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Surgical technologist
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=== United States === The role of the surgical technologist began on the [[battle]]fields in [[World War I]] and [[World War II]] when the [[United States Army|U.S. Army]] used "[[combat medic|medics]]" to work under the direct supervision of the surgeon. Concurrently, medical "[[corpsman]]" were used in the [[United States Navy]] aboard [[combat ship]]s. Nurses were not allowed aboard combat ships at the time. This led to a new profession within the military called operating room technicians (ORTs).{{cn|date=May 2023}} With many medical personnel overseas or performing duties in [[military hospital]]s, an accelerated nursing program with emphasis only on operating room technology was set up as an [[on-the-job training]] of [[nursing assistant]]s who worked in the surgery department. These individuals studied [[Sterilization (microbiology)|sterilization]] of instruments and how to care for the patient in the operating room. Techniques, [[Surgical suture|sutures]], draping and instrumentation were emphasized; they also had to do clinical time in labor and delivery and the [[emergency room]].{{cn|date=May 2023}} After the [[Korean War]] there were shortages of operating room nurses. Operating room supervisors began to recruit ex-medics and ex-corpsmen to work in civilian [[hospital]]s. These ex-military men functioned as circulators in the operating room while the scrub role or "instrument nurse" role was performed by the [[registered nurse]]. It was not until 1965 that these roles were reversed.{{cn|date=May 2023}} In 1967, the [[Association of periOperative Registered Nurses]] (AORN) published a book titled ''Teaching the Operating Room Technician''. In 1968, the AORN Board of Directors created the Association of Operating Room Technicians (AORT). The AORT formed two committees in 1969, the Liaison Council on Certification for the Surgical Technologist or LCC-ST (now known as the National Board of Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting or NBSTSA)<ref name="Board">{{cite web|url=http://www.NBSTSA.org |title=National Board of Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting |publisher=Nbstsa.org |access-date=2012-01-02}}</ref> and the Joint Committee on Education. The first [[certification exam]]ination was given in 1970, and those who passed the [[certification]] examination were given a new title: Certified Operating Room Technician (CORT).{{cn|date=May 2023}} In 1973, AORT became independent of AORN and changed the title of the position to what it is today, surgical technologist. The AORT also changed their name to the Association of Surgical Technologists (AST).<ref name="ast.org"/> In 1974, an [[accreditation]] body was established to ensure quality [[education]]. The programs accredited by ARC/STSA (Accreditation Review Committee for Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting; formerly ARC-ST) are monitored for compliance with the standards. The ARC/STSA and AST board of directors recommends the associate degree as entry level surgical technology education.{{cn|date=May 2023}} Today, surgical technologists taking and passing the national certification examination designed by the NBSTSA earn the title of "Certified Surgical Technologist". Certification can be renewed by contact hours or re-examination. Laws for surgical technologists vary by state and many states are in various stages of legislation. Some require certification, some require state registration, and some have no laws at all.{{cn|date=May 2023}}
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