Student Policies

Surgical Technology

Admissions Policies & Practices

All applicants must follow instructions given by their hospital facility for candidate selections.

All applicants must have the following:

High school diploma or GED
BLS certification before clinicals
Required immunizations

*Selections will include a diverse/inclusive group of individuals and will not discriminate based on age, race, gender or current position at the hospital facility.

Tuition, Fees, & Other Costs

Tuition costs for all students are paid for by their partnering employer.

Students will be responsible for the cost of the following:

Scrubs for lab participation
Books for the entire program (approximately $250)
AST Gold Bundle for certification exam (approximately $250)*

*Employer may decide to reimburse or pay for these costs.

Student Health & Skills Requirements

Students must:

be at least 18 years of age or older.
submit an official transcript indicating high school diploma or equivalency.
be in good physical and mental health.
able to stand, bend, stoop, and/or sit for long periods of time in one location with minimum breaks.
have the ability to clearly hear and understand muffled communication from a minimum of 10 feet away without being able to see who it is coming from.
have the ability to hear activation/warning signals on different equipment.
have the ability to clearly communicate verbally to the perioperative patient.
communicate and understand fluent English both verbally and in writing.
be able to lift a minimum of 25 pounds.
Have the ability to assist in transporting a patient of 150 lbs. on/off a stretcher
have the ability to demonstrate basic computer, word processing and internet skills for academic applications.
manipulate instruments, supplies, and equipment with speed, dexterity and good eye-hand coordination.
possess short and long-term memory sufficient to perform tasks such as, but not limited to, mentally tracking surgical supplies and performing anticipation skills intraoperatively.
exhibit positive interpersonal skills during patient, staff and faculty interactions.
demonstrate calm and effective responses especially in emergency situations.
demonstrate the use of positive coping skills under stress.
ability to maintain personal health and personal hygiene in accordance with the established guidelines of the healthcare institutions assigned.

Policy & Procedure for Withdrawal

Students will only have the first two weeks of the program to withdraw from the program without financial consequences. After this grace period, students should refer to their employer contract for more details.

Refund of Tuition/Fees

As tuition is being paid for by the student’s current employer, all policies regarding refunds of tuition and fees are provided by them. Any questions regarding this should be directed to the human resources department at the student’s current hospital/clinical location.

Non-Discrimination Policy

University policy prohibiting discrimination and harassment based on protected characteristics and classes. Complaints of discrimination and harassment can be reported to the Office for Institutional Equity (OIE). You may contact OIE by phone at 901.678.2713 or by email at oie@memphis.edu. The full text of the policy can be found at GE2030 - NONDISCRIMINATION AND ANTI-HARASSMENT.

Reporting Sexual Misconduct

For information regarding sexual misconduct, please visit the following website: memphis.edu/oie/title9/sexualmisconduct.php

Grade Appeals

Instructions regarding grade appeals can be found on the following document: memphis.edu/osa/pdfs/student_code.pdf

Student Grievance Policy

While cases of interpersonal conflict and academic misconduct are uncommon in the college and across the University, resources exist to resolve disputes. The Office of Student Academic Success offers resources and outlines procedures for reporting and resolving grievances. Visit: memphis.edu/report/submit-a-report/index.php.

Students with course-related concerns may discuss the matter with their classroom instructor or with the program director. If a student has a concern about the program director, contact the dean of the College of Health Sciences. Faculty advisors serve as a mentor and can provide guidance in identifying appropriate university procedures for addressing a grievance. Note that confidentiality cannot be guaranteed on all matters — all University of Memphis personnel are required by law to report accusations of sexual harassment to the Office of Institutional Equity.

Faculty Grievance Policy

To discuss issues with faculty in the Surgical Technology program, please contact the college dean, Dr. Richard J. Bloomer, at rbloomer@memphis.edu.

Student Work Policy

Clinical time is an extension of the classroom. Clinicals include assisting team members with daily preoperative, perioperative, and postoperative duties of a surgical technologist trainee while under the supervision of a staff surgical technologist. Trainees are oriented to a surgical suite and the daily routine of the facility.

The total number of hours for clinicals is 544 hours and 120 cases. Clinical hours are usually accrued eight hours per day at an assigned hospital from approximately 7 a.m-3 p.m. Trainees are required to attend all clinical hours. One day per term with a written excused absence may be missed without time being made up. Clinical hours may be made-up only at the discretion of the Program Director and/or clinical site with valid verifiable documentation of absence. Any trainee who does not complete all clinical hours may fail the clinical component of the class.

Lunch is 30 minutes long. Due to the nature of scrubbing surgical cases, lunch is scheduled according to the availability of relief personnel and the status of the case. Lunch will be taken as recommended by your preceptor.

Many assignments may be completed earlier than the allotted time, thus leaving the trainee free time. This “free time” is still part of the total hours allotted to the clinical and must be utilized constructively. There will be more than ample scholastic work that could be studied. Additionally, time could be spent in the department assisting with cleaning, restocking, pulling cases and working in central sterile supply. All trainees are encouraged to use free time to their own discretion. Any questions regarding free time should be directed to the Program Director. Trainees will not leave a clinical hospital under any circumstances without the explicit permission of their program director.

Clinical cases are offered as part of the program. All student activities associated with the curriculum, especially while students are completing clinical rotations, will be educational in nature. Trainees will not be substituted for hired staff personnel within the clinical institution in the capacity of a surgical technologist.

Code of Ethics

The Association of Surgical Technologists Code of Ethics position statement is:

to maintain the highest standards of patient care.
to hold in confidence with respect to the patient’s beliefs, all personal matters.
to respect and protect the patient’s legal and moral rights to quality patient care.
to not knowingly cause injury or any injustice to those entrusted to our care.
to work with fellow technologists and other professional health groups to promote harmony and unity for better patient care.
to always follow the principles of asepsis.
to maintain a high degree of efficiency through continuing education.
to maintain and practice surgical technology willingly, with pride and dignity.
to report any unethical conduct or practice to the proper authority.
to adhere to the Code of Ethics at all times in relationship to all members of the health care team.

The Association of Surgical Technologists (AST) is the professional organization nationally recognized by practicing surgical technologists in the United States. More information about the profession of surgical technology and the AST can be found at www.ast.org

Association of Surgical Technologists

6 West Dry Creek Circle
Littleton, Colorado 80120
Phone 800.637.7433