Surgical Technology
School of Health, Wellness & Public Safety
• Certificate in Surgical Technology
Program Description
Surgical Technology is a three-term certificate program that presents the knowledge and skills necessary to work in a surgical environment and function as a vital member of the operating room team. Sixteen students begin the program each May. The learning environment consists of the campus classroom and laboratory along with local hospitals, day surgery centers and physicians offices. Accreditation is from the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP). Graduates are eligible to take the Surgical Technologist National Certifying Examination for Surgical Technologists who take and pass this examination are certified and authorized to use the initials CST to designate their status as Certified Surgical Technologist.
Career and Advancement Opportunities
Surgical Technologists perform many roles within and outside the operating room or surgical setting, but the primary role is to prepare and protect the sterile field, pass instruments and assist the surgeon in an operative procedure. There is a demand for Surgical Technologists in Albuquerque and throughout the state of New Mexico. For students wanting more information about the profession of Surgical Technology, please visit: http://www.ast.org
Special Requirements
All arts and sciences courses must be completed before beginning the surgical technology core courses. See CNM catalog under Surgical Technology.
Students are required to undergo a routine drug screening and a state and federal criminal background check with fingerprints prior to starting the program or prior to beginning their clinical experiences. Students with a disqualifying conviction will not be allowed to enter or remain in the program; additionally any student found to have a disqualifying conviction will not be allowed to register for any Allied Health or Nursing programs.
One week prior to beginning ST 1010, students are required to attend a program orientation. You may be dropped from the program if you do not attend the mandatory meeting. It is the responsibility of the student to insure the director has a current telephone and mailing address to insure proper notification of this meeting. Selection into the program is based on the date of declaration of ST as a major. It is strongly recommended that Human Anatomy and Physiology be completed within the past five years.
Before beginning Surgical Technology courses, students must provide a physical exam (click here for form) PPD and current immunizations (tetanus, rubella, rubeola and hepatitis B). Students are required to provide documentation from a licensed healthcare provider that they can safely lift a minimum of 50 lbs. prior to beginning their clinical experience. Students must have the emotional and physical stamina to stand for extended periods of time (8 to 10 hours) while concentrating on a specific task. Students are required to pay a program fee published in the Schedule of Classes, which covers the cost of a uniform, hospital parking permits, name tags, self-assessment exam, program assessment exam and preventative lab tests in case of needle stick or other exposure to bodily fluids.
Information Sessions:
If you are interested in the Surgical Technology Program, please attend one of the following information sessions. At each session, Program Director Amy Rademacher-Neel will discuss requirements of the program and answer any questions you may have. Dates and times for Information Sessions are as follows:
October 14, 2009 @ 2:00 pm in JS 207
October 15, 2009 @ 9:00 am in JS 207
March 10, 2010 @ 9:00 am in JS 207
March 11, 2010 @ 2:00 pm in JS 207
Graduation Policy
Health, Wellness & Public Safety Division students must graduate under the current catalog.
All Health, Wellness & Public Safety Division courses required for graduation must be taken for a traditional grade of A, B or C. For Health, Wellness & Public Safety courses offered only for credit/no credit, a grade of credit (CR) must be earned. A grade of C or better in all arts and sciences courses is required for graduation.
Pre- and co requisites are listed in course descriptions and are subject to change with each new catalog. It is the student’s responsibility to meet the pre- and/or co requisites in effect for the term in which a course is taken, regardless of the catalog under which the student entered or will graduate. Students may be stopped from enrolling or may be disenrolled if pre- or co requisites are not met.
Students who have successfully completed courses that no longer exist from previous catalogs will be accommodated.
For more information, please contact the Program Director Amy Rademacher-Neel at (505) 224-4166 or email to: arademachernee@cnm.edu or the School of Health, Wellness, Public Safety Administrative Offices at (505) 224-4111.
