Surgical technology programs teach people to work in operating rooms and assist surgeons. Students learn to sterilize equipment and supplies and to monitor surgical robots. They also learn basic medical procedures and terminology.

There's a line in the popular television drama "ER," when Dr. Romano makes one request before the surgery to remove his left arm. "Do me a favor. Write 'not this one, idiot' on my right arm. . ." It's not hard to see why he uses black humor. Surgery may not always be a matter of life or death, but there's always something at stake. In Dr. Romano's case, it's his one perfectly functioning arm.

In the sometimes chaotic and grueling world of the operating room, surgeons need a dedicated team of assistants to help keep things under control. As a surgical technologist, you would play a part on this team by carrying out many duties before, during, and after surgery.

You get to stand elbow-to-elbow with surgeons, registered nurses, and other surgical personnel in the operating room. You sterilize and lay out instruments, and then disinfect the working area. You help surgeons scrub and put on their gloves, gowns, and masks. You also prepare patients for surgery by cleaning the operating sites.

During surgery, you need to stay on your toes. When asked, you must quickly pass instruments to the surgeon. You keep an eye on vital signs. After the surgery, you help clean up in the operating room. And these are just some of responsibilities that you have as a surgical technician.

As students of this program, you learn about surgical procedures and instruments. You also study the kinds of infection that can start in an operating room and learn how to prevent this from happening. You study medical terminology and the different kinds of medicines that are used during surgery.

You may also study specialized types of surgery such as brain surgery. Or, you may apply your knowledge in another setting. For example, you might take business courses and start your own surgical supply company.

More than 100 schools offer programs in surgical technology. Most of these programs lead toward a certificate, but you can also earn a diploma or an associate degree. Both a certificate and diploma usually take about one year of full-time study after high school. An associate degree typically takes two years.