BUFFALO, N.Y. — Throughout the pandemic, there has been a need for health care workers. You might be thinking of nurses and doctors, but what about surgical technologists?
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, jobs within the health care industry are projected to grow by 15% from 2019 through 2029. That's equivalent to 2.4 million jobs.
- Trocaire College offers two-year associate's degree to become a surgical technologist
- Day and evening classes are available
- Surgical techs are critical to the OR operation
One of those areas seeing growth is surgical techs. They are considered a surgeon's third and fourth hands. They make sure the operating room and all of the equipment are sterile and safe for patients.
During an operation, they pass the instruments and supplies to surgeons. They are essential to the process and often get overlooked.
Employment of surgical technologists is projected to grow 7% from 2019 to 2029 nationwide thanks to advances in medical technology. That means more operations are being performed. That's why Trocaire College invited Spectrum News to get a closer look.
The college offers a two-year associate's degree. Day and evening classes are offered.
With so many looking for new careers, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Trocaire wants to help anyone looking find employment in a field they might not have thought about before.
“We take students at the zero-point, like we have a zero-point entry," said Dr. Linda Kerwin, Dean of Allied Health and Professions for Trocaire College. "We take them, we work with them and it is our overall goal to have students be successful in the program. So we have stop checks along the way. We offer open labs, too.”
The first year of classes is a mix of laboratory and hospital experience to get students used to an operating room environment. The second year is clinical experience.
It could be the beginning of a career in the medical field. Being a tech is considered a launching pad for other positions.
For more information, visit https://trocaire.edu/.