Surgery/Surg Tech

SURGEON:  A surgeon is a physician who has trained specifically to operate on patients in need of a variety of acute surgical procedures. Surgery involves making an incision on the patient's body and repairing or removing an internal part of the body and then closing the incision for optimum recovery. Some surgeons are specialized and fellowship-trained in a particular type of surgery, while other surgeons, called “general surgeons” are broader in scope but do not perform highly specialized types of surgery such as brain or heart surgeries.  

Have you considered?

NURSING CAREERS IN SURGERY:  There are a variety of nursing careers in the field of surgery. Nurses in this field provide care and support to patients before, during, and after surgery. Different positions include scrub nurses (who pass sterile instruments and supplies to surgeons), circulating nurses (who work outside the sterile field), and RN first assistants (who deliver direct surgical care to patients).  

SURGICAL TECHNOLOGIST:  Also known as a surg tech, scrub tech, or operating room tech, surgical technologists help with surgeries as part of the operating room team, which includes nurses, surgeons, and other technicians and technologists.  Surgical technologists help to prepare the OR (operating room), sterilize the instruments, and keep an inventory of them. Surgical technologists may also help with draping the patient and preparing the incision site. Additionally, surgical technologists will hand instruments to the nurses and surgeons as they are needed during the surgery. Other duties during surgery include cutting sutures, counting sponges or instruments, holding retractors, or taking specimens

A surgeon must complete an undergraduate (B.S.) degree and attend a medical school which typically is an 8-year process.  After medical school, a future surgeon attends a surgical residency program for about 5 years.  If a surgeon would like to further subspecialize in a particular type of surgery, the surgeon could attend additional years of training, called fellowships.  These specialties could include, orthopedic surgery, neurosurgery, and plastic surgery.

There are three educational paths to becoming a nurse. A diploma from an accredited nursing program or hospital (CNA, LPN), an associate’s degree in nursing (ADN – a two-year program), or a bachelor’s degree (Bachelor of Science in Nursing, or BSN). Nurses are involved with nearly all aspects of a patient’s care. Schedules and duties vary based on the type and level of the nursing role. Nurses can be generalists or obtain Master’s degrees and additional certifications to specialize in a specific area such as surgery.

Surgical technologists must obtain formal training in a surgical technologist program from a community college or technical/vocational school. Programs range in length from nine months for a certificate, to 24 months for an associate's degree. Most programs require a high school diploma.  As with most medical training programs, surgical technology programs consist of both classroom learning and hands-on clinical training. Class subjects include anatomy, physiology, microbiology, pharmacology, ethics, and medical terminology. Students also learn about surgical procedures and patient care.  Surgery technologists may advance to a lead role known as surgical first assistant and also work towards becoming a circulator. 

Utah Earning Potential Averages For Physicians/Surgeons: (Jobs.Utah.Gov)