Surgical Technology Handbook

The surgical technology program in its current format began in January 1997. During 1995 and 1996, the curriculum was offered as noncredit through the Continuing Education and Customized Training department (CECT). In 1998, the curriculum was revised so that students could select between two options: a 12-month certificate program and an Associates of Applied Science (AAS) degree in Surgical Technology. These programs were approved by the FCC curriculum committee and by the Maryland Higher Education Commission (MHEC). Initial national accreditation was grated in 1999 through the Commission on Accreditation for Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) after a rigorous review through written reports and an on-site visit. Refer to the website www.caahep.org for contact information. FCC is proud to offer a program that meets national standards and guidelines. This accreditation is also significant because as of March 2000 only graduates from accredited programs may apply to sit for the Certification Examination in Surgical Technology.

 

In 2013, CAAHEP validated both the certificate and AAS degree at Frederick Community College.  Those students beginning in January 2020 and graduating in December 2020 will be the last cohort that can select either pathway. The AAS degree will be the only accredited pathway beginning with the August 2020 cohort. 

 

Our curriculum has a foundation in the principles and practices of national organizations such as the Association of Surgical Technologists (www.ast.org) and the Association of Perioperative Registered Nurses (www.aorn.org). In addition, each year faculty members and the program advisory committee review program components, accreditation standards, and student and employer evaluations. The committee members make recommendations for salient revisions to the methods of delivering the curriculum. These efforts aim to tailor the program to better meet the needs of our students and the community. Our ultimate goal is for each student to be successful and for each employer to gain a competent, new employee.

 

Starting with the 2015 school year, the program began offering two start dates and these coordinate with the fall and spring semesters. The program conducts on-campus labs, lecture sessions, and contracts with numerous operating rooms for the clinical practicum component of the program. During this time, surgical technology course work is studied along with attending clinical rotations in an operating room at one, or more, of our many clinical affiliates in Pennsylvania, Virginia, Washington D.C., West Virginia, and Maryland.

 

Introduction

 

The policies and procedures contained in this handbook are subject to change without notice at the discretion of the Program Director with review from the Program Advisory Committee. Any changes made will be communicated to students in a timely manner. This Handbook is not intended to be a contract, explicit or implied. It is the responsibility of each student to be acquainted with all requirements, policies, and procedures for his or her degree program and to assume responsibility for meeting those requirements. It is the student’s responsibility to become familiar with these documents and abide by all policies while enrolled at Frederick Community College. Frederick Community College policies can be found in the Frederick Community College Catalog. Please contact the Program Director, Faculty, or Dean of the School of Biological, Physical, and Health Sciences with questions regarding the information in this Handbook or general Frederick Community College policies and procedures.

 

Throughout the clinical portion of the program, students attend approximately 420 hours in the clinical settings. Here, they complete the student surgical technology roles outlined in the most current Core Curriculum for Surgical Technology published by the Association of Surgical Technologists. Students may begin by observing the roles and procedures, and progress under the guidance of the clinical site preceptors and FCC instructors. There are two to five required clinical days per week, depending on the semester. Students graduate in late May (fall cohort) or late December (spring cohort).  In our geographical area, graduates have excellent employment opportunities.

 

Each cohort sits for the Certification Examination in Surgical Technology in the FCC testing center, utilizing a web-based process through the National Board for Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting, (www.nbstsa.org). Sitting for the examination is required for program completion. The CST credential is a coveted achievement attesting to the ST’s commitment to excellence. This credential is a requirement for employment at many institutions.

 

Graduates from our program are successful and satisfied with their educational experiences. Many of our graduates are offered employment by their clinical site managers; some are recruited months prior to graduation. Employer surveys also reveal satisfaction with the graduates and a majority state they will continue to hire our program graduates to fulfill vacancies in their staff.

Program Mission

To prepare entry-level surgical technologists who are competent in the cognitive (knowledge), psychomotor (skills), and affective (behavior) learning domains to enter the profession. March 2022 (Standard II.A. ARCSTSA)

Program goals for students, (student learning outcomes):

 

1. The student will apply critical thinking skills pertinent to the practice of surgical technology (cognitive domain).
   
   
2. The student will perform proficiently in the surgical technologist’s role during complex surgical procedures, appropriate for their educational sequence (psychomotor domain).
   
   
3. The student will exhibit professionalism consistent with college and employer standards (affective domain).
   
   

Goals for the program:

 

1. Provide students with accessible, effective opportunities for learning
   
   
2. Produce graduates who are introduced to a global workplace
   
   
3. Integrate into the curriculum current standards of practice upheld by the national accrediting and professional associations
   
   
4. Enhance clinical expertise with experiences which meet or exceed the Association of Surgical Technologist’s minimum case requirements in the current edition of the Core Curriculum for Surgical Technology
   
   
5. Maintain ongoing associations with the local employer community to ensure program relevance
   
   
6. Conduct annual assessments of the program’s effectiveness
   
   
7. Maintain periodic contact with program graduates and employers
   
   
8. Meet or exceed the threshold values for the reportable outcomes on the Annual Report to the Accreditation Review Council on Education in Surgical Technology (ARCSTSA)
   
   
   1. Retention: 60%
   2. Graduate placement: 80% placement in a surgical technology field
   3. CST examination: 100% participation and 70% pass rate
   4. Graduate survey: 50% return and 70% satisfaction on standardized survey

Application Dates

Fall Start:
Early Admission deadline is April 1st
Best Consideration is June 1st

Spring Start:
Early Admission deadline is October 15th
Best Consideration is December 1st

Enrollment is limited to 20 students per cohort.

To be considered, you must:

1. Complete and submit an FCC application for admission with proof of residency if required.
   
   
2. Complete an application for the ST program.
   
   
3. Have all prerequisite courses (AAS degree program) completed with a "C" or higher before beginning SURG courses. Transcripts must be official (transfer or FCC).
   
   
4. Meet minimum skill levels in reading, writing, math, and health science to enroll in prerequisite coursework.
   
   
5. Ensure science prerequisites are no older than five years from the application deadline and were completed with a "C" or better.
   
   
6. Not have enrolled in any prerequisite science course more than twice in the five years leading up to the application deadline.

 

Decision deadlines

 

Early decision is available to students who submit a complete application including:

• All transcripts showing completion of ALL prerequisites with a "C" or better
• Required sciences no older than five years
• Signed job shadowing verification form with a positive recommendation from the host site
• Reflection paper

Incomplete applications may still be held for consideration in the following circumstances:

• Transfer transcripts not yet submitted or awaiting evaluation
• Student is currently enrolled in a required prerequisite (midterm grade used for point scoring)
• Job shadowing or reflection paper not yet completed — notify [email protected]

Accepted reasons for non-completion include host site unable to accommodate, host site unavailable before the deadline, or student unable to secure a site after multiple documented attempts. Other reasons may be considered at the discretion of Admissions and the Program Director.

An incomplete application is one missing any of the following: FCC student ID, transfer transcripts, job shadowing verification form with positive recommendation and host site signature, reflection paper, or incomplete prerequisite coursework.

When more qualified applicants exist than available seats, those with the highest point scores who submitted a complete application with a positively recommended job shadowing form and reflection paper will be offered seats first. Other qualified applicants will be offered seats as they become available.

Job shadowing

Participation in and successful completion of a job shadowing experience is required for admission. Students should follow a surgical technologist in the Operating Room for a day to evaluate whether this career is right for them.

• Successful completion is defined as completing the experience with a positive recommendation from the host site on the verification form.
• Frederick Health Hospital is the preferred site; other surgical sites are accepted provided the verification form is completed.
  
  

While job shadowing, students must adhere to all site safety protocols, Standards of Behavior, and the FCC Code of Student Conduct. Failure to do so will result in denial of admission and a bar from reapplying.

Orientation

Attendance at Health Science and Surgical Technology-specific orientations prior to program start is required. Failure to attend results in forfeiture of your seat. You may apply for a future cohort.

  

Prior conduct

The program reserves the right to deny admission to applicants dismissed from any Health Professions program at FCC due to conduct, professional behavior, or integrity violations. Determinations are made case-by-case, considering the nature of the dismissal, time elapsed, and evidence of remediation. The decision of the admissions committee is final.

Overview

Successful completion of the core outcomes for the program and for each ST course is required for graduation. Students must also meet all criteria to apply and sit for the national certification examination in surgical technology as a cohort prior to graduation.

 

National certification examination

Prior to graduation, students will apply for and must participate in the national certification examination in surgical technology, offered and distributed by the NBSTSA through a web-based examination conducted on campus.

Participation in the national certification examination is required for program completion — it is not optional.

 

Course grade requirements

In all ST courses, students must meet the following standards:

• Didactic (lecture): 75%
  Minimum passing grade
  
  
• Lab & clinical: 3 out of 5
  Minimum average on pass/fail scale

Refer to the Grading section of this handbook for the full grading scale and breakdown.

Scores of "1" or "2" in critical areas will be reviewed by program staff and discussed with the student. This may result in a Learning Contract. See the Learning Contract section of this handbook.

 

Clinical participation requirements

Students must:

• Participate in surgical procedures throughout the program.
• Show evidence of progression from simple to more complex procedure participation.
• Progress from dependent to independent participation in the student surgical technologist role.
• Document a minimum of 120 clinical cases based on the most current edition of the AST's Core Curriculum for Surgical Technology.

Basic Qualifications for
Practice

Students must be able to meet the following physical, sensory, cognitive, and professional requirements throughout the program. Adopted from: AST, Inc. (2002). Core Curriculum for Surgical Technology. Published by AST, Inc.

Physical

• Able to stand, bend, stoop, and/or sit for long periods of time in one location with minimal or no breaks
• Able to lift a minimum of 20 pounds
• Able to refrain from nourishment or restroom breaks for periods up to 6 hours
• Ambulates or moves around without assistive devices
• Able to assist with and/or lift, move, position, and manipulate a patient who is unconscious, with or without assistive devices
  
  

Sensory

• Demonstrates sufficient visual ability to load a fine (10-0) suture onto needles
• Demonstrates sufficient peripheral vision to anticipate and function while in the sterile surgical environment
• Can hear and understand muffled communication, without visualization of the communicator's mouth or lips, within 20 feet
• Able to hear activation or warning signals on equipment
• Able to detect odors sufficient to maintain environmental and patient safety
  
  

Technical & cognitive

• Manipulates instruments, supplies, and equipment with speed, dexterity, and good eye-hand coordination
• Communicates and understands fluent English both verbally and in writing
• Possesses short and long-term memory sufficient to perform tasks such as mentally tracking surgical supplies and performing anticipation skills in the operating room
• Able to make appropriate judgment decisions (critical thinking)
• Demonstrates the use of positive coping skills under stress
• Demonstrates calm and effective responses, especially in emergency situations
  
  

Professional

• Free of reportable communicable diseases and chemical abuse
• Free of conditions which may endanger the health and well-being of other students, faculty, patients, or staff
• Exhibits positive interpersonal skills during interactions with people
• Truthful in communication and exhibits the potential for a strong surgical conscience

Code of Ethics

The student is responsible for maintaining all components of the
Code of Ethics: academic, clinical, and personal.

Academic:

• The student must complete their own work without assistance, unless otherwise indicated. Students should seek assistance from faculty or staff when there are questions.

Academic and Clinical:

• The student and faculty are to maintain confidentiality regarding all aspects of information from fellow classmates, and information from the clinical setting.

Clinical:

• Patients, staff, and physicians are not to be photographed or videotaped or presented in any form on social media.
• Patients, staff, physicians, or any identifying information may only be discussed for educational purposes in the College or clinical settings.

Personal:

• The student is to respect the diversity and/or level of abilities that we encounter within our college classroom and operating room settings.

 

Failure to comply with these standards will result in dismissal from the program.

 

Student Work Policy

 

CAAHEP Standard V. c. states, “All activates required in the program must be educational and students must not be substituted for staff.” Students in the ST program will be monitored during surgical procedure participation by a preceptor – employee, in accordance with our clinical affiliation agreements. The student may not be substituted for an employee.

• Students must get at least 6 hours of non-working rest before any clinical shift.
• Any student that works ‘night shift’ must agree to the above so to ensure adequate rest before engaging with patients.

 

 

Participation and Attendance

 

Participation:

• Participation is mandatory for all scheduled classroom, lab, or clinical sessions.
• Active learning strategies are utilized throughout the program; the student must be present to participate.
  
  

Attendance expectations:

This health career program views attendance according to industry standards. An employer expects attendance and participation on the job and the program expects the same from its students.

• Reliable transportation and care for you and any of your dependents are required to participate in this program. The College does not provide transportation or childcare.
• Attendance is counted as present, late, or absent.
• Late is defined as arriving any time after class (lecture or lab) or the clinical day begins, AND leaving before the instructor has dismissed the class.
• Absent is defined as not attending the scheduled session at all.
• Two (2) late occurrences count as one (1) absence.

 

Absence limits & grade impact

• For any semester: only 1 absence or 2 tardy occurrences are allowed. On the 2nd absence, the associated course grade is lowered by 10%. Example: 77% becomes 67%, a non-passing grade.
• For any semester less than 15 weeks in duration: only 1 absence or 2 tardy occurrences are allowed. On the 2nd absence, the grade is lowered by 10%.
• Clinical absences must be made up by pre-arrangement and during the course the absence occurs.
• Absences beyond two (2) days, even with a valid excuse, will jeopardize completion of program outcomes. In this situation, the student may be advised to withdraw from the course prior to the withdraw date.
• Absences beyond three (3) days for any reason — when course content or clinical participation cannot be made up by end of semester — will result in advisement to withdraw by the posted withdraw date.
  
  

Excused absences (grade not reduced — documentation required within 5 days)

The following four situations will not cause a decrease in grade, but may jeopardize completion of course outcomes. These scenarios are reviewed by the Program Director. Depending on the reason, the student may be referred to Disability Access Services (DAS) or Title IX.

1. Extended, serious illness of student or dependent — physician documentation required. Serious illness is defined as an illness requiring extended recovery time, cancer, or otherwise determined by the Program Director. Disability Access Services will be notified.
2. Death of an immediate family member — spouse, significant other, child, or parent
3. Court order
4. A recognized religious holiday — pre-arrangement required

Clinical absence protocol

If absent or tardy for clinical rotations, students are required to do all of the following: 

1. Contact the O.R. Desk (or other designated person at your clinical site) at least 1 hour before the start of the shift.
   
   
2. Email, text, or call your FCC clinical instructor by 0700 to report any absence for the day.
   
   
3. Email the Clinical Coordinator or designee by 0700 to report your absence.
   
   
4. Work with the clinical site to establish an acceptable make-up date before the semester concludes.
   
   
5. Submit an email within 24 hours of your absence to your FCC instructor and FCC Clinical Coordinator or designee listing: the date of your absence, the planned make-up date, and who approved the alternate schedule.
   
   

In the event of extenuating circumstances, the Director of Clinical Education and Program Director may work with the student to establish an alternative make-up schedule.

Students will communicate absences using FCC's email platform (currently Outlook).

Personal day

One time during the program, a student has one personal day available. The student will be responsible for all missed content on that day (see missed exam policy). Rules:

• Applies to lecture only — not lab or clinical
• The student may not be on an active Learning Contract containing attendance issues
• The student must email the faculty associated with the course they are using the personal day for

 

Communication

Overview

Communication between instructors and students takes place in person or while logged in with FCC credentials on FCC-approved platforms (e.g., Outlook email and Microsoft Teams). Unless there is an urgent or emergent matter, instructors and students should avoid using personal phone texting or calling as a communication modality.

• Upon graduation, graduates and instructors may reach out to one another via personal numbers.
• Instructors and students must be aware of the legal risks of using social media. If any user posts libelous, defamatory, offensive, discriminatory, harassing, or obscene remarks, the user will be held responsible.
• Instructors and students may not solicit in person or through virtual communication modalities.
  
  

Response times

• Instructors and students are expected to respond to emails or FCC-approved platform messages in a timely manner. Instructors are expected to respond within 48 hours of receipt.
• Response times for communication on other non-approved platforms may vary.
  
  

Urgent matters

What constitutes an urgent matter requiring immediate attention, acknowledgement, or action should be explicitly stated by whoever initiates the communication.

• Example of an urgent message: An instructor announces that class will be starting 10 minutes later than scheduled.
• Example of a non-urgent message: A student would like assistance submitting an assignment within the last few hours of the deadline — an immediate response should not be expected.
• Messages sent to instructors outside of normal business hours require a note about the level of urgency. The instructor is the main determinant of when this is acknowledged or acted upon until the following working day.
• If a student is alerting an instructor about an urgent or emergent personal situation, the student is the ultimate determinant of how they proceed. Example: if a student is reaching out to let an instructor know their child is sick and they are unsure whether to come to class, the student must decide.
  
  

Language & tone

Instructors and students are expected to demonstrate high standards of professional behavior in all educational settings — including classrooms, laboratories, professional and clinical sites, non-educational settings, and email and chats. Professional behavior includes but is not limited to: honesty and integrity; trustworthiness; empathy and cultural competence; punctuality; and respectful communication.

• It is imperative that instructors and students maintain a professional and respectful tone in written and verbal communication.
• Clear, concise language should be used in all communications.
• Failure to meet expectations of professional conduct and the FCC Employee Handbook/FCC Code of Student Conduct (whichever applies) may result in disciplinary action.
  
  

Feedback mechanisms

A critical skill in this career is giving and receiving feedback constructively. If instructors are concerned about a student's ability to give or receive feedback respectfully, the student may be verbally warned, receive written feedback, or be placed on a Student Learning Contract.

Conflict resolution

If a student feels they are not being communicated with in a professional or respectful manner, they should first address the issue with the person in question at the most appropriate time. If not resolved, the issue should be escalated in an upward direction:

Preceptor → Clinical educator/charge nurse (if applicable) → Lab/Clinical instructor → Clinical Coordinator → Program Director → Dean

• Instructors may temporarily request that a student be removed from the educational setting to de-escalate a disruption. If on campus, Public Safety may be called if needed.
• Unresolved issues will be routed to the Program Director.
  
  

Cultural sensitivity

• All communication should maintain a cultural lens and an inclusive nature, particularly in group settings.
• Instructors and students are to be mindful of cultural differences that may affect communication preferences.
  
  

Security & confidentiality

• Instructors and students are to keep any personal information received confidential.
• Sharing Personally Identifiable Information, progress, prognosis, diagnosis, or similar information regarding students, patients, or instructors is strictly prohibited.
• Full-time staff are trained on storing physical documents and electronic information regarding students.
• Clear, professional communication is a requirement of the ST career.
  
  

Slander of any FCC faculty, staff, students, or clinical site staff is not tolerated and will result in dismissal from the program.

Cell phones & electronic devices

• Cell phones and electronic devices may be used to assist with lecture materials or small group work in the classroom.
• If a device is found to be a distraction to other students, the instructor will ask the student to turn it off and it may no longer be used in the classroom setting.
• Place all devices on "silent" during all lecture and lab sessions.
• Treat cell phone use as you would in a professional work setting.
• Social messaging is performed on the student's own time — not during program time. If there is an impending emergency, alert the instructor, move to the hallway to respond, and return quietly when finished.
  
  

During exams, all cell phones and devices must be turned off, placed in a bag or purse, and removed from the testing room. Possession of any electronic device during an exam is a violation of academic integrity. During laptop-based exams, all tabs must be closed except the exam (currently on Exam Master). Failure to comply will result in a zero for the exam.

 

• No electronic communication is permitted in patient care areas. Cell phones may not be used while in the O.R. or any patient care setting.
• If expecting an emergent communication during clinical time, provide the O.R. desk phone number to your party and instruct them to call the desk clerk. The clerk will contact you. You may not answer a cell phone during clinical responsibilities.

 

Evaluation of student learning

There are multiple methods used to evaluate program goals and student learning outcomes required for program completion, including: written examinations, homework assignments, quizzes, web-based assessments, small group presentations, clinical evaluations, skills competencies, verbal/written preceptor evaluations, electronic mail evaluations, and standardized testing. There are three major components to the program: lecture, lab, and clinical.

Lecture

• ST didactic/lecture concepts are taught in the classroom and on each course's companion website on Blackboard.
• Passing is 75% or higher. Refer to each course syllabus for grading criteria and required assessments.
• Make-up exams will take place in the testing center within the same week as the originally scheduled exam.
  
  

Lab

• ST skills are taught and evaluated in the on-campus ST lab using skill competencies with a pass/fail rating.
• Passing is achieved with at least a "3" score on a five-point scale, or an "S" (satisfactory) rating. Refer to each course syllabus.
  
  

Clinical

Refer to the Clinical section of this handbook for full detail. Key points:

• Clinical participation is evaluated with daily, mid-term, and/or final evaluations. The grade is pass/fail; students must receive at least a "3" on a five-point scale.
• Students must participate in and document cases according to course requirements and the latest edition of the AST's Core Curriculum for Surgical Technology.
• Clinical grading criteria are delineated in the clinical evaluation forms.
• Evaluations are provided in various formats including verbal and written.
• Students will ask preceptors/O.R. team members to complete a form or provide feedback verbally. Completed forms are returned directly from the preceptor to the FCC clinical instructor — via collection envelope, USPS mail (paid envelopes provided to the clinical site), or phone photo to the FCC instructor. A process unique to each clinical site will be communicated.
• Completed forms will not be returned to the FCC student; they may be anonymously submitted to College faculty.
• FCC faculty will review all feedback, summarize it, and communicate suggestions and guidance to the student. The FCC faculty member is responsible for the evaluation process.
• Critical errors will be communicated to the student along with plans for improvement.
• Errors that jeopardize patient or O.R. team member safety are grounds for removal from the clinical site. See the Removal from Clinical Site section.
• A student may be asked to complete and pass a lab skills competency examination when safe practice and competence in the clinical setting are in question.
• The preceptor and O.R. personnel will monitor and guide the student at the sterile field, or before and after the procedure.
• Faculty will provide a weekly evaluation to the student orally, in print, or via email — in addition to the official evaluation in Trajecsys.
• The student is responsible for reviewing and acknowledging (by signature) written evaluations and participating in new goal setting. These forms are available in Trajecsys and in the Clinical area of each Blackboard site.
• Students will maintain a clinical notebook for compiling and tabulating clinical case participation per the AST's Core Curriculum, and for storing daily and mid-term/final skills evaluations. Students will provide faculty access to the notebook for evaluation, review, planning, and program documentation.
• Students will maintain documentation in Trajecsys (the current online management system) and provide weekly validation of the timecard and case participation to the Clinical Coordinator.
  
  

Students will receive a faculty-generated written evaluation of their performance in lab and clinical at least once a week and within 48 hours of the observation/session. The student is responsible for reading and signing the form within 48 hours, or weekly. The Clinical Coordinator monitors compliance each week (Monday or Friday) and reports to the Program Director.

 

Grading

A letter grade system is used for the course grade. Didactic, on-campus skills labs, and clinical coursework must all reflect passing grades to receive a passing grade for the course or program.

Grading scale (no exceptions)

 

• Didactic minimum: 75%
  Grade of "C" required to pass
  
  
• Lab & clinical: Pass/Fail
  "3" or higher on 5-point scale, or "S"
  
  
• Attendance impact: −10%
  Applied on 2nd absence in any semester

The Participation and Attendance policy applies to on-campus lab sessions and clinical rotations and can affect a student's passing grade. See the Participation and Attendance section.

 

Failure or withdrawal

1. Students must pass all ST courses from one semester before moving on to the next course or semester.
   
   
2. Students who do not pass on-campus skills lab competencies or clinical requirements will be dismissed from the program immediately and may not seek readmission. Advising and counseling will occur with the Program Director.
   
   
3. Students who do not pass the didactic (lecture) component will receive a non-passing grade (D or F) on their transcript but are eligible to return to the program in the following semester one time. See Grading Policy IV.G.
   
   
4. Students may refer to the FCC Student Handbook for related policies and procedures.
   
   
5. Withdraw dates are posted on each course syllabus.
   
   
6. If the withdraw date has passed, the student will receive an F grade.
   
   
7. A student who withdraws may return to the course and program with the next cohort. In this situation the student will repeat lab, clinicals, and lecture. The student must be in good lecture, lab, and clinical standing at the time of withdrawal in order to return. If the student cannot complete the course requirements on the second attempt, no additional attempts will be allowed.

 

Readmission

• Students may seek readmission into the next cohort one time due to a failure to achieve a 75% or higher average course grade.
• If a student does not want to or is not able to return in the following semester, they forfeit their eligibility for readmission.
• Students who withdraw from a course by the withdraw date and are in good standing in lab, lecture, and clinicals may reenter the program with the next cohort one time.
• Students who withdraw and are not in good standing in lab, lecture, or clinicals are not eligible for readmission.
• Students who do not pass lab or clinicals may stay in the lecture session and take examinations for informational purposes only. These students may not seek readmission into the program.
• For any failing grade in the final ST course, the student may not sit for the certification examination and will not graduate with an ST degree.
• Any student eligible to reenter is subject to demonstrating skill competence before being placed in the clinical setting. The competency assessment will be developed by the Program Director and Clinical Coordinator. The student must pass clinical competencies to advance into the clinical setting.
• If a student cannot demonstrate safe practice upon reentry, they must develop a remediation/practice schedule with a faculty member in the on-campus lab. This schedule may include several dates and may occur during scheduled on-campus lab sessions with the current cohort.
• Readmitted students who withdraw or fail for a second time are not eligible to seek readmission.
• The Program Director must be notified at least 2 months in advance of the intent to reenter so that adequate clinical placement can be arranged.
• Readmission may be delayed if no clinical sites are available for the reentering student.

 

CPR certification

Students are required to obtain Basic Life Support (BLS) CPR certification through the American Heart Association prior to beginning clinical coursework.

Please select a course that provides both didactic instruction and manikin practice. Online-only CPR courses do not meet this requirement.

 

Background checks & drug screening

Once admitted into the program, students are required to pay for and obtain a criminal background check and drug screening before starting clinical coursework. Random drug screening may occur at any time during clinical experiences.

Conviction of a felony or misdemeanor may prohibit placement into a clinical site, applying for a professional license, or acquiring employment as a healthcare professional. Prior to applying for consideration in a healthcare program that requires clinical placement for program completion, please discuss any questions you may have with the Program Director or manager.

 

Health requirements

Students are required to provide proof of the following prior to beginning clinical coursework:

1. Proof of immunity to communicable diseases — documentation of immunizations and proof of immunity with blood titers for Varicella, MMR, and Hepatitis B. Students must go to a laboratory to have bloodwork performed; a physician provides the order.
2. Seasonal flu vaccination — required at all clinical sites. COVID-19 vaccination is required at most clinical sites.
3. History and physical (H&P) exam — to ensure students are fit to perform the essential duties for lab and clinicals. Completed by the student's physician.
4. Negative two-step PPD or QuantiFERON Gold — requirements vary depending on the clinical site.
   1. If there is a history of a positive PPD, the student must provide a negative chest X-ray.

 

Pertinent student data

• The student must advise the Program Director and Clinical Coordinator of any changes in name, address, telephone, or email address.
• The student is also responsible for informing the FCC registration department of any changes.
• The program tracks graduate and employment data. Students agree to maintain current contact information with the Program Director for up to 2 years after graduation.

 

Tutoring, career counseling & resume writing

The College offers multiple resources to each student at no charge. Please refer to www.frederick.edu or contact College staff for assistance.

 

Fair practices

Refer to the index in the College catalog (www.frederick.edu or print version) for information, policies, and procedures on the following topics:

• Student Affairs
• Tuition and Fees
• Academic Calendar
• Student Complaint
• Withdrawal from courses
• Refund 

Assignments

The student will be assigned to a clinical site after successfully completing on-campus lab skill competencies and any other requirements per the affiliation agreements — background check, immunizations, titers, CPR, etc.

The lab instructor(s), Director of Clinical Education/Clinical Coordinator, and Program Director will collaborate to make assignments. The Clinical Coordinator will advise students of the assignment and any additional pre-clinical requirements to be completed.

• FCC has affiliation agreements with facilities in Maryland, Washington D.C., Virginia, West Virginia, and Pennsylvania. Plan to drive outside of Frederick, MD.
• If you do not have transportation, you cannot attend clinical rotations. In this situation, it is advisable to withdraw from the program and reapply in the future when you can participate in the required clinical portion of the program.
• Once made, assignments should be considered permanent for the duration of the program.
• On occasion, the core learning outcomes for clinicals within a course/program can best be completed at an alternate facility. In this situation, the student may be offered a new clinical site.
• There is no guarantee for students who wish to be placed at clinicals at their current place of employment. Role confusion can occur, and some clinical sites prefer not to accept employees as surgical technology students.
• Program staff does not guarantee placement at the student's choice of clinical sites.

 

Clinical attendance, inclement weather & liability coverage

Students are encouraged to sign up for the FCC Alert system through the FCC homepage. Students are advised to navigate safely to and from the college and clinical sites at all times. Notices of cancellations or delays are available from:

• The FCC Alert System
• Local radio stations
• By calling 301.846.2400 or 1.888.719.9496
  
  

If you must be late or absent to a scheduled clinical, you must do all of the following:

1. Contact your clinical site (charge nurse, educator, O.R. desk, etc.)
2. Contact your assigned clinical instructor
3. Contact the Clinical Coordinator/Director of Clinical Education
   
   

No call, no show: A student not reporting to the clinical site on a scheduled day without prior communication or approval is defined as a "no call no show." If the student has not communicated with the appropriate parties listed above by 8am and is unable to provide reasonable proof, the shift will be deemed "no call no show" and the student will need to meet with the Program Director to be placed on a Learning Contract.

Inclement weather — clinical attendance guidance

• An enrolled student in a course with a clinical component may attend clinicals according to the affiliation agreements we have with the facilities.
• If the college is closed due to weather, the student may attend clinicals if they deem transportation conditions are safe AND assigned clinical site policies are adhered to. Some clinical sites do not allow students if the college closes. If transportation conditions are deemed unsafe, the student is to stay home and make the appropriate call-out contacts and plans to make up the hours.
• If a student is already at the clinical site when a college closure occurs during assigned clinical hours, the student decides whether to stay at clinicals. Students should consider their travel plans home.
• If students are on the road to clinicals and the college delays or closes, the student may attend clinicals. Follow the attendance and contact protocol above.

 

Clinical clearance requirements

Students are required to provide proof of immunity to communicable diseases, proof of American Heart Association BLS CPR, and clear background and drug screening on or before the due dates — refer to the ST calendar for specific dates.

Required clearance items

1. CPR certification: Students must maintain proof of active CPR certification through the American Heart Association that remains valid throughout the entire program.
2. Immunizations and blood titers: Varicella, MMR, and Hepatitis B. Students must go to a laboratory to have bloodwork performed; a physician provides the order.
3. Seasonal flu vaccination — required at all clinical sites.
4. History and physical (H&P) exam.
5. Negative two-step PPD or appropriate levels on QuantiFERON Gold — depending on the clinical site requirements.
   1. If there is a history of a positive PPD, the student must provide a negative chest X-ray.
6. Additional site-specific requirements: Some clinical sites require additional screening and completion of online modules or background checks.
   
   

Background check & drug screening

The following are completed approximately one month prior to beginning clinicals using an FCC request form provided by the Clinical Coordinator or Program Director. These are included in surgical technology course fees:

• Clear criminal background check
• Urine drug screening

Approximate costs

• Background & drug screening
  ~$150 (Currently Included in Course Fees)
  
  
• Hepatitis immunizations
  ~$100 Out of pocket
  
  
• CPR certification
  $40–$70 (Currently Included in Course Fees) Out of pocket
  
  
• History & physical exam
  Variable - office visit cost varies
  
  

Noncompliance with due dates will prevent the student from beginning clinicals on time and may require a Learning Contract.

 

Mandatory OSHA, HIPAA training & sharps safety

• Students will complete the Clinical Mandatory Training sessions, which include information and a quiz on patient privacy, fire safety, sharps management, safe use of materials, immunizations, and the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA).
• Mandatory Training will be conducted through an online course at the beginning of the ST program.
• Students who complete the same annual training at their place of employment may provide proof, and this will count for the ST program.
• Students will abide by the program's sharps safety policy and procedures. This policy will be covered prior to the first laboratory session on campus.

 

Incidents

A health training incident is defined as any act, error, or omission of a student, teacher, faculty member, or supervisory staff member while acting within the scope of duties in a health curriculum.

This occupation has a high risk for injury or disease transmission due to potential blood-borne pathogens in the O.R. environment.

At a clinical site

• In the event of an injury, the clinical site can provide emergency services to the student.
• The student is responsible for payment of any emergency services. This obligation can be met through the student's health insurance or by private payment methods.

On campus

• In case of injury in the on-campus lab, the student will be provided with first aid. EMS will be contacted to transport the student to the ER for serious events.
• All on-campus incidents will be reported to the FCC Public Safety Office.

Liability coverage

Health (career program) students' liability coverage insures FCC, its School Board, School Committee, Board of Trustees and, for acts within the scope of their duties as such, all persons who were, now are, or shall be employees, student teachers, school volunteers, and students enrolled in a health-related curriculum for health training incidents.

 

Dress code

Personal hygiene

• Personal hygiene must be maintained — bathe daily, wash your hair, and wear deodorant.
• Breath mints are acceptable, but gum-chewing is not.

Attire

• Students and any representative of FCC are required to present a professional appearance.
• Appear at the clinical site in clean, well-fitting attire.
• Students may wear their college lab scrub attire to the clinical site but must change into hospital-approved, laundered scrub attire.
• Use well-fitting, dedicated O.R. shoes with non-mesh, closed heels and toes.
• Wear light to medium support hose/socks as recommended for men and women.
• Students do not need to wear scrub attire to lecture but are required to wear approved scrubs for lab sessions.
• Personal body parts should be fully covered for all sections of the program.

Jewelry, accessories & grooming

• Earrings, necklaces, bracelets, watches, rings, acrylic nails, nail polish, perfume, or aftershave are not permitted while in on-campus labs or clinicals.
• Body jewelry used for pierced body parts must be removed or contained and not visible.
• All facial and head hair must be contained in the surgical mask and/or surgical cap. Shave facial hair appropriately and bring hairbands for long hair.
• Students must advise O.R. staff of any allergies to latex or povidone-iodine or any sensitivities.
  
  

If a student does not adhere to the dress code, or their attire is disruptive or distracting to the student or student peers' learning, the student will be asked to leave and not return for the remainder of that class session, will receive an absence, and will be responsible for the learning that took place during that session.

 

Removal from the clinical site or college program

Immediate dismissal from the program

• Falsifying documents for the college, including clinical case logs and time sheets
• Non-compliance with hospital (clinical site) policy
• Two unsatisfactory evaluations — average evaluation scores below a rating of 2 or 3 in the same category on the clinical evaluation form
• No improvement assessed beyond the initial evaluation or Learning Contract
• Lack of progression or inability to demonstrate ST skills with few or no verbal cues and at an appropriate time interval in the program
  • Students must be able to demonstrate aseptic technique, recognize any breaches, and state or show how to correct them for each clinical day in all semesters.
  • Students must work in the O.R. environment safely with sharp items, surgical sponges and countable items, and be able to manage medications and specimens accurately each clinical day in all semesters.
• Violation of patient privacy (HIPAA) by any method — including oral, written, or electronic
  • Students may not take pictures or video of patients or procedures.
  • Students may not post pictures or hospital information on any form of electronic media.
• Excessive tardiness or absence
• Patient safety issues
• Aseptic technique issues — intraoperative performance or hygiene (e.g., long nails)
• Sharps management issues
• Suspected or confirmed drug or alcohol use

Removal from session or clinical site

• Contagious illness
  • At least 24 hours of a healthcare provider-prescribed antibiotic is required before returning to the O.R. for bacterial infections.
  • The student must be cleared to return to duty by providing a written release note from their healthcare provider.
• COVID and non-COVID health concerns: Physical inability to participate at the clinical setting.
  • Refer to the college's website for instructions related to COVID social distancing/illness and return to campus.
  • Provide College personnel (Program Director or Clinical Coordinator) with a written notice of the health concern and a release to return to clinical participation from the student's healthcare provider.
• Not registered for the course or unmet college obligations
• Not prepared for the clinical experience
• Missing clinical notebook, preceptor evaluations, or case participation log
• Fatigue indicating an inability to perform safely

 

Hospital-issued ID badges, locker keys & parking passes

• Students will wear hospital-approved ID as per policy.
• Any hospital property must be returned on the last day of clinicals.
  
  

Failure to return hospital property will place a HOLD on the Certificate of Completion or Degree.

 

Student learning outcomes

The following outcomes must be demonstrated through clinical case participation:

1. Cognitive domain: The student will apply critical thinking skills pertinent to the practice of surgical technology.
2. Psychomotor domain: The student will perform safely in the surgical technologist's role during complex surgical procedures, appropriate for their educational sequence, in preparation for entry-level practice.
3. Affective domain: The student will demonstrate professionalism consistent with college and employer standards.
4. The student will perform the first scrub, second scrub, or observation role during clinical experiences. These roles are defined in the current edition of the AST's Core Curriculum for Surgical Technology Education and detailed below.

 

Graduation eligibility

• Minimum cases: 120
  First scrub, second scrub, or combined
  
  
• Minimum clinical days: 49 days
  At 8 hours per day, not including lunch
  
  
• Clinical day length: 8 hours
  Arrive 15 minutes early; most sites 0645–1530
  
  

• The clinical schedule made by the Director of Clinical Education/Clinical Coordinator is the minimum days and hours a student will complete. Many students will complete the program with more than the minimum.
• A student who attends each scheduled clinical day in its entirety will meet the program requirement for clinical attendance.
• A student may attend more clinical days or hours with approval from the appropriate parties.
• Students must complete scheduled clinical hours for each course before advancing into the next course and/or semester.
• Only with prior planning and scheduling, a student who has a written medical waiver for attending clinicals may be allowed to extend incomplete clinical hours into the next semester. Refer to the Participation and Attendance section. In this situation, the student will receive an "I" (incomplete) grade and will make up the clinical hours within a written schedule/plan or Learning Contract.

 

Case requirements overview

• Maintain case documentation throughout the program.
• Case documentation must indicate an increase in the complexity of the cases completed over time.
• Students may participate in more procedures than required but not less. Document all cases.

 

Surgical rotation roles — definitions

A student must complete a minimum of 120 cases across the roles defined below. Observation cases do not count toward the 120 minimum but must still be documented.

First scrub role (FS)

To document a case in the First Scrub role, the student shall perform all of the following duties during any given surgical procedure with proficiency:

• Verify supplies and equipment
• Set up the sterile field — including instruments, medications, and supplies
• Perform required operative counts per AST guidelines and facility policy
• Pass instruments and supplies
  • Anticipate needs
  • Maintain sterile technique
  • Recognize sterility breaks
  • Correct sterility breaks
• Document as needed
  
  

Second scrub role (SS)

The Second Scrub role is defined as a student who has not met all criteria for the First Scrub role, but actively participates in the surgical procedure in its entirety by completing any of the following:

• Assistance with diagnostic endoscopy
• Assistance with vaginal delivery
• Cutting suture
• Providing camera assistance
• Retracting
• Sponging
• Suctioning
  
  

Observation role (O)

The Observation role is defined as a student who has not met criteria for the First Scrub or Second Scrub role. The student is observing a case in either the sterile or non-sterile role.

Observation cases cannot be applied to the required 120 case count but must be documented.

 

Documentation procedures

Cases and hours will be tracked both electronically and on paper via the student's clinical notebook. The main role of the Director of Clinical Education/Clinical Coordinator is to work with the student, clinical site, and clinical faculty to help guide the student toward completing the clinical portion of the program. Many people are involved in tracking clinical data: the student, the clinical site, the clinical faculty, the Clinical Coordinator, and the Program Director.

It cannot be over-emphasized that the profession of Surgical Technology has a strong foundation of trustworthiness. Falsifying documentation will lead to immediate dismissal from the program.

The student oversees their own documentation process and is expected to be aware of their own progress toward meeting the core learning outcomes and case participation requirements. The information is reviewed by the Clinical Coordinator or designee and by faculty; plans for goal attainment are made and revised based on accurate, up-to-date data.

• Students may attend more clinical hours per week or per semester than are scheduled with written approval from the clinical site representative and the clinical instructor.
• Clinical Instructors will review and sign off on the clinical binder timecard each week during clinical visits, ensuring that clinical site staff have also been signing off on the timecard.
• Students will bring clinical binders to the Director of Clinical Education/Clinical Coordinator before clinical progress reports to ensure the clinical binder matches the web-based timecard.
• The Program Director will review clinical progress reports generated by the Clinical Coordinator.
• The Program Director and student will sign all final approved clinical case documents.
  
  

Procedure for tracking cases

1. Over the course of the day, write on a scrap piece of paper the cases performed, your role in each case, and any other pertinent notes (e.g., name of surgeon, surgical specialty, variations from normal process).
2. At the end of each clinical day, enter the required information about each case into the clinical notebook and into the online case recording database (currently Trajecsys).
3. Also write each case, its category, and your role on the Case Listing forms kept in chronological order in the clinical notebook and in the online database.
4. FCC faculty review this information weekly.
5. The clinical faculty member verifies the electronic data against the written Case Listing forms.
   
   

Procedure for tracking hours

1. When entering and leaving the O.R. suite at the start and end of each clinical day, a designated O.R. staff member at the assigned clinical site must initial the times the student has written. Initials must be legible so they can be verified at a later date by FCC faculty.
2. At the end of each clinical day, enter the information into the electronic database when in use.
3. One "clinical day" is 8 hours Students are required to be onsite 15 minutes early. For most sites, the clinical day runs 0645–1530. Some clinical sites start later; at those sites, the clinical day runs 0715–1545.
4. The Participation and Attendance Policy applies to clinical time as well.
5. This information is validated and used to plan for goal attainment.
6. The Clinical Coordinator verifies the electronic data against the written timesheets.

 

Student clinical notebook

The student must maintain a well-organized Clinical Notebook documenting their progress in the clinical experience. The notebook should be a durable 1" wide three-ring binder containing the following tabbed sections in order:

Required tabs & contents

• Handbook — a copy of this handbook for reference
• Clinical reference documents — the Clinical Schedule for your cohort, the Role Definitions document, the Explanation of a Clinical Day document, and the Case Documentation for Program Completion document
• Cases — copies of the Case Listing form, filled out by date as you progress
• Timesheets — the student's completed and signed (by clinical instructor and clinical site staff) timesheets
• Blank ruled paper — for notetaking while at the clinical site

The student's Clinical Notebook contains the paper version of cases (via the Case Listing forms) and hours (via the Timesheets). Both the notebook and the online database (Trajecsys) must be kept current and consistent.

 

What is a learning contract?

A learning contract is a plan agreed upon by program faculty and a student. This plan typically includes concrete details to improve grades or skills by an agreed-upon date. Limiting factors, dates, and resources are all discussed within the learning contract. A learning contract may be programmatic or associated with a singular course or situation.

When is a learning contract initiated?

A student may enter a Learning Contract for varied situations in the lecture, lab, or clinical sections of this program if program faculty feel the student is in danger of failing, or if they have noticed a pattern of behaviors that violate the terms in this handbook.

For unacceptable or unsatisfactory evaluations, a Learning Contract for improvement — including a time frame for improvement — will be developed with the student and placed onto the electronic daily evaluation form submitted to FCC.

The Learning Contract process may only be initiated by a faculty member directly involved with the student's education. Program faculty may not enter a student into a Learning Contract without the student's knowledge.

 

Learning contract examples

Example 1 Break in sterile technique

Situation

On the 4th week of clinicals, a student dropped their hands below waist level three times in one case. The student also touched an uncovered light handle with a sterile drape but did not notice the breach on their own.

Plan

Over the next week, the student will maintain aseptic technique, keep sterile gloved hands in the appropriate zone, and anticipate proper movement within the O.R. without contamination. Without improvement by the agreed-upon date, the student will leave the clinical setting to practice skills in the FCC lab and must demonstrate proficiency before returning to clinicals.

Example 2 Medication labeling on the sterile field

Situation

The student did not label the medication on the sterile field and did not announce the name and strength of the medication to the surgeon when passing it. Patient safety is in jeopardy.

Plan

The student will be counseled immediately. All medications and solutions on the sterile field must be labeled. The student will label all medications and solutions on the sterile field and will announce all medications passed to the surgeon each time action is required. Without improvement by the agreed-upon date, the student will be assigned time to practice in the lab setting and must demonstrate proficiency before returning to the clinical setting.

Example 3 Missing clinical notebook

Situation

Student left their clinical notebook in their car, making faculty unable to monitor the timesheet or case documentation.

Plan

Student will retrieve the clinical notebook immediately. Going forward, students will place their clinical notebook at a designated location in the O.R. lounge at the start of each clinical date.

 

Learning contract process

1. The student will be made aware of the Learning Contract in a meeting with the recommending faculty member and Program Director.
2. The student will be asked to sign the Learning Contract. Attendance at the meeting serves as acknowledgement even if the student does not sign.
3. The Program Director is ultimately responsible for upholding the Learning Contract and must be available to meet with the student, review, and approve the terms.
   
   

Failure to attend the Learning Contract meeting may result in dismissal from the program. If the terms of a Learning Contract are not met, the student will be dismissed from the program immediately.

 

Outcomes if learning contract terms are not met

Clinical concern

If any aspect of the Learning Contract is based in clinical concerns and terms for evidence of success are not met, the student will follow the procedure for a clinical failure. See Failure or Withdrawal in Section IV.

 

Lecture grade concern

If the Learning Contract is based in concerns regarding lecture grades and the student is in good lab or clinical standing, they may follow the procedure for a lecture failure. See Failure or Withdrawal in Section IV.

 

Professional or behavioral concern

If the Learning Contract is based in professional or behavioral concerns, the Program Director will review the student's eligibility on a case-by-case basis.

Overview

Each week the student will receive an evaluation from their FCC faculty member. Each week, the student is responsible for reading the evaluations, participating in any plans for improvement, and for signing and dating the evaluations. All evaluation forms are returned to FCC and become part of the student’s record.

• The clinical FCC faculty member is responsible for conferring with O.R. staff and preceptors, reading any daily evaluations from preceptors, observing the student in the clinical setting and providing the student with a summary and evaluations of their performance.
  
  
• Clinical FCC faculty will evaluate the student each week and will submit an evaluation form each week via the online tool and within 48 hours of the visit.
  
  
• If the student is absent on the normal visit date, or if the faculty member cannot visit, then the faculty member will contact the O.R. educator or O.R. desk and inquire about the student’s performance that week. The online evaluation will be dated and will reflect the student’s performance through the evaluation provided by the O.R. staff.
  
  
• Appraisal of the student’s performance will be discussed with the student, if only briefly and in person, at the clinical site so they can receive feedback from the faculty member and participate in goal setting.
  
  
• After the clinical faculty member observes the student (through an entire case, if possible), he or she will also complete a more detailed written evaluation of the student’s performance using an online tool.
  
  

The student will read the evaluation and will sign the form within 48 hours or weekly, indicating they read the evaluation.

Unsatisfactory evaluation protocol

The following steps apply when a student receives an unsatisfactory evaluation. Response times are strictly observed.

24 hrs

The clinical FCC faculty member will alert the Director of Clinical Education/Clinical Coordinator and the student of any urgent issues that must be addressed — attendance, lack of communication, staff or patient safety, etc.

24 hrs

Faculty will place any Learning Contract in writing via the electronic evaluation tool and submit it to FCC within 24 hours of any issues.

48 hrs

A Success Alert will be entered into the student's Peoplesoft system as soon as possible and within 48 hours of submitting the evaluation.

48 hrs

An objective summary listing the events leading to the unsatisfactory evaluation will be submitted by FCC faculty via the electronic evaluation form. The FCC faculty will include facts reported by preceptors and from directly observing the student.

Ongoing

When a Learning Contract is developed, it must be discussed with the student, allowing the student the opportunity to provide input into new goal setting.

2nd occurrence

With the second occurrence of an unsatisfactory evaluation, the student must meet with the Clinical Coordinator, Program Director, and faculty member to discuss how the issue might be resolved. The student may be provided an opportunity to practice any deficiencies in the lab session and may then be asked to demonstrate skills and/or pass a lab skills competency examination when patient or situational safety are in question.

Dismissal

When patient safety is jeopardized and no improvement is observed by O.R. staff or faculty, the student will be dismissed from clinicals and will not be permitted to reenroll. Refer to the Grading and Failure or Withdrawal sections for related policies.

When patient safety is jeopardized with no observed improvement, dismissal from clinicals is immediate and the student will not be permitted to reenroll.