Texas Forest Country Living

Angelina College Surgical Technology Group Nails Retention, National Board Perfection

Seven Angelina College Surgical Technology students began the program together last summer. All seven – Leonardo Aguilar, Yaqueline Arellano, Alejandra Cruz, Idaly Orta, Madison Stokes, Yulie Valdez and Logan Wilkerson – endured the rigors of one of the toughest curriculums imaginable to graduate together. 

The 100 percent retention rate is, according to AC instructor Stefanie Vaughn, extremely rare.

“This type of program typically has at least some level of attrition, but this last group of students entered the program, stayed with us the entire time and graduated together,” Vaughn said. “It’s the first time in the history of this program we’ve had 100 percent retention.”

Adding to the group’s phenomenal accomplishment was a 100 percent pass rate on the 

Certified Surgical Technologist (CST) exam, which has been provided by the National Board of Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting. It’s a nationally recognized certification. The state of Texas requires this certification to work as a surgical technologist, according to Vaughn. 

“Our surgical technology students start off in Summer I (in June), and they go through learning not only the didactic side – the bookwork – but they’re also performing skills at the same time,” Vaughn said. “They have to become proficient at those skills in order to progress through the program.”

From early June through the following May, the students also are participating in labs to gain proficiency in specific skills. Once they’re able to demonstrate proficiency, Vaughn said, then – and only then – are they allowed to participate in clinicals beginning in the fall.

“That’s when they begin actually going to clinicals, in real surgery, in a real operating room, with a real surgeon and with a real, live patient,” Vaughn said. “They have a preceptor beside them to guide them through each procedure. 

“These students must be knowledgeable about human anatomy, physiology, microbiology and medical terminology. They’re going to be speaking and hearing the language of medical terminology in the operating rooms, so they need to be familiar with all that before they ever enter a surgical environment.”

Vaughn said surgical technology students are required to log 832 clinical hours, along with the requirement to “scrub” a minimum of 120 surgical procedures. 

The entire process of preparation from beginning to end is, according to Vaughn, “pretty intense.” Vaughn and fellow instructor/partner Donta Davis begin prepping students for the national boards early, and students spend months learning the material. The instructors provide five mock national board exams before students sit for an official exams. Students even take the mock exams in the same location as the official exam, an effort to “alleviate any case of nerves,” according to Vaughn.  

“We’ve starting having students perform remediations for any question they might miss on any of our exams. They have to hand write the question, explain why they think they missed it and prepare to show the correct answer.”

“They get sick of it,” Vaughn laughed, “but by the time they sit for their official exam, they’re ready. This is our second year in a row of posting a 100 percent pass rate by using that same approach. We’ve been really blessed to achieve that pass rate. It’s not easy to get. The national average is 67 percent, so we’re well above the national average of pass rates. We’re pretty proud of our program and our students for sticking it out.”

Vaughn adds there are plenty of reasons for such pressure. The field of surgical technology is a high-demand occupation at the moment, with those professionals considered key components in every operating room in every hospital. Vaughn said that without those “surg techs” on-hand to provide a sterile environment and assist the surgeon, entire surgeries and others have to be postponed or canceled. 

For that reason, Vaughn says the attributes required to be a good surgical technologist is a fairly detailed list. Because it’s a health care profession, one has to “want to help people and help make their lives better.”

Next, Vaughn said reliability and dependability are of the utmost importance. 

“I tell my students, ‘This is not a fast-food restaurant. It really does matter if you don’t show up for work.’ It can mean the difference between someone having or not having a necessary surgery.”

Vaughn also said morals and ethics are paramount in decision making.

One of the biggest attributes, Vaughn added, is “being emotionally stable and strong.”

“You cannot crater under pressure. There’s no crying in surgery,” Vaughn laughed. “We have to move on and remember the patient on the table is the most important thing.”

“You really have to have a thick skin to enter an operating room,” Vaughn added. “You have to keep your calm, and you can’t lose your composure. There are times when there is a heightened sense of stress in an emergency situation. Everyone is on edge. It’s very intense, and everyone has to stay on track.”

Vaughn described the work between a surgeon and a surgical technologist as “a dance” where the surg tech has to anticipate every move. That’s exactly why all the classes, tests and clinicals are crucial, and why it’s such a massive achievement for her recent graduating class. 

Despite all the challenges associated with earning one’s place in the operating room, Vaughn said she just can’t think of a more rewarding profession. 

“Surgical technologists have to be aware that this job – and any health care job in general – is all about the circle of life,” Vaughn said. “Our students may witness anything from childbirth to the end of life. They may be part of an open-heart surgery and have their hands on someone’s beating heart. We see the miracles of life, but it’s not all rainbows, puppy dogs and unicorns. We have people we help make better, and we have people we can only make comfortable for whatever life they have left. We may be there to witness a person’s last moments. It’s traumatic at the time, but you learn it really is all about the circle of life.  

“It’s such a unique profession, and it’s all pretty amazing. It takes a very special person to do this, and I’m proud of all our students for meeting the challenges.”

For further information regarding Angelina College’s Surgical Technology program, contact Stefanie Vaughn (svaughn@angelina.edu) or Donta Davis (dodavis@angelina.edu).

Gary Stallard’s email address is gstallard@angelina.edu.