While working as a surgical technologist you may be exposed to fumes, chemicals, cold, noise, radiation, blood/body fluids, and infectious diseases. Please look carefully at the following essential functions for the operating room. These are physical, mental, and emotional characteristics that are required for employment in the operating room. Only you can decide if this career is right for you. It is better to recognize if a program is a right fit before committing to a career.
A student who has any change in her/his physical and/or psychological condition (including pregnancy and postpartum period) that requires medical attention and/or affects her/his physical or emotional endurance must have written permission signed by a physician to continue in the Surgical Technology program. The student must contact COD Access and Accommodations, access@cod.edu, and submit the physician's permission before returning to the course.
Gross Motor Skills
- Move within confined spaces
- Maintain balance in multiple positions
- Reach above shoulders (adjust overhead lights)
- Reach below waist (plug electrical appliance into wall outlet)
- Reach out front
Fine Motor Skills
- Pick up small objects with hands
- Write with pen or pencil
- Key/type (use a computer)
- Pinch/pick/squeeze/ turn with fingers (manipulate a syringe)
- Simultaneous use of hands, wrists, fingers
- Coordinate eye-hand and eye-hand foot
Physical Endurance
- Stand for long periods of time from 2-4 hours
- Maintain the same position for long periods of time
- Sustained repetitive movements
- Function in a fast-paced work environment for hours
Physical Strength
- Push and pull 50 pounds (carry instrument pans, position patient)
- Support and lift 50 pounds of weight (hold arm or leg)
- Carry equipment/ supplies (lift instrument pans)
- Use upper body strength (retraction, physically restrain a client)
Hearing
- Ability to hear normal speaking level sounds
- Hear faint voices and body sounds (heartbeat)
- Ability to discriminate speech in the presence of background noises
- Hear in situations when not able to see lips
Visual
- See objects up to 20 inches away
- Use depth perception
- Use peripheral vision
- Distinguish color and color intensity (color codes on supplies)
- See in darkened room (during endoscope procedures, eye surgery)
Tactile
- Feel vibrations (palpate pulses)
- Detect temperature (solutions)
- Feel differences in sizes, shapes
- Detect environment temperature
Communication Skills
- Speak and write in English
- Listen/comprehend spoken/written word
- Collaborate with others (health care workers, peers)
- Comprehend and exhibit non-verbal communication
Attendance Policy
Attendance and arriving on time are essential for excellent patient care. COD surgical programs require professional behavior to ensure we meet the needs of the health care industry. The program understands how difficult it can be to balance work, home, and education. Therefore, flexibility has been built into each course by allowing one excused absence for each course.
Please refer to course syllabi for specific attendance policies, as they vary from lecture, lab, and clinical.
- Excused Absence or Late/Leave Early: Student may make up all missing work. It is the student’s responsibility to communicate with the instructor about what was missed. Any proctored exam/test/quiz must be made up in the testing center no later than the Wednesday following the absence.
- Unexcused Absence or Late/Leave Early: Missed exams or in-class assignments will not be made up and will receive a zero.
- Three or more absences in any clinical or lab course will result in failure, regardless of excused/unexcused designation.
- Three or more Late/Leave Early will result in a Code of Conduct Deficiency and the Remediation Policy will be followed.
Lecture
- Absence #1
Any work missed during the absence can be made up for full credit. It is the student’s responsibility to communicate with the instructor about what was missed. Any missed exam/test/quiz must be made up in the testing center no later than the Wednesday following the absence. - Absence #2
Exams missed during the second absence will not be allowed to be made up and will receive a zero.
A Code of Conduct Deficiency will be written and the remediation policy followed. - Absence #3
The student will fail the lecture and will be advised to withdraw from the course. - Late/Leave Early #1
Doors are closed upon class start time. Students may not start an exam late. Any missed exam/test/quiz must be made up in the testing center that day. - Late/Leave Early #2
Exams cannot be made up and will receive a zero. - Late/Leave Early #3
A Code of Conduct Deficiency will be written and the remediation policy followed.
Lab
- Absence #1
Any work missed during the absence can be made up for full credit. It is the student’s responsibility to communicate with the instructor about what was missed and when it should be made up. - Absence #2
Any demonstration, practice, or assessment missed during the second absence will not be allowed to be made up.
A Code of Conduct Deficiency will be written and the remediation policy followed. - Absence #3
Student will fail the lab and will be advised to withdraw from the course. - Late/Leave Early #1
All missed work can be made up with instructor approval. - Late/Leave Early #2
Any missed work CANNOT be made up - Late/Leave Early #3
A Code of Conduct Deficiency will be written and the remediation policy followed.
Clinical
- Absence #1
Absence must be made up at the clinical makeup day at the end of the rotation. - Absence #2
A Code of Conduct Deficiency will be written and the remediation policy followed. - Absence #3
Student will fail clinical and will be advised to withdraw from the course. - Late/Leave Early #1
As long as the late/leave early is appropriately communicated it will be excused. - Late/Leave Early #2
A Code of Conduct Deficiency will be written and the remediation policy followed.
Student Code of Conduct
The code of conduct will be strictly enforced during all aspects of the program, including the in-hospital clinical experience. Breaking a Code of Conduct rule is called a "Deficiency." Depending on the severity and situation, a student may be dropped from the program upon receiving one code of conduct deficiency. Regardless of the cause, a student will be dropped from the program upon receiving a third deficiency. If a student is dropped from the program due to Code of Conduct deficiencies, they may not return to the COD surgical technology program.
College of DuPage Nursing and Health Sciences Programs Policy for Professional Conduct in Classrooms, Lab, Simulation, and Clinical Sites
Revised Fall 2021
Socialization of students to appropriate professional conduct is a significant component of the Nursing and Health Sciences Programs of College of DuPage (the “Programs”). Students in the programs are expected and required to be reliable and competent, exercise sound judgment, act with a high degree of personal integrity, represent themselves and College of DuPage (the “College”) in a respectful manner, and observe all the rules and regulations of the clinical sites to which they are assigned.
Students also have a responsibility to protect the welfare and safety of the patients/clients/residents for whom services are being provided. Students placed at clinical sites must realize the privilege of this experience, its responsibilities, and the reflection on the College and its numerous health programs. Any violation will be handled immediately so as not to affect the College’s use of the clinical site for future students.
In accordance with these expectations, when participating in laboratory exercises and /or assigned to clinical sites, students in the programs must adhere to the following Policy for Professional Conduct. This policy is in addition to the Student Code of Conduct outlined in the College catalogs and/or policy (Board Policy 20-35).
The Policy for Professional Conduct includes, but is not limited to:
- Providing competent and reliable services to patients/clients/residents using sound
judgment and discretion. Students are expected to:
- Be prepared for the learning environment and actively participate in appropriate ways to ensure learning of key components
- Be on time
- Refrain from excessive absenteeism
- Remain in assigned work areas, leaving only with permission
- Not leave patients unattended and/or release patients without prior approval from a qualified staff member (if applicable)
- Provide care to all patients/clients/residents regardless of age, gender, gender identification, race, sexual orientation, or religion
- Demonstrating respect and courtesy to patients/clients/residents and their families
- Demonstrating respect and courtesy to peers/classmates, instructors, supervisors and all other members of the health care provider team in classrooms and at the site
- Cooperating with faculty, staff and peers without insubordination
- Providing care and/or services on a non-discriminatory basis
- Performing only procedures and/or services authorized by supervisor(s) in accordance with accepted professional standards
- Observing the rules and regulations of classrooms, lab, simulation, and all clinical
facilities including (but not limited to):
- Proper use of equipment and other property
- Not removing property of clinical facilities
- Not distributing, possessing, and/or being under the influence of any illegal drugs or controlled substances
- Not possessing and/or being under the influence of alcohol
- Complying with all current health requirements, drug testing and criminal background checking requirements
- Not possessing or using any type of weapon
- Comply with cell phone or other electronic device (e.g.iPod, iPad, electronic tablets, etc.) usage consistent with the policies of the classroom, lab, and clinical sites.
- Maintaining the confidentiality of patient/client/resident information in accordance with recognized professional and institutional rules; without unauthorized release and/or misuse of patient/client information or institutional data
- Maintaining proper dress, appearance, hygiene and decorum in accordance with the standards set by the program, clinical site, and professions
- Complying with the ethical and professional standards set by the profession and the
programs including (but not limited to):
- Never taking prescription blanks or writing prescriptions
- Never falsifying documents regarding student performance or the care of patients
The penalty for violating the Policy for Professional Conduct will be discipline up to and including suspension or dismissal from the program. Due to the sequential design of the curriculum in most Nursing and Health Sciences Programs, any period of suspension or dismissal may result in a delay in program completion.
If the disciplinary action is suspension or dismissal from one of the programs, the Student Violation of Professional Conduct form will be completed by the Program Coordinator and submitted to the Dean. The student may appeal that disciplinary action to the Nursing and Health Sciences Professional Conduct Review Board within 10 business days of the discipline imposed. The Student Appeal of Professional Conduct form must be submitted to the Dean in the program area (HSC 1220).
The student will not be permitted to participate in the clinical/lab portion of the programs during the appeal process. However, the student may continue with on campus courses until a final decision is rendered from the appeal process. The appeal will result in a hearing before the Nursing and Health Science Professional Conduct Review Board, comprised of faculty from other COD Nursing and Health Science Programs within 5 business days of the date the appeal is filed with the Dean. Both the student and faculty involved in the disciplinary action may make an oral presentation to the Board in addition to written comments; there is no further appeal, the decision of the Board is final. If the decision to dismiss or suspend a student from a program is upheld, no refund of tuition, fees, equipment or books will be provided. When a student is dismissed from a health program for professional misconduct, they are not eligible for readmission, or admission to any other health program at the College of DuPage.
All health programs require completion of current health requirements and drug testing as a condition of program participation. Drug testing (performed at the student’s expense) will precede clinical experience in all cases, and will be required prior to admission in some programs. Positive results on a drug screen or misrepresentation regarding drug use will lead to immediate dismissal from, or non-admittance to the particular program(s). When a student is dismissed from or not admitted to a program for a positive drug screen, he/she may reapply to the same program or to any other College of DuPage health programs after one year has elapsed.
If your drug test results in a negative dilute, you will be required to re-take the drug test (performed at the student’s expense). If a student wishes to dispute the results of a positive drug test, only the original specimen will be re-tested (performed at the student’s expense).
Criminal background checks are performed at the student’s expense, and are required for many programs prior to admission. Positive results will be handled by individual program faculty, as per program policies.
In order to maintain public health and safety, the following CDC guidelines need to be followed:
- While on campus and in clinical, students will wear a mask at all times
- When possible, students will maintain social distancing of at least 6 feet
- Any actual or potential COVID or communicable disease transmission must be reported to the instructor and subsequently the Program Chair
Acknowledgment
I acknowledge receipt of the Nursing and Health Sciences Programs Policy for Professional Conduct. I have read and understand the statement and agree to abide by the standards and rules set forth therein. I understand that failure to abide by the Policy for Professional Conduct may result in my suspension or dismissal from the program. I understand that I will not receive a refund of tuition, fees, books, supplies or equipment purchased, should I be dismissed from the program for violating this policy.
Code of Conduct Deficiency Examples
- Found to be under the influence or have possession of illegal drugs, mind/mood-altering substances, including prescription medications and alcohol while in the classroom, laboratory or clinical setting(s).
- Unprofessional or unethical conduct.
- If a clinical education center requests the removal of a student from their facility due to professionalism or skill concerns.
- Breach of confidentiality.
- Posting patient/hospital information on social media.
- Any falsification of records.
- Insubordination to faculty members and/or personnel at any clinical/lab site.
- Conduct that is deemed detrimental to the operating room environment or patient including disregard of any surgical principle.
- Sexual harassment
- Use of cell phone within the operating room or inner core
- Failure to accomplish clinical/lab assignments and objectives.
- Failure to display appropriate workplace principles (poor attitude, inappropriate behavior, communication problems.)
- Communication with any instructor, chair, or clinical employee must be written in a professional manner. Emails should always include a greeting, salutation, proper spelling, and proper grammar. Do not send an angry or argumentative email. An email should request a personal meeting to address any disagreement between the student and instructor.
- Inability to follow policies/procedures in the clinical/lab setting.
- Smoking or smelling of smoke while at a clinical/lab site.
- Failure to wear eyewear.
- Wearing jewelry of any kind.
- Arriving at OR after the start of the shift.
- Leaving lab or clinical early without permission.
- Two or more missed Trajecsys clock in/out, case logging, or preceptor evaluations.
- No call, no show
Remediation Flow Chart
The following is a list of three deficiencies.
1st Deficiency
Write up, plan of action, meeting with program chair
- Remediation successful: Student Continues
- Remediation unsuccessful: Student is dropped from program
↓
2nd Deficiency
Write up, plan of action, meeting with program chair, probation
- Remediation successful: Student Continues
- Remediation unsuccessful: Student is dropped from program
↓
3rd Deficiency
Write up, meeting with program chair, student is dropped from program
If a student is dropped from the program, they may re-enter the program during the next admission cycle to repeat failed courses. A student may only re-enter the surgical technology program once.
Program Contact Information
Please visit the Program Contacts page for detailed information.