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Skills resource

Surgical technology skills

Learn the purpose, sequence, checkpoints, contamination risks, corrective responses, and role boundaries behind safe procedural support.

Sterile practice

Protect the field by preparing deliberately, monitoring continuously, and treating uncertainty as a reason to stop and correct.

Procedural support

Anticipate, identify, organize, and pass instruments and supplies while maintaining sharps, count, specimen, and communication safety.

Role boundaries

The surgical technologist supports the procedure within education, demonstrated competence, facility policy, and applicable law.

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Aseptic foundation

The sterile field is a monitored system

Know what is sterile, who can touch it, and what to do when integrity is uncertain.

Before setup

Confirm the room, case, packaging, indicators, expiration or event-related integrity, supplies, equipment, and environmental readiness according to policy.

During setup

Open, receive, arrange, and protect items using the exact supervised technique taught by the program and facility.

Monitor continuously

Watch people, barriers, moisture, movement, field visibility, traffic, and contact between sterile and nonsterile surfaces.

Correct immediately

Announce suspected contamination, isolate or remove the affected item or area, replace supplies or barriers, and follow the circulator and facility process.

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Surgical hand antisepsis

Follow the product, program, and facility method

Preparation reduces microorganisms before sterile gowning and gloving.

Prepare

Remove rings, watches, and bracelets; keep nails and skin within policy; inspect for breaks; and remove debris from beneath nails under running water.

Use the approved product

For antimicrobial soap or an alcohol-based surgical hand preparation, follow the manufacturer instructions and the method validated by the program or facility.

Protect the sequence

Keep hands and forearms positioned as taught, avoid contact with nonsterile surfaces, and complete drying before sterile gowning and gloving.

If contaminated

Stop before continuing, report the contact, and repeat or restart the approved preparation step as directed.

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Gowning + gloving

Protect sterile surfaces through every transition

Mechanical technique requires supervised demonstration and validation.

Gowning and gloving checkpoints
Checkpoint	Purpose	Corrective response
Receive and unfold	Avoid contact with nonsterile clothing, surfaces, and room objects.	Discard or replace a contaminated item and restart at the directed step.
Secure the gown	Keep the sterile portion protected while the nonsterile team member assists with fastening.	State contact or uncertainty immediately; follow the approved regowning process.
Don gloves	Keep skin and gown cuffs protected using the validated closed-glove or facility-approved method.	Replace the affected glove or gown-and-glove combination according to the contamination point.
Remain sterile	Control hands, distance, movement, and contact throughout the case.	Announce a puncture, tear, strike-through, or contact; correct before continuing.

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Instruments + passing

Identify function, then verify the exact item

Names and set organization vary; guessing creates risk.

Instrument families
Family	General purpose	Support focus
Cutting and dissecting	Divide or dissect tissue and materials	Protect sharp edges and tips; verify blade, scissors, or instrument requested.
Grasping and holding	Hold tissue or materials	Recognize traumatic versus atraumatic designs and pass for controlled use.
Clamping and occluding	Compress a vessel, tissue, or structure	Confirm size, curve, jaw, and locking function.
Retracting and exposing	Maintain access and visualization	Protect tissue, positioning, pressure points, and secure setup.
Suctioning and aspirating	Remove fluid, smoke, or debris	Confirm tip, tubing, patency, connections, and safe placement.
Probing and dilating	Explore, measure, or enlarge an opening	Handle gently, protect delicate tips, and organize by size.

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Counts + specimens

Reconcile what enters, remains, and leaves

A discrepancy or specimen uncertainty requires immediate closed-loop communication.

Counts

Participate in the standardized count with the circulator at required times; keep items organized and visible, and state discrepancies immediately.

Count discrepancy

Stop the routine flow, repeat and reconcile according to policy, communicate to the surgeon and team, search systematically, and follow imaging or escalation policy.

Specimens

Verify source, specimen identity, orientation, tests, container, preservative, and special handling with the team before transfer.

Handoff

Use read-back or confirmation required by policy and preserve identification, containment, documentation, and chain of custody.

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Suture materials + needles

Prepare and pass; selection and use belong to the authorized procedural plan

Do not imply that the surgical technologist independently closes tissue.

Suture and needle orientation
Property	What it describes	Handling and passing focus
Absorbable / nonabsorbable	Whether the material is designed to be absorbed or remain long term	Verify the ordered material, size, length, packaging, and expiration or integrity.
Monofilament / multifilament	Single strand versus braided or twisted construction	Protect from crushing, kinking, fraying, tangling, or unnecessary handling.
Needle shape and point	Curvature and tissue-specific point design	Identify the requested needle, protect the point, load only as taught, and maintain needle accountability.
Passing	Deliver the prepared item safely to the surgeon or authorized assistant	Orient the needle holder for controlled reception and use the approved sharps-passing method.

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Hemostasis support

Know the methods, equipment, supplies, and supporting role

The surgeon or authorized procedural clinician directs and performs hemostasis.

Hemostasis support methods
Method	Examples	Surgical-technology support
Mechanical	Pressure, clamps, clips, ligatures, sutures, packing	Anticipate, prepare, pass, organize, and account for the requested supplies.
Energy-based	Electrosurgery and other approved energy devices	Check accessories and connections, protect insulation and cords, manage smoke evacuation, and support fire and electrical safety.
Topical	Sponges, matrices, sealants, and other topical agents	Verify the exact product, preparation, applicator, storage, warnings, and manufacturer instructions before passing.

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Case flow + safety

Anticipation must stay connected to verification

Preference cards assist preparation but do not replace the current plan or team communication.

Before the case

Review the planned procedure and preference card, inspect equipment and supplies, clarify substitutions, and identify unusual positioning, implants, specimens, medications, and count needs.

During the case

Maintain organization, follow progress, anticipate without guessing, protect sterility and sharps safety, and communicate changes or discrepancies.

Closing and handoff

Prepare closure materials as requested, reconcile counts and specimens, protect dressings and drains, and communicate retained or transferred items.

After the case

Contain sharps and contaminated items, protect specimens, separate instruments for safe reprocessing, report damage, and restore readiness according to policy.

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Sources

Reference notes

Current program instruction, facility policy, manufacturer instructions, and supervised validation control the exact method used.