IOWA LAKES INSTRUCTOR IS CONTRIBUTING AUTHOR OF TEXTBOOK

An Iowa Lakes Community College instructor is a contributing author for a textbook on surgical technology.

Dana Grafft is one of nine contributing authors to the Surgical Technology for the Surgical Technologists textbook.  That led to being one of three authors for the Study Guide and Lab Manual that accompanies the book.

Grafft feels this opportunity provided excellent preparation for her next project, as she begins work as a co-author on a book entitled Surgical Procedures for the Surgical Technologist and Surgical Assistant which will be released in 2010.  Grafft will author the Surgical Technologist portion of the book while her co-author will work on the Surgical Assistant section of the book.

“There isn’t an in depth procedures book out there yet that is written specifically for Surgical Technologists by a Surgical Technologist,” Grafft said.  “There are currently 420 accredited surgical technology programs in the country, however, surgical technology as a formalized profession is still fairly new. 

Grafft said that Surgical Technologists began being utilized after World War II during the nursing shortage, but it wasn’t until the 1970s that AMA approved Surgical Technology Programs were created. 

Therefore they have been training past surgical technology students with textbooks written for operating room nurses while having to search-out the surgical technologist applicable information which can be frustrating for the students.   

Grafft has 13 years of experience in surgical technology.

She is president of the Iowa State Assembly of Surgical Technologists and a member of the Association of Surgical Technologists (where she serves as one of six educators nationwide who serve on the Education and Professional Standards Committee). She also belongs to the National Education Association.

In the fall of 2000, the Surgical Technology program was started at the Spencer campus of Iowa Lakes as an evening and weekend program. Grafft became the sole instructor in 2002 and revised the curriculum into a daytime program to better match the students with internships at area hospitals which typically perform surgeries during the daytime.

The program is one of only six programs in the state. Students may attend one year and receive a diploma or two years and achieve an Associate in Applied Science degree.

Students receive more than simply classroom experience, according to Grafft. Each class expands their education by traveling to two state workshops as well as the national conference using funds raised through the Surgical Technology Club. In addition, they take the national certification exam as part of the program and are immediately prepared for employment upon graduation. Demand for certified surgical technologists is high.

Those with questions about the career are encouraged to contact Grafft at (712) 580-8624.

Dana Grafft