Course Syllabus

Course Number:

SUR 2600 6e Section:

Course Title:

Surgical Technologist Externship

Instructor Name:

Voice Mail:

Email Address:

Robert K. Wright

334.551.1529

Robert.wright@vc.edu

Date Prepared by Instructor:

11 October 2016

Robert K. Wright

Term Dates:

5 October 2016 / 21 December 2016

Holidays:

Class Meetings:

Monday (10:00 Hours) Friday

Website URL for Online Access: https://portal.vc.edu

Credit Hours:

8

Lecture Hours:

0

Lab Hours:

0

Clinical Hours:

240 hours MINIMUM

Course Length:

See Externship

Prerequisite(s):

Completion of Area of Concentration Course Extern, Successful Completion of the Pre-Externship Skills Checklist, Pass a Skin Test for TB, Vaccinated for Hepatitis B and Rubella, Pass a Urine Drug Screen, Submit to a Criminal Background Check, Approved by the Externship Site, and Program Director Approval

Textbook:

Goldman, M.A. (2008). Pocket Guide to the Operating Room, 3^rd Edition, FA Davis.

Certifying Exam Study Guide, 3rd Edition, Association of Surgical Technologists, AST, 2013.

Instructional Materials:

Textbook, Outside Readings, VC Library, Online companion, Study ware CD-ROM, Northstar Learning, Educational Videos.    

Course Description:

In cooperation with surgeons, nurses, surgical technologists and other perioperative care professionals, the advanced student is assigned to a specific clinical setting and assists in the operating room as a surgical technologist.

Course Objectives:

Upon successful completion of this course, the student should be able to:

·         Complete 120 scrubbed cases

·         demonstrate practical proficiency in the surgical arena with an understanding of the basic procedures involved with surgical intervention;

·         apply the departure from classroom theory to on-the-job training in the operating room;

·         effectively communicate and demonstrate decision-making skills with critical thinking for successful performance in the surgical environment;

·         maintain high standards of aseptic technique;

·         complete daily tasks in a timely manner; and

·         extern cooperatively with others in a professional manner.

All students are required to receive the first two Hepatitis B vaccine injections (the third is provided by the student after graduation). A Tuberculin Tine Test and a Rubella titer and drug screen are required prior to externship as well.

Instructional Methods:

Delivery Method:  Residential

An orientation meeting is held the first week of the quarter where students are instructed of the procedures that must be followed during the time of externship in order to comply with the requirements of the school and what is expected by the clinics.  At that time, the student is assigned a site/clinic that has agreed to work with the student.  Students must remain in contact with the Coordinator weekly. Students will return to campus weeks 2, 4, 6, 8, and 10 for a two- hour meeting to discuss externship experiences, review of skills, and meeting with Career Services. The hours these meetings are held do not count towards the required externship hours, Failure to attend each of these meetings may be grounds for failing the externship.

The medical facility will receive on site visits by an Allied Health representative to verify that students are meeting the required procedures.

Students must complete a minimum of 120 cases as delineated below.

A.    General Surgery Cases

1.     Students complete a minimum of 30 cases in General Surgery; 20 which must be performed in the First Scrub Role. The remaining 10 cases may be performed in either the First or Second Scrub Role.

B.    Specialty Cases

1.      Students must complete a minimum of 30 cases in various surgical specialties, excluding General Surgery; 60 which must be performed in the First Scrub Role.  The additional 30 cases may be performed in either the First or Second Scrub Role.

a.     A minimum of 60 surgical specialty cases must be performed in the First Scrub Role and distributed amongst a minimum of four surgical specialties.

                                                    i.    A minimum of 10 cases in the First Scrub Role must be completed in each of the required minimum of four surgical specialties (40 cases total required).

                                                   ii.    The additional 20 cases in the First Scrub Role may be distributed amongst any one specialty cases may be performed in any surgical specialty either in the First or Second Scrub Role.

C.    Optional Surgical Specialties

1.     Diagnostic endoscopy cases and vaginal delivery cases are not mandatory; however, up to 10 diagnostic endoscopic cases and 5 vaginal delivery cases can be counted toward the maximum number of Second Scrub Role cases.

a.     Diagnostic endoscopy cases must be documented in the category of “Diagnostic Endoscopy”, rather than by specialty.

b.    Vaginal delivery cases must be documented in the category of “Labor & Delivery”, rather than in the OB/GYN specialty.

D.    Case experience in the Second Scrub Role is not mandatory.

E.    Observation cases must be documented, but do not count towards the 120 required cases.

F.    Counting Cases

1.     Cases will be counted and documented according to surgical specialty (exception being diagnostic endoscopic cases; refer to II.C.1.a.above).

2.     Examples of counting cases

a.     Trauma patient requires a splenectomy and repair of a LeFort I fracture. Two cases can be counted and documented since the splenectomy is general surgery specialty and repair of LeFort I is oral-maxillofacial surgical specialty.

b.    Patient requires a breast biopsy followed by mastectomy. It is one pathology, breast cancer, and the specialty is general surgery; therefore, it is counted and documented as one procedure – one case.

c.     Endoscopic cases that convert to an open case (e.g. Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy converted to an Open Cholecystectomy) are counted and documented as one (1) procedure – one case.

Surgical Rotation Case Requirements 6e

First & Second Scrub Role & Observation

First Scrub Role

The student surgical technologist shall perform the following duties during any given surgical procedure with proficiency.   The following list is provided to identify the items that must be completed in order to document a case in the first scrub role.  A student not meeting the five criteria below cannot count the case in the first scrub role and the case must be documented in the second scrub role or observation role.

·         Verify supplies and equipment needed for the surgical procedure

·         Set up the sterile field with instruments, supplies, equipment, medications, and solutions needed for the procedure

·         Perform counts with the circulator prior to the procedure and before the incision is closed.

·         Pass instruments and supplies to the sterile surgical team members during the procedure

·         Maintain sterile technique as measured by recognized breaks in technique and demonstrate knowledge of how to correct with appropriate technique.

Second Scrub Role

·         Sponging

·         Suctioning

·         Cutting Suture

·         Holding retractors

·         Manipulating endoscopic came

Observation Role

The observation role is defined as the student who is in the operating room performing roles that do not meet the criteria for the first or second scrub role. These observation cases are not to be included in the required case count, but must be documented by the program.

Resources:

Textbook, Pearson’s Surgical Technology Exam Review, Learning Success Center, VC Virtual Library.

Reference materials are available in our college library as well as the Internet and the local public libraries. Research assignments should include the Virginia College Virtual Library which is your gateway to reference resources. Students may access the virtual library through the Virginia College website: portal.vc.edu.

Evaluation:

Participation and Professionalism............................. 10%

Out of Class Assignments...…………………………..10%

Attendance & Evaluations......................................... 80%

  Total  ....................................................................... 100%

Grading Scale:

90% – 100 %      A

80% -   89 %       B

70% -   79 %       C                       

  0% -    69 %       F                       

All Surgical Technology core courses must be passed with a “C” (70%) or higher.

Percentages are determined by dividing the number of points earned by the total points possible.

A minimum of 240 hours must be completed.

Attendance/Make-Up Policy:

Refer to catalog

Attendance:

If you miss 4 days of class, you will lose a whole letter grade.

Ten points will be deducted from your professionalism grade

for each day you miss. You cannot participate if you are not here.

If you miss 5 days, per VC policy, you will be dropped from the

course.

Make-up exams will only be given if you have a doctor’s excuse, a

death in your family, or are on military duty.   To be eligible to make

up an exam, the student must present written documentation of the

reason for absence. Arrangements for missed exams must be made

on the first class day the student is present following the exam.

Missed exams may not be made up during normally scheduled class.

Exams missed due to unexcused absence may not be made up.

Daily quizzes may not be made up.

Daily tasks will be assigned which are due by the end of the class meeting each day. These tasks do not fall under the Make-up policy. Task completion is included in the student’s Professionalism grade.

Professionalism Expectations:

Students are expected to act in a professional manner by meeting deadlines, solving problems, cooperating with classmates, and generally contributing in a positive way to the class. Working in your field of study often means searching for solutions in a group context. Teamwork, listening, empathy, enthusiasm, emotional maturity, respect, and consideration of other people’s concerns are all essential to success. Please bring these qualities and values with you to class. It is as important to “practice” these interpersonal skills as it is to learn new intellectual content and related skills. Students will be evaluated on their professional demeanor in class.

Observables:

• Timeliness
• Communicating respectfully with peers and instructor
• Respecting others’ opinions
• Adhering to the dress code as outlined in the VC Student Handbook
• Adhering to the Academic Integrity expectations as outlined in the VC Student Handbook

• Wearing the college identification badge
• Completing all assigned daily tasks
• Work cooperatively with others in a professional manner