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Health Care Careers
The Surgical Technologist
The Surgical Technologist (ST) has multiple duties and responsibilities. Prior to the start of the operation, the ST prepares the operating room (OR) by making sure the appropriate supplies and instruments are available. Other preoperative duties include setting up and testing equipment, preparing the sterile fields and gowning and gloving the other members of the surgical team. During the operation, the ST has the primary responsibility for maintaining the sterile field. The ST is able to anticipate the needs of the surgeon by providing the sterile instruments and other items that are needed for the operation. As directed by the surgeon, the ST is able to sponge, suction, prepare suture material and prepare specimens for pathology.
After the surgical procedure, the ST is responsible for preparing, and possibly applying, the dressing, caring for the instruments and preparing the OR for the next case. The ST may also function as a nonsterile circulator. This involves keeping a written, legal, record of the procedure, accounting for needles, sponges and instruments before, during and after the surgery. The circulator also assists the anesthesia providers and is responsible for obtaining equipment, instruments and supplies required by the surgical team.
Surgical Technology Program
Oakland Community College, in collaboration with William Beaumont Hospital, offers the Surgical Technology curriculum which is a 68-credit hour program leading to an Associate Degree in Applied Science. A graduate from this program may be employed at a hospital operating room, outpatient surgical center or physician’s office (where surgery is performed).
In order to be selected in the Surgical Technology Program, certain procedures must be followed and specific academic requirements must be met. These procedures and academic requirements are described in the program information booklet and the OCC College Catalog. Some of the minimum academic requirements include: Anatomy and physiology, medical terminology, microbiology and computer sciences. Interested applicants should contact Herman Young, CST/CFA, Program Coordinator at 248.551.7685 or the Dean of Nursing and Allied Health at (248)233-2914.
Want to start a health care job in a year or two?
Try one of these behind-the-scenes careers
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By Dave Waskin and Carol Jonson Go to college. Get a job. That's the plan for many people. Of course, if you want to save lives, working health care or work in a hospital, there's more involved. You need to get great grades, get into nursing school or medical school, and get lucky in the job market, right? Well, not necessarily... Not all health care jobs are the ones you see on "ER." Many careers in health care require only a year or two of school and present numerous job opportunities upon successful completion of a training program. Surgical technology, massage therapy, medical assisting and dental hygiene are four such careers. |
"The caliber of OCC's Surgical Technology students is outstanding. Their dedication and motivation levels are very high." – Dr. Karen Zaglaniczny,William Beaumont Hospital Director of Education and Research "I get lots of calls from physicians who want OCC grads as their medical assistants. Our program is a quality one; it's fully accredited and our graduates have very high passing rates when they take their national certification exams." – Karen Kittle OCC Director of Medical Assisting Programs |
Surgical Technology
When you
get a peek inside an operating room (OR) on one of television's medical
dramas, you might assume you're watching nurses assisting doctors during
surgery. Much of the time, it's a surgical technologist (ST) doing the
assisting.
Oakland Community College has collaborated with William Beaumont Hospital to offer a 68-credit hour program that leads to an associate's degree in Surgical Technology...and to an entry-level position in a hospital OR. Karen Zaglaniczny, PhD, CRNA, FAAN, directs the Beaumont - Royal Oak portion of OCC's year-old program.
She explains that students must first take certain required and supportive courses at OCC's Southfield Campus. Then they come to Beaumont to complete their training by actually working in the OR. "Surgical Technologists hand the surgeon instruments, assist in the OR and anticipate the doctor's needs," she says.
Surgical techs are in high demand, she explains. Beaumont, among the nation's largest and busiest hospitals, expects to see that demand increase as it adds more surgical capacity in the years to come.
Dr. Zaglaniczny is pleased with the quality of OCC's program and its students: "The caliber of students is outstanding. Their dedication and motivation levels are very high."
Massage Therapy
Since fall 1998, students have been able to attend OCC’s Highland Lakes Campus for either a certificate or an associate degree in Massage Therapy. This field offers opportunities in a variety of settings - from health care and wellness locations to private practice.
What's unique about OCC's program, according to Program Director Dr. Vicki Kloosterhouse, is the college's approach. "We've developed a program that draws upon the combined skills of our Nursing, Exercise Science, Physiology and Science departments to provide students with a professional, scientific and hands-on learning environment." There are two additional advantages OCC can offer students interested in either the certificate or the degree program – advantages that set it apart from trade schools where students can also learn massage therapy. OCC's program is more affordable, and students receive college credit for the courses they take.
Additionally, Kloosterhouse says: "Students who have trade school degrees in massage therapy can come to us and test out of at least a portion of the needed coursework so they can go on to earn an associate's degree."
Medical Assisting
OCC offers
two formal programs for students interested in medical assisting: a one-year
certificate and a two-year associate degree. But it also offers some other
options for individuals who want to upgrade a specific skill or add a new
skill, according to Karen Kittle who directs the program offered at OCC's
Highland Lakes Campus.
If you elect to complete the certificate or degree program, you'll be prepared for entry level positions in a doctor's office, clinic or hospital. And you'll be well prepared, too. Not only will you learn about the clinical aspects of medical assisting - things like learning medical terminology, performing lab procedures, drawing blood and giving electrocardiograms - you'll also learn important administrative, "front office" skills that will make you a valued part of the office team.
But the program is also very flexible in admitting individuals who may only want training in a particular aspect of medical assisting. Kittle says: "Some people only want to learn front office skills; others only want to take care of patients. Still others who are already working in the field or in a related allied health field may want to add a single skill to make them more marketable. For example, someone may want to learn to draw blood for lab tests or give an electrocardiogram or even do insurance billing," she explains.
All of these students are welcomed into OCC's programs, and make classes an interesting and diverse sharing of experiences. Kittle says medical assisting has been on the "high demand" career list for years: "I get lots of calls from physicians who want OCC grads as their medical assistants. Our program is a quality one; it's fully accredited and our graduates have very high passing rates when they take their national certification exams."
Dental Hygiene
OCC's Dental Hygiene program at the Highland Lakes Campus leads to an associate degree in applied science. The program prepares you to assume the responsibility of caring for dental patients, helping them prevent dental disease through home care instruction, dental cleanings (called oral prophylaxis) and fluoride treatments. You will study dental anatomy, learn about periodontics, and have the opportunity for actual clinical experience that will help you become proficient in taking x-rays and performing other clinical techniques.
OCC Dental Hygiene grads are also eligible to take state licensing exams to become registered dental hygienists.
CARING CAREERS…STAT!
OCC’S Nursing Grads Are In Demand
By Carol Jonson
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What comes to mind first when you think of
a caring health professional? Chances are it’s a nurse. If you’re
looking for an opportunity to develop your bedside manner and provide
that special human touch in nursing patients, OCC is a great place to
begin. The college’s Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) program "is recognized as Michigan’s largest, and one of the most respected, rigorous and high quality programs in the nation," says OCC Dean of Nursing and Allied Health Dr. Nadia Boulos. |
Barbara Kotal, MSN, RNC, Director of Nursing Development and Educational Resources/Administration for William Beaumont Hospital – Royal Oak, agrees. A member of OCC’s Nursing Curriculum Advisory Committee, Kotal says she "has a lot of respect for the program" which graduates "well-prepared beginning practitioners." She adds: "Quite often, a large percentage of the beginning nurses Beaumont hires each year are from OCC’s program."
OCC currently
offers three nursing program options: the Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN)
program, a one-year Practical Nurse Education certificate program that
prepares graduates to give supervised direct nursing care, and a Second Year
Completion Option for practical nurses who wish to complete their associate
degrees.
One of the best ways to gauge a program’s quality is the success rate of graduates in passing state and national licensure exams. OCC grads pass with flying colors, Dr. Boulos explains. "Ninety-five percent of all OCC ADN graduates pass their state and national licensure examinations on the first try, versus the state and national averages of 85 and 86 percent.
The pass rate on the second try is 100 percent." For the past four years, passing rates for practical nurses have been 100 percent on the first attempt, she adds. The college’s program gained additional prestige in 1990 when it, along with a nursing handbook authored by Dr. Boulos, were designated as nationwide models by the Michigan State Department of Nursing.
All of OCC’s nursing programs are founded on several important concepts. "We teach our students the importance of critical thinking, teamwork and ethics, as well as stressing clinical competency," says Dr. Boulos. "We also teach them what I call ‘sensitive care’ – care that is culturally sensitive – because that is so important in today’s health care environment."