Clinical Rotation: SURGT 1202, 1302, and 1402

As a student of the College of DuPage (COD) health career programs, the completion of all health requirements is mandatory. Medical requirements must be completed before registration for any clinical course.

Clinical Grading

The clinical courses are graded on a pass/fail basis. A student must earn 78% or above to receive a passing grade. Points will be issued for journal entries and clinical instructor evaluations.

Clinical Instructor Observation & Evaluation

Each student will receive three observations with evaluations throughout their clinical rotation. If possible, observations will include the setup, intraop, and closing.

Evaluations will be completed after each observation. If a particular skill noted on the evaluation is not observed, N/A will be indicated and will not be included in the total evaluation points.

Evaluations can be accessed through Trajecsys.

A post-evaluation conference will be scheduled after each evaluation to discuss the student’s progress. This can be done in person, by phone, or zoom.

The first observation/evaluation will be done within the first two weeks.

The second observation/evaluation will be completed in week four or five.

The final observation/evaluation will be completed during the last two weeks.

If a student receives below satisfactory scores on a preceptor evaluation, a clinical instructor observation & evaluation will be immediately scheduled.

A student must pass at least 2 evaluations to pass the course.

Clinical Journal Entries

40 Points

Each week you will submit a journal entry on Blackboard discussing the clinical experience. Each entry is worth 5 points.

Clinical Placement

There are no requests accepted for clinical placement and students may have to drive up to an hour to attend clinical. Although no guarantees can be made, students who currently work in a hospital or surgery center may request clinical placement at their place of employment. The student should inform the clinical chair during SURGT1102. 

Site Requirements

Transportation, Parking, and Clinical Costs

Students are to provide their own transportation to and from all clinical agencies and may have to pay for parking at some clinical sites. Students may be required to drive up to an hour for clinical rotation. Students are to follow the parking regulations of the agency and park only in those areas designated for students. Students may also have to incur clinical management systems costs depending on location of clinical site.

Ethics & Confidentiality

All patient records (chart, verbal, or written information) are confidential. Violations of confidentiality may be subject to litigation. Patients and hospital staff members must not be identified by name in assignments or other exercises used for learning purposes. Patients, hospital staff members, and care issues are not to be discussed with others in the corridors, cafeteria, elevator, lounge, or other public places, and are not topics of discussion with friends, classmates, or family.

Snow Days

Students are not expected to attend clinical laboratory if the college is closed due to inclement weather. If COD is closed due to weather, the student must notify the clinical agency of the snow day absence.

Social Media

Students are not to post or discuss any clinical experience or information regarding the experience with the clinical agency, its staff, or its clients/patients on any internet social media. Students will be prohibited from returning to the clinical site if the Social Media Conduct policy is violated in any way. Students are prohibited from all forms of video/audio recording. Such violations may result in disciplinary action. 

Health Requirements

Multiple health requirements are necessary for entry into the hospital. It is the student’s responsibility to complete all requirements prior to the first day of SURGT 1202. Students who are not cleared by the first day of class will be dropped from the course.

Student Work Policy

Students are allowed to work as surgical technologists while gaining clinical hours. Students may find work as a surgical technologist and complete their clinical rotation at their hospital of employment.

Accidents in the OR

If the student is involved in any kind of accident or incident at the clinical site, i.e. fall, needle stick, etc. the clinical instructor and program chair should be notified immediately, at the time of the occurrence. We will help you through the process, as hospital procedures must be followed with respect to Incident/Accident reports.

If a student is injured, he/she may be treated by his/her own private physician or in the hospital emergency room. The student is responsible for seeking treatment and will be responsible for any cost incurred by using hospital services.

Eye Protection

Students will be required to wear instructor approved eye protection and all other personal protective equipment at appropriate times in the operating room. They will also be required in other areas (i.e. central supply/ decontamination area) where there is a risk of contact with bodily fluids. Students disregarding this rule are subject to disciplinary action and dismissal from the Surgical Technology Program.

Case Requirements

The clinical experiences are assigned according to the 7th edition of the AST Core Curriculum of Surgical Technology. A minimum of 120 surgical cases are required in the first or second scrub role. The cases are accomplished throughout three 8-week semesters. The cases will be divided among general and specialty procedures, as well as First Scrub, Second Scrub, or Observation roles. Please see below for semester goals:

• 1st Semester Goal: 40 total cases. General - 10 observation, 10 Second scrub, 20 First scrub
• 2nd Semester Goal: 50 cases. Specialty - 10 First/Second scrub, 40 First scrub.
• 3rd Semester Goal: 50 cases. Specialty - 50 First scrub

Case requirements - A student must complete a minimum of 120 cases as delineated below:

A. General surgery

1. A student must complete a minimum of 30 cases in General Surgery.
   1. 20 of these cases must be performed in the FS role.
   2. The remaining 10 cases may be performed in either the FS or SS role.

B. Specialty surgery

1. A student must complete a minimum of 90 cases in various surgical specialties,  excluding General Surgery.
   1. A minimum of 60 cases must be performed in the FS role and distributed amongst a  minimum of four surgical specialties.
      1. A minimum of ten cases in four different specialties must be completed in the FS  role (40 cases total).
      2. The additional 20 cases in the FS role may be distributed amongst any one  surgical specialty or multiple surgical specialties.
   2. The remaining 30 cases may be performed in any surgical specialty in either the FS   or SS role.
2. Surgical specialties (excluding General Surgery)
   1. Cardiothoracic
   2. Genitourinary
   3. Neurologic
   4. Obstetric and gynecologic
   5. Orthopedic
   6. Otorhinolaryngologic
   7. Ophthalmologic
   8. Oral Maxillofacial
   9. Peripheral vascular
   10. Plastics and reconstructive
   11. Procurement and transplant

Counting cases

A. Cases may be counted according to surgical specialty as defined in the core curriculum.

1. One pathology is counted as one procedure.
2. Counting more than one case on the same patient.
3. Diagnostic vs. operative endoscopy cases
   1. An endoscopy classified as a semi-critical procedure is considered a diagnostic  case.
   2. An endoscopy classified as a critical procedure is considered an operative case.
   3. Diagnostic and operative cases will be counted according to specialty.
   4. Diagnostic cases are counted in the SS role up to a total of ten of the required 120 cases.

B. Vaginal delivery cases are counted in the SS role of the OB/GYN specialty, up to a total   of five of the required 120.

Example: A patient requires a breast biopsy followed by mastectomy. It is one pathology, breast cancer, and the specialty is general surgery; therefore, it is counted and documented as one procedure and one case.

Example: A trauma patient requires a splenectomy and repair of a LeFort I fracture. Two cases can be counted and documented since the splenectomy is general surgery, and the LeFort I repair is an oralmaxillofacial surgical specialty.

Example: A procedure that requires different set-ups and includes different specialties may be counted as separate cases. A mastectomy procedure (general surgery) followed with immediate reconstruction or augmentation (plastics and reconstruction) are counted as separate cases.

Example: A cystoscopy is a diagnostic procedure. If an adjunct procedure is performed, it is considered operative; therefore, a cystoscopy with ureteral stent placement is an operative procedure.

• 120 Total Cases
  • 30 General
    • 20 FS
    • 10 FS/SS
  • 90 Specialty
    • 60 FS
      • 10 FS
      • 10 FS
      • 10 FS
      • 10 FS
      • 20 FS your choice
    • 30 FS/SS

Observation Role

The O role is defined as a student who has not met the FS or SS criteria. The student is observing a case in either the sterile or nonsterile role. Observation cases cannot be applied to the required 120 case count but must be documented.

Second Scrub Role

The SS role is defined as a student who has not met all criteria for the FS role but actively participates in the surgical procedure in its entirety by completing any of the following:

• Assistance with a diagnostic endoscopy
• Assistance with vaginal delivery Cutting suture
• Providing camera assistance
• Retracting
• Sponging
• Suctioning

First Scrub Role

To document a case in the FS role, the student shall perform the following duties during any given surgical procedure with proficiency:

• Verify supplies and equipment
• Set up the sterile field
• Instruments
  • Medication
  • Supplies
• Perform required operative counts
  • AST guidelines
  • Facility policy
• Pass instruments and supplies
  • Anticipate needs
• Maintain sterile technique
  • Recognize sterility breaks
  • Correct sterility breaks
  • Document as needed

Behavior Expectations

• Follow all directions and procedures as instructed. Only those competencies you have mastered in the classroom or laboratory setting may be utilized in the clinical setting. Those which have not been mastered via passing skills tests are to be attempted only with direct supervision in the clinical setting.
• Inform the preceptor of what procedures you have not had the opportunity to perform. Show initiative in finding learning opportunities for those you have.
• Do not discuss your personal life and problems with patients or hospital personnel. Leave your personal life at home. The clinical experience should be as if you are a guest in their facility.  Your entire rotation should be considered a long interview.
• Make sure your assigned preceptor is aware of your whereabouts at all times including break time and lunch time. 
• Do not leave your assigned operating room or clinical site without permission. Do not take breaks without permission.
• Do not wander the halls or enter another room just to look. You may enter the room if the team needs a supply, positioning help, etc., then return to your assigned room when done. Remember not to neglect your own responsibilities in your room to help in another.
• Cell Phones are only to be used for Trajecsys entries. You may not use your cell phone in the OR for any other reason. Cell phones may only be used for personal reasons during breaks or lunches in the lounge or locker room. Pictures are NEVER acceptable. By law, patients’ privacy must be protected and pictures violate their privacy. Unacceptable use of the cell phone are grounds for dismissal.
• Your student ID is mandatory while at the clinical sites.
• Daily submission of clinical logging through the Trajecsys system is required. Two or more missed entries of the clock in/out, case logging, or clinical preceptor evaluations will be issued a deficiency and follow the Remediation Policy.

Dress Code

Personal cleanliness is important:

• Hair - Hair must be clean and off the face. Hair must be completely covered by a surgical cap while in the surgical areas.
• Nails - Fingernails must be kept short, trimmed, and clean. The nail should not be allowed to grow past the end of the finger. Nail polish is NOT allowed. NO FALSE FINGERNAILS OR ARTIFICIAL OVERLAYS.
• Make-up is allowed. False eyelashes are not permitted.
• Fragrance – Cologne, perfume, tobacco/smoke odor, scented aftershave, and scented lotions are NOT allowed. Many patients have severe allergic reactions to these scents. In addition, many operating room patients experience nausea, and the presence of these scents can exacerbate these symptoms greatly.
• Beards - No longer than 1 inch and trimmed neatly. Beards must be completely covered with a special beard mask in the operating suite.
• Mints and gum are permitted, careful not to chomp or snap your gum during a procedure. It can be very distracting to the surgeon.
• Smoking - Not permitted anywhere at the clinical site. This includes outside, parking garage, or in the student’s car.
• Jewelry -  None allowed. No earrings, necklaces, or bracelets. Body piercings are NOT allowed! (Example: eyebrow, nose, tongue, etc.) The hospital and school will not be responsible for jewelry worn to the clinical area and left in lockers or pinned to scrub attire. The best policy is to leave your jewelry at home.
• What to wear - Wear appropriate clothing when reporting to the clinical facilities. Do not come to the hospital dressed in sweatpants, or pajama pants. Dress as if you may bump into the OR manager who may hire you one day. NO crop tops or ripped clothing. Students arrive at the clinical site in inappropriate dress, they will be dismissed and counted absent. 

Religious Head Coverings - (eg, head scarves, hijabs, veils, turbans, bonnets) Are allowed but must include the following:

• Constructed of tightly woven and low-linting material
• Do not have adornments
• Securely fit with loose ends tucked in the scrub top
• Laundering frequency-must wash daily
• A bouffant cap should be worn over it.

Trajecsys Logging

An online clinical management and tracking system will be used for logging surgical procedures, evaluations, and clocking in and out. Students must complete Trajecsys registration by the first day of SURGT1202. See the Trajecsys page for specific instructions.  

Trajecsys: Clock In & Out

• Clock in and out every clinical shift
• Students are required to “clock in” and “clock out” of their clinical site. The Trajecsys system will be used every day so it is important to get in a routine of clocking upon entering the locker room. The student must also use Trajecsys for absences.

Trajecsys: Case Logs

• All cases will be tracked using the Trajecsys system. Cases must be entered no later than the end of the clinical day and must be signed by your clinical preceptor.
• Entering your cases is the ONLY way for a student to successfully complete the clinical rotations. If the student does not enter cases, they cannot be entered at a later date.

Trajecsys: Clinical Preceptor Evaluation

• Evaluations will be completed by the student’s clinical site every week. The evaluation will be completed and signed by a surgical tech or circulator that the student has worked with during the week.  
• All evaluations are considered legal documents that may not be altered in any way. Altered documentation is unacceptable and is considered a code of conduct violation. 
• The evaluations are an excellent way to improve skills. A critical evaluation will help the student focus on important areas to improve.

Program Contact Information

Please visit the Program Contacts page for detailed information.