Surgical Technology, AAS

Program Mission and Goals

Mission:

The Associate of Applied Science in Surgical Technology is dedicated to providing a well-rounded education, based on high standards, principles, and values.  The Surgical Technology Program promotes leadership, professionalism, and critical thinking skills while stimulating intellectual inquiry and creativity of students to their highest potential.  Our mission includes preparing graduates to enter the workforce as entry-level surgical technicians with the knowledge base and skills to productive health care professionals in a culturally diverse society by contributing to their profession and dedicating themselves to life-long learning.

Goals:

1. To prepare graduates to enter the workforce as entry-level surgical technologists who meet employer expectations with respect to their knowledge, skills, and behavior.
2. To provide students with the highest quality education through didactic, laboratory, and clinical instruction with emphasis on the psychomotor, affective, and cognitive learning domains.
3. To provide employers high knowledgeable entry-level surgical technologists who are able to adapt well in the working environment and prove themselves dependable, ethical, and competent.

Requirements for Admission to the Surgical Technology, AAS

Admission to the Associate of Applied Science in Surgical Technology Program is on a selective basis.  Selection recommendations are made by the Nursing and Allied Health Selection Committee to the Dean.  The number of students selected each year will depend on a number of factors, including accreditation standards mandated by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Program (CAAHEP). as well as financial, personnel, and other resources available to the Surgical Technology Program.  Students must meet the following minimum criteria to be considered eligible for selection into the AAS in Surgical Technology Program:

1. Be fully admitted as a student to LSU Eunice.
2. Submit to the Division of Health Sciences and  Business Technology a completed Surgical Technology Selection Application Form, required documents, and a $10 non-refundable application fee.  These materials must be revived no later than April 30th of the year for which selection is being sought.
3. Complete the each pre-requisite and Surgical Technology course with a grade of “C” or better and all pre-requisite and Surgical Technology courses with a grade point average of 2.5 or higher.
4. Have an overall grade-point average of 2.0 or higher.
5. Be able to perform the physical and mental requirements of the discipline of Surgical Technology as identified in the Surgical Technology Student Handbook and the ADA requirements in the Student Orientation Manual.

Completed all pre-requisite courses.

Meeting the minimum criteria does not guarantee admission into the AAS in Surgical Technology Program.  Eligible applicants will be considered on a competitive basis.

Selection into the AAS in Surgical Technology

Selection into the Surgical Technology Program

The Division of Health Sciences and Business Technology will admit classes into the Surgical Technology program in the summer semester of each year.  Selection decisions for the fall class are made at the end of the prior spring semester.  Courses taken during the spring semester will be considered during the selection process.  Selection decisions will normally be made and communicated to students by the second week of May.  Though students not selected may reapply for admission to a subsequent class, such students must complete the entire application process and will remain subject to the eligibility requirements specified above.

Criteria for Selection for the AAS in Surgical Technology

Criteria for Selection for the AAS in Surgical Technology Program

Required prerequisite courses taken during the spring semester are included in the selection process.  The following criteria are used in calculating the applicant’s ranking for selection:

1. Completion of 29 hours of pre-required courses with a grade-point average of 2.5 or higher.
2. Overall academic record and cumulative GPA.
3. Licensure/certification in a health-care profession or a previously earned degree.
4. The GPA in pre-requisite courses.
5. Number of pre-requisite courses repeated.

Upon selection into the AAS in Surgical Technology Program the student is required to fulfill the following:

1. Complete forms and submit fees for background investigations required by healthcare facilities.
2. Receive a negative drug screen report.
3. Submit all documents requested by the Surgical Technology Program by published deadlines. Failure to submit requested documents by due dates will prohibit continuance in the program.
4. Once selected and notified, the Program Director for Surgical Technology must be notified of the applicant’s commitment to accept or reject selection into the program.
5. Upon acceptance by the applicant to enter the Surgical Technology Program, the student accepts and agrees to abide by all published University, Division, and program policies regarding student conduct and academic standing.

Health information, background checks, initial drug screens and random drug screens will be managed by the student through a secure online information management service for a fee which will be paid by the student.  All health-related information, immunization records, TB testing report, and lab data must be recorded on official medical provider/company stationary.  Data submitted in any other format will be rejected.  All records are strictly confidential.

Retention/Progression Guidelines

Retention/Progression Guidelines

Acceptance into the Surgical Technology Program entitles the student to progress through the surgical technology curriculum along with the class to which the student is admitted.  In order for a student to be retained and progress in the curriculum, a student must:

1. Maintain an LSU and an overall GPA of 2.0 or higher.
2. Maintain a GPA of 2.0 or higher in all required surgical technology courses.
3. Complete all surgical technology courses with a grade of “C” or better. The grading scale for all surgical technology courses is: A - 93-100; B - 85-92; C - 77-84; D - 65-76; F - below 65.
4. Maintain current CPR certification (CPR for Healthcare Providers) and annual TB testing.
5. Maintain health/immunization requirements.

Failure to successfully complete any surgical technology course, for either academic or other reasons, will require that the student apply for readmission to the Surgical Technology Program if the student wishes to continue in the program.  A student repeating a surgical technology course must concurrently re-enroll in the co-requisite surgical technology courses.  Re-enrolling in a co-requisite course in which the student had previously received a passing grade will not be counted as repeated surgical technology course hours for the dismissal policy.  The most recent grade earned will be the grade for the course.  The purpose for requiring re-enrollment in co-requisite courses is to assure that surgical technology students receive the most current health care information.

Dismissal

Students may be dismissed from a surgical technology course and/or the AAS in Surgical Technology Program for any of the following reasons:

1. A deliberate attempt to cover up any error or negligent performance during clinical experiences.
2. Repetitive performance of unsafe behaviors during clinical experiences.
3. Performance of unethical or illegal behaviors during clinical experiences.
4. Failure to comply with clinical agency policies and regulations.
5. Breach of patient or agency confidentiality by inappropriate management of information in any form.
6. Cheating or plagiarism (See LSUE’s Code of Student Conduct located in the Student Handbook).
7. Violation of the LSUE Code of Student Conduct.
8. A positive report on any random drug screen.
9. Requested dismissal from a clinical facility by clinical affiliate staff or LSUE faculty and staff.
10. Committing a breach in the Surgical Technology Program policy on the conduct of social media usage.

The LSUE faculty reserves the right to recommend termination of a Surgical Technology student when health and/or personal conduct requires such action.

Requirements for Readmission

A student whose enrollment is interrupted, either voluntarily or by compulsion, or who fails to earn a grade of “C” in a required surgical technology course may be considered for readmission to the Surgical Technology Program provided that the student is in good academic standing as defined in the “Campus Regulations” section of the LSUE catalog.  However, in no circumstances will a student be considered for readmission when the student has earned more than one “D”, “F”, or “W” in required surgical technology courses.  A student may only be readmitted to the Surgical Technology course in which they received the failing grade.

Persons wishing to re-enter the Surgical Technology Program must submit a written application to to the Division of Health Sciences and Business Technology by July 15 for re-entry in the fall semester, December 1 for the spring semester, and May 1 for the summer semester.  a student will be considered for readmission only when there is clear evidence of his or her potential to complete the requirements of the surgical technology curriculum.  In reviewing such applications, special scrutiny will be given to (1) overall GPA, (2) previous performance in didactic and clinical Surgical Technology courses, and (3) grades earned in the behavioral, biological, and physical sciences.  Students with previous credit in required Surgical Technology courses who are readmitted into the AAS in Surgical Technology Program must have Surgical Technology skill performance validation prior to entering the semester of readmission.  The overall financial and personal resources available to the surgical technology program will also be a consideration in readmission decisions.  Submitting an application for readmission does not guarantee acceptance into the Surgical Technology Program.

A student applying for reentry into a Surgical Technology course must apply the next time the course is offered.  If not accepted, the student may reapply once more when the course is offered again (two (2) years from the first time the student enrolled in the course).  After two (2) attempts of reentry, the student will not be considered again for reentry into the surgical technology course in which the student was unsuccessful or if the student does not reapply with in a two (2) year period after last enrollment.  If the student wishes to pursue surgical technology curriculum at LSUE, including after the two year period, an application to the Surgical Technology Program must be completed along with all current requirements for selection.  The application will be placed with the pool of students applying for initial entry into the Surgical Technology Program.  If selected, the reentry student would begin the first semester of surgical technology courses.  All reentry students must have skill re-validation at the beginning of the semester.  Science and Math courses taken 7 years earlier must be repeated prior to reapplication.

Transfer Surgical Technology Students

Students who wish to transfer with surgical technology credits are subject to the “Requirements for Readmission”, “and “Retention/Progression Guidelines” specified above.  Prior surgical technology coursework may be evaluated for transferability on an individual basis.  Students requesting transfer into the Surgical Technology Program must:

1. Arrange a personal interview with the Surgical Technology Program Director.
2. Provide a transcript of all previous college work at the time of the interview.
3. Submit a course description and course content from completed surgical technology courses at the time of the interview.
4. Submit a Letter of Good Standing from prior Surgical Technology Program(s).  This letter from the administrative head of the prior program(s) should be mailed directly to the Surgical Technology Program Director to be received by the time of the interview.
5. Have earned a minimum grade of “C” in required surgical technology courses and have enrolled in surgical technology course(s) only once.
6. Have completed preferably, a minimum of 9 hours of required prerequisite science/math courses at LSUE.
7. Submit transcripts from all previously attended universities or colleges to the Office of Admissions for evaluation.  The applicant must be classified as fully admitted prior to selection to the Surgical Technology Program or the application is considered invalid.

Transfer students must meet the same criteria as all other students applying to the Program.

Graduation Requirements

 In order to graduate with the AAS in Surgical Technology, students must complete all required coursework once admitted into the program with a C or better and be in good standing with LSUE.

Surgical Technology Program Curriculum