Moraine Park is celebrating the exceptional efforts of the College’s surgical technology program and its recent graduates who earned a 100% pass rate on the national certification exam.
Surgical technologists are allied health professionals who prepare operating rooms, arrange equipment, prepare sterile instruments and supplies, and assist doctors during surgeries.
There were nine graduates this May. The program can accept a maximum of 10 students for each cohort.
“In addition to the 100 percent pass rate, our students earned a 100 percent placement in the field,” Nicole Sexton, MPTC surg tech instructor and program director, said. “This means all nine students finished their training at Moraine Park and immediately began their careers.”
Surgical Technology is currently experiencing a nationwide worker shortage despite the opportunity to impact the healthcare setting and earn an impressive starting salary. Sexton shared that graduates typically earn a starting annual salary between $52,000-61,000 with a $8,000-$15,000 sign-on bonus.
To help fill the shortage, a unique partnership with SSM Health in Fond du Lac, through an earn-while-you-learn format, was created. The opportunity, offered directly through SSM, will hire individuals to be surgical technicians in training. Through the program, they will attend Moraine Park as full-time or part-time program students and receive on-the-job training as employees at SSM Health. The students selected to participate in this program will incur few, if any, tuition costs and will also be paid employees.
“The partnership with SSM is truly a win-win scenario,” Sexton said. “The students will earn a college degree from an accredited program, and in turn, the hospital is supplied with skilled workers to carry forward their mission.”
For more information on the Surgical Technology Technician program, visit morainepark.edu/academics/programs/surgical-technology/.