Hours of Operation:
Classroom and clinical hours are 6:45 AM to 3:15 PM Monday through Friday
The program director or clinical instructor is available at all times during the classroom and clinical hours.
Holidays and Breaks:
Holidays and breaks are provided during the program year. All holidays and breaks will coincide with The Kona Community Hospital calendar. The calendar will be provided at the beginning of each school year.
Our full-time 10 month program is divided into intensive didactic instruction and supervised laboratory. The classroom time totaling over 900 hours include basic introduction to surgical technology courses as well as surgical specific courses. Clinical time totaling over 500 hours is scheduled for the students. NO CALL rotation time is required by the Program. If the student exceeds the allowed number of absenteeism, then make up hours must be scheduled at the convenience of the instructor and the clinical site.
Additional laboratory practice may be scheduled as needed for the student to increase proficiency. Clinical student must complete a minimum of 120 cases in the first scrub role to graduate.
Program Information Sessions:
Program Information Sessions are held by appointment only. Please call 808-333-6771 to make an appointment.
Surgical Technologist may find employment:
In operating rooms specializing in
- Orthopedics
- Labor and Delivery
- Outpatient Surgery Center
- Cardiac Catheterization Lab
- G.I. Endoscopy Lab, or Physician’s office
Surgical technologist also have a variety of additional employment opportunities including but not limited to:
- Surgical assistant
- Medical salesperson
- Organ and tissue procurement technician
- Surgery scheduler
- Anesthesia technologist
- Employed as a private consultant
- Sterile processing
- Surgical Technology instructor and / or program director
Some graduates take advantage of traveler agencies to explore employment opportunities across America.
Full Career Details:
Occupation Profile for Surgical Technologists | CareerOneStop
Median annual pay in the state of Hawai’i:
$51,000 per year – Salary.com Salary Wizard- Do you know what you’re worth? | Salary-Calculator | Salary.com
Please note that KCH is not on this pay scale.
Didactics:
The classroom moves at a rapid pace and requires the student to use critical thinking skill. The classroom time will also be used to review information used when going into the laboratory setting. The Laboratory setting is hands on skills and prepare the student for the clinical portion of the program. The instructor teaching the class is competent and knowledgeable in the course material being taught.
Clinical:
The student allowed to participate in the clinical portion after classroom and laboratory instruction and passing with a grade of 80% or better. This is the area of the program where the student is able to put the classroom and laboratory practice they acquired to into action at a hospital clinical setting. The student will work in the operating room with the surgical team. The student will work side by side with their assigned preceptor helping the surgical team anticipate the surgical needs of the patient.
The student is responsible to be prepared and show initiative at the clinical assignment. The student will have constant feedback regarding their performance in the operating room. The mentor responsibilities include active instruction, supervision, and elevation. A mentor may include surgeon, preceptor and nurse they will be available at all times for mentoring and guidance.
Graduation Requirements:
Graduation requires completion of all academic and clinical requirements contain in the program curriculum/syllabus in the order outlined. Each course is a prerequisite for the subsequent course.
In addition to the didactic and clinical requirements, the student is required to take the NBSTSA certification exam prior to graduation. The fee for the testing is included in the AST membership.
The membership to Association of Surgical Technologists is required.
Immunizations:
- Evidence of immunity:
- Measles (rubeola)
- Mumps and rubella by immunization or titer.
- Chicken pox (Varicella Zoster) by history, immunization (two-dose vaccination), or titer.
- Hepatitis B by surface antibody titer, a positive marker for Hepatitis B, or evidence of the Hepatitis B immunization series.
- Diphtheria and tetanus
- Influenza vaccine
- Poliomyelitis vaccine
- Covid Vaccines are now optional
- A 2 step Mantoux purified protein derivative (PPD) skin test within the last 12 months. If a positive PPD results, a recent chest x-ray report and physical examination documenting absence of fever, fatigue, night sweats, unplanned weight loss, and cough.
- The program will keep the records of student’s requirements and can provide them at the clinical site or healthcare systems request.
- The 3-injection Hepatitis B vaccine series is REQUIRED. Students must show proof of at least the first injection in the series prior to the start of the health career program. Students must then follow through with the remaining injections in the series and provide proof of the injections. (1st vaccination n 4 weeks, 2nd vaccination n 5 months, 3rd vaccination)
Student Work Policy:
Students may be employed if there is no time conflicts with the surgical Technology Program responsibilities. If needing to work while in the program part time, evening and weekend employment is best. We encourage to limit the outside employment.
Having a full time job is very difficult in meeting the needs of the program requirements.
Academic Requirements:
The Kona Community Hospital Surgical Technology Program does not award D grades.
Students are required to attain an 80% academic average by the end of the first 5 weeks. The 80% average must be maintained thought out the program. If the student does not met this requirement, the student is subject to termination from the program. An academic probation will be in effect at thirty days of the GPA is less than 80%.
*The faculty reserves the right to request the withdrawal of any student at any time whose health, clinical performance or conduct does not meet the required standard
Number of Credits / Clock Hours Required For Program Completion
Credits: 77.3
Hours: 1665
Can I Be Enrolled Part-Time In the Surgical Technology Program
No, coursework is completed only on a full-time basis. All coursework is offered each phase needed to be taken concurrently.
- Travel Requirements Students will be expected to attend surgical rotation off campus to maximize educational opportunities. Students will be expected to provide their own transportation to the facility providing the opportunity for the student to complete surgical rotation. Clinical rotations will rotate from Kealakekua, Kona, and Waimea. Kona Community Hospital and the Surgical Technology Program are not liable for any accidents during the off campus surgical rotation.
- Attendance is mandatory to fulfill clinical hours set forth by the Association of Surgical Technology.