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Surgical technician skills for your resume and career

Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read
Quoted expert
Shawn Steadman
Surgical technician example skills
Below we've compiled a list of the most critical surgical technician skills. We ranked the top skills for surgical technicians based on the percentage of resumes they appeared on. For example, 18.9% of surgical technician resumes contained patients as a skill. Continue reading to find out what skills a surgical technician needs to be successful in the workplace.

15 surgical technician skills for your resume and career

1. Patients

Here's how surgical technicians use patients:
  • Assisted in preparing patients' and operating room environments for surgery and provided assistance to medical staff during surgical procedures.
  • Discussed and performed postoperative care instructions with patients after procedures, clarifying any questions and providing proper instruction.

2. Surgical Technologist

A surgical technologist refers to a health professional who assists and works alongside surgeons, nurses, and other health care team members throughout a surgery. While many of these professionals work in general surgery, some opt for a surgical specialty area like cardiology, pediatric surgery, neurosurgery, plastic surgery, etc.

Here's how surgical technicians use surgical technologist:
  • Demonstrated expertise instructing, evaluating, and overseeing surgical technologists and staff within ambulatory surgery center for established managed care consortium.
  • Cultivated an atmosphere of growth and responsibility within the surgical technologists by encouraging classes and assisted in teaching technical procedures.

3. Surgical Procedures

Surgical procedures include the list of tasks that are done while doing surgery. Usually, a surgical procedure involves an incision with instruments, performed to repair damage or heal the disease in a living body. Surgical procedures are performed by trained individuals such as surgeons, doctors, and nurses.

Here's how surgical technicians use surgical procedures:
  • Provided instruction in medical terminology, anatomy & physiology, foundations of surgical technology, surgical procedures, and surgical instrumentation.
  • Performed duties and maintained appropriate decorum during emergency surgical procedures such as orthopedic trauma, patient codes and disasters.

4. Patient Care

Patient care entails the diagnosis, recovery, and control of sickness as well as the maintenance of physical and emotional well-being through the use of healthcare providers' services. Patient care is described as services provided to patients by health practitioners or non-professionals under guidance.

Here's how surgical technicians use patient care:
  • Performed a variety of technical and supportive patient care to assist anesthesiologists, residents and nurse anesthetists in performing anesthetic procedures.
  • Utilized equipment and technology to implement nursing intervention and patient care insuring safety and adherence to policy and procedures.

5. CST

CST, Central Standard Time, is a well-known name of UTC-6 time zone which is 6 hours behind Coordinated Universal Time (UTC). Countries with the Central Standard Time, in which a switch to daylight saving time is common, turn the clock forward by one hour in summer.

Here's how surgical technicians use cst:
  • Completed performance improvement projects aimed at CST Continuing Education.
  • Travel across the nation to fill staffing positions as a CST for up to 13 weeks.

6. Sterile Technique

Here's how surgical technicians use sterile technique:
  • Gained familiarity with animal anatomy and instruments used during procedures, and practiced sterile technique.
  • Monitor consistency and continuity of sterile technique for operating field and instruments during surgery.

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7. Sponges

Here's how surgical technicians use sponges:
  • Distributed instruments, sponges, sutures and other supplies to surgeons using aseptic technique and assists in a variety of specialties.
  • Cut sutures, keep track of items like sponges and needles, operate lights and help dress a patient's wounds.

8. Aseptic Technique

Aseptic technique is a routine measure or series of actions used to prevent or minimize the risk of harmful microorganisms being introduced into a sterile area of the body during procedures that violate the body's natural defenses. The primary aim of the aseptic technique is to eliminate germs, that is, pathogenic microorganisms, to avoid contamination of a wound and other sensitive parts of the body, as this can lead to infection.

Here's how surgical technicians use aseptic technique:
  • Performed sterile, aseptic technique, and assisted in surgical procedures to facilitate physician s performance of therapeutic and diagnostic procedures.
  • Practiced Aseptic techniques in the clinical setting ensuring infection control by washing and sterilizing equipment using germicides and sterilizers.

9. Surgical Services

Surgical Services refers to any service where a surgical procedure may be supported. These services may be intervention- or procedure-based and may be used to treat various ailments ranging from fractured limbs, removal of a tumor or diseased organ, or collecting a biopsy sample. Multiple branches of medicine rely on surgical services, such as oncology, radiology, and OB/GYN.

Here's how surgical technicians use surgical services:
  • Participated in numerous special projects assigned by Surgical Services Director; active participant in on-call requirements; circulated as directed.
  • Standardized procedures and improved efficiency of surgical room setup through major cataloging effort covering all surgical services equipment.

10. CPR

Cardiopulmonary resuscitation or CPR is a medical procedure that involves chest compression to help a patient breathe. This artificial ventilation helps in keeping the brain function in place and regulates blood throughout the body. CPR is a lifesaving procedure that is used in emergencies.

Here's how surgical technicians use cpr:
  • Assisted surgeons in surgical procedures * Patient safety and sterilization protocol * Acquired skills include CPR certification
  • Record vital signs and perform CPR as needed on all patients in the ER as a ER Tech.

11. Patient Safety

Here's how surgical technicians use patient safety:
  • Assisted as physician as needed Documented all nursing interventions in patient record Pulled supplies for procedures Ensured patient safety and comfort
  • Supervised students and ensured understanding of the various skills necessary to provide optimal patient safety and care during surgical procedures.

12. Sterile Processing

Here's how surgical technicians use sterile processing:
  • Performed equipment sterilization related monitoring and maintenance duties, as a Sterile Processing Technician and relevant experience as Central Service Technician.
  • Experienced in the sterile processing environment, including implementation and monitoring of the quality measures for surgical instrumentation.

13. Surgical Instruments

Here's how surgical technicians use surgical instruments:
  • Clean and sterilize all surgical instruments, Participate in all departmental staff meetings and performance improvement activities.
  • Washed surgical instruments for daily medical operation, conducting sterilization of instruments using steam and ETO autoclaves.

14. General Surgery

Here's how surgical technicians use general surgery:
  • Generalize knowledge of General Surgery, Orthopedic Surgery, Gynecological and Obstetrical, Ophthalmic Surgery, and Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery.
  • Specialized in orthopedic and neurosurgery, with extensive experience in general surgery, trauma surgery and plastic surgery.

15. Compassion

Here's how surgical technicians use compassion:
  • Maintained compassion for patients while respecting their confidentiality & rights.
  • Handle patients with care and compassion.
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Shawn Steadman

Website

The industry or field is growing exponentially. More and more organizations are realizing the value of emergency management and homeland security professionals in aiding their planning and operations. An area experiencing extreme growth is situational awareness and, more specifically, GIS and AI in assisting Command in managing disasters. This influx of technology includes the use of small, uncrewed aviation systems (sUAS) or drones and cyber security. There should be a balance between management skills and technological skills for individuals in the field. This rapid growth and technological advancement present exciting opportunities for learning and career development.
Do you want to know more?
Read more about what experts have to say about surgical technician

List of surgical technician skills to add to your resume

Surgical technician skills

The most important skills for a surgical technician resume and required skills for a surgical technician to have include:

  • Patients
  • Surgical Technologist
  • Surgical Procedures
  • Patient Care
  • CST
  • Sterile Technique
  • Sponges
  • Aseptic Technique
  • Surgical Services
  • CPR
  • Patient Safety
  • Sterile Processing
  • Surgical Instruments
  • General Surgery
  • Compassion
  • Operative Procedure
  • Pediatrics
  • Rehabilitation
  • Room Turnover
  • Surgical Equipment
  • GYN
  • Scrub Role
  • Surgical Cases
  • Retractors
  • Dexterity
  • IV
  • Home Health
  • Medical Terminology
  • Labor Delivery
  • Preference Cards
  • Orthopedic Surgery
  • Surgical Suite
  • Cleanliness
  • Instrument Counts
  • Sterile Environment
  • OB
  • Thoracic
  • PET
  • Podiatry
  • Spine
  • Team Work
  • Surgical Specialties
  • Sterile Drapes
  • Back Table
  • Gynecology
  • Endoscopy
  • Robotic Surgery
  • Laboratory Analysis

Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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