Operating Room Skills Fundamentals for the Surgical Technologist

For courses in surgical technology.

A lab manual for surgical technologists new to the operating room
Operating Room Skills: Fundamentals for the Surgical Technologist helps students develop the essential skills needed to perform safely and competently in the operating room. The unique format follows the role of the surgical technologist, in conjunction with a patient’s movement through surgery. From the start, students are immersed in an active-learning experience that integrates best practices, core-curriculum requirements, and recommendations from program graduates and instructors. Supported by a companion website, the 2nd edition has a new Chapter 26, “Transition to the Clinical Setting”; new quick-reference guides; and updated Competency Assessments.

Nancy Dankanich is Surgical Technology Program Manager at Frederick Community College in Frederick, Maryland. In her 22 years in this position, she has helped develop this program by implementing national standards, negotiating contracts with numerous clinical sites, and overseeing growth in the number of qualified program applicants.

Ms. Dankanich has taught in health care for over 30 years – surgical technology theory, laboratory, and clinical – and in registered nurse and practical nurse programs. Her additional teaching responsibilities include online documentation training for nurses, electronic medication administration record-training for nurses, and American Heart Association CPR. She also participates on numerous college-wide committees.

As the recipient of several grants, Ms. Dankanich has networked with colleagues to develop surgical instrument training modules, online CST preparation examinations, and interactive on-campus surgical technology skill sessions. She is a member of Phi Kappa Phi, Sigma Theta Tau, AST, and AORN, and established the Joseph and Margaret Droll Memorial Student Scholarship fund through the Frederick Community College Foundation, Inc.

Ms. Dankanich holds a bachelor’s degree with high honors in nursing from the University of Maryland, Baltimore, and a master’s degree from Hood College, Frederick, Maryland. She also holds a certification from CCI in operating room nursing-CNOR.

UNIT I: SURGERY PREPARATION
1. Don Scrub Attire
2. Perform Basic Hand Hygiene
3. Don and Doff Personal Protective Equipment
4. Open Sterile Supplies
5. Perform Surgical Hand Scrub and Rub
6. Gown and Glove Self-Closed Gloving Method
7. Drape Mayo Stand and Prepare Back Table
8. Prevent Retained Surgical Items and Demonstrate the Count Protocol
9. Manage Medications and Solutions
10. Select Mayo Stand Instruments
11. Prepare the Patient for Operating Room Entry
12. Participate in Preanesthesia Skills
13. Facilitate Electrosurgery and Surgical Fire Awareness
14. Gown and Glove Another Team Member
15. Perform Open Gloving Technique
16. Position the Patient, Perform Urinary Catheterization and Skin Preparation
17. Apply Surgical Drapes
18. Perform Postdraping and Preincision Preparation

UNIT II: SURGERY FUNDAMENTALS
19. Identify, Prepare, and Pass Instruments
20. Prepare, Load, and Pass Suture for Right- and Left-Handed Surgeons
21. Maintain Sterile Technique
22. Facilitate Specimen Care, Dressings, Drains, and Postanesthesia Care

UNIT III: ESSENTIALS AFTER SURGERY
23. Dismantle the Sterile Field and Disrobe
24. Facilitate Room Turnover and Confidentiality

UNIT IV: MINIMALLY INVASIVE SURGERY
25. Facilitate Minimally Invasive Surgery: Laparoscopic and Robot-Assisted

UNIT V: STUDENT SURGICAL TECHNOLOGIST IN THE OPERATING ROOM
26. Transition to the Clinical Setting

Appendices
A. Answer Keys: Discussion Questions and Math Problems
B. Apprentice Preceptor
C. Internet Supplements

Online Resources
Chapter Skills
ST Skills Videos and Scenarios
Editable Competency Assessments
End-of-chapter Activities
General Surgery Instruments # 1—128 PowerPoint