Surgical Technician Study Guide
Core Competency Areas
The exam tests for 'Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities' (KSAs) in the following core competency areas:
5%The Profession and the Professional
10%Communication and Teamwork
12%Medicolegal Aspects of Surgical Technology
10%Diagnostic and Assessment Procedures
5%Environmental Hazards
20%Microbes and the Process of Infection
5%Moving, Handling, and Positioning the Surgical Patient
10%Surgical Instruments
5%Perioperative Pharmacology
5%Anesthesia, Physiological Monitoring, and Post Anesthesia Recovery
8%General Surgery and Specialty Surgery
5%Disaster Preparedness
Topical Breakdown
Use the following topical guide to help you prepare for the exam:
I. The Profession and the Professional (5%)
- Short History of the Profession
- Surgical Technology Education and Certification
- Required Skills
- Becoming a Health Care Professional
II. Communication and Teamwork (10%)
- Elements of Communication
- Verbal and Nonverbal Communication
- Supporting the Psychosocial Needs of the Patient
III. Medicolegal Aspects of Surgical Technology (12%)
- Types of Law
- Facilities Standards and Policies
- Patients’ Rights
- Proper Documentation
IV. Diagnostic and Assessment Procedures (10%)
- Concepts Related to Pathology
- Vital Signs
- Microbiological Studies
V. Environmental Hazards (5%)
- Risk and Safety
- Electrical Hazards
- Fire Safety
- Standard Precautions
VI. Microbes and the Process of Infection (20%)
- Microorganisms and the Diseases They Cause
- Sterile Technique and Infection Control
- Principles of Decontamination, Sterilization, and Disinfection
- Instrument Cleaning and Decontamination
VII. Moving, Handling, and Positioning the Surgical Patient (5%)
- Patient Identification
- Transport and Transfers
- Preoperative Skin Marking
VIII. Surgical Instruments (10%)
- Equipment Operation
- Use of Instruments by Tissue Type
- Passing Surgical Instruments in Surgery
IX. Perioperative Pharmacology (5%)
- Regulation of Drugs, Substances, and Delivery
- Unit Systems of Measurement
- Prescription and Drug Orders
- Drug Preparation and Transfer to the Sterile Field
X. Anesthesia, Physiological Monitoring, and Post Anesthesia Recovery (5%)
- General, Regional, and Procedural Sedation
- States of Anesthesia
XI. General Surgery and Specialty Surgery (8%)
- Gastrointestinal Surgery
- Gynecological and Obstetrical Surgery
- ENT Surgery
- Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
- Orthopedic Surgery
- Thoracic and Pulmonary Surgery
- Cardiac Surgery
- Neurosurgery
- Emergency Trauma Surgery
XII. Disaster Preparedness (5%)
- Training
- Classification and Definition of Disasters
- Disaster Management and Government Structures
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National Certification & Registration
