Program Outcomes

Nashville State Surgical Technology Program Goal Statement

The Surgical Technology program is an educational experience that produces competent entry-level surgical technologists in the cognitive (knowledge), psychomotor (skills), and affective (behavior) learning domains and prepares them to successfully complete the National Certification Exam. The program provides qualified and motivated applicant with experience in a learner-centered environment that is supportive and responsive to individual needs. Learning experiences are designed to help the student learn to independently apply sound theory to practice.

Student Learning Outcomes

Learning Domain NSCC surgical technology student learning outcome
Cognitive Recognize elements of good patient care and prioritize them before less important elements in the operating room.
Psychomotor Accurately plan for and perform duties of a surgical technologist in the scrub role in common surgical specialties.
Affective Behave professionally in a stressful environment with demanding personalities while remaining calm and focused.

Outcomes at the course, semester, and program level help support and guide the Surgical Technology program teaching and learning process from acquiring fundamental knowledge about the operating room and surgical patient, toward safely performing necessary and appropriate skills and adapting to changing situations through the course of a surgical procedure.

Program Outcomes

As a program accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Education Programs (CAAHEP), the Nashville State Surgical Technology program works with the Accreditation Review Council on Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting (ARCST/SA) to track, report, and assess program outcomes in five areas on not less than an annual basis: Program Retention (and completion), Outcome Assessment Examination pass rate, Graduation Placement, Graduate Satisfaction, and Employer Satisfaction. These outcomes are defined as follows: 

Annual Reporting Year 2020 2021 2022 2023
Retention 82% 74% 69% 67%
Outcome Assessment 45% 52% 86% 92%
Graduate Placement 95% 87% 95% TBD
Graduate Satisfaction 91% 100% 100% 100%
Employer satisfaction 95% 100% 100% TBD