive to developing pride, self-esteem, and values as well as develop respect and caring for fellow students, faculty, and patients.
• The curriculum will align with the standards set forth in Core Curriculum for Surgical Technology.
• Demonstrate that the student has mastered didactic knowledge in all subject areas. Regular testing will be administered to measure success at specified intervals during the entire program.
• Demonstrate further didactic knowledge of course information by assigning written case studies.
• Emphasis the 1st scrub role and demonstrate that the student can apply didactic knowledge to the clinic setting by requiring 720 hours of laboratory/clinical experience. Clinical Progress will be evaluated by the instructor and student on a weekly basis during the entire program.
• The outcome of the program is to prepare the students to take the National Certification Exam. Strive for 100% participation with a 100% success rate.
• The program will prepare practitioners able to communicate in a team environment and provide safe, efficient, and cost effective care that is patient oriented.

St. Luke’s Surgical Technology Program Objectives

Upon successful completion of the program, the surgical technologist is prepared for entry level positions in a variety of setting to include: hospital operating room departments, obstetrical departments, sterile processing departments, ambulatory surgery centers and private practices. A certificate is awarded to the student on completion of the SLH-STP and each graduate will be prepared to earn credentialing through passing a nationally administered certification exam and ultimately gain employment in the surgical environment.

St. Luke’s Surgical Technology Program Vision

To be recognized as an education center of excellence by our students, educators, employers and the community we serve.

The vision will be achieved by:

• Continuously improving student and employer satisfaction.
• Benchmarking educational outcomes and improving processes that lead to rigor in surgical technology education.
• Managing school resources to minimize their costs.
• Partnering with healthcare providers, clinical facilities and agencies, recognizing our success is dependent upon cooperation and common goals and redefining reality in a revolutionarily health care and educational environment.

At St. Luke’s University Health Network our faculty and professional staff are the source of our strength. Their commitment and involvement determine our future success.