Surgical Procedures I

This course introduces the role of the surgical technician in the healthcare system, and also covers the principles and practices of surgical asepsis that must be maintained in the clinical setting. Included are the study of microscopic life forms, the relationship of microbes to disease and illness, the principles and techniques of disinfection, sterilization, antisepsis, and the development of the "surgical conscience". This course introduces the student to ethical issues which relate to patient care in a hospital surgical setting. Legal issues and moral values relating to patient rights and operating room procedures will be discussed. Cultural, ethnic, and age issues will be considered, as appropriate.