Ivy Impact: A new surgical program helps students get hands on experience 

SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- Ivy Tech is helping tomorrow's surgical technologists through this new program to help get them real world experience in an operating room.   

Through the program, students practice mock surgeries, sterilize equipment and learn how to fully prepare for the operating room.  

According to Ivy Tech, the goal of this program is to prepare entry-level surgical technologists with knowledge, hands-on skills, and behavior needed to succeed.  

Once they graduate, students will be certified entry-level surgical technologists and are able to work at any hospital across Indiana in any surgical specialty. 

"This group is so special because they are the first group to go through this lab and through our program here in South Bend, Elkhart. It's just been so great. We've kind of grown up together, like they've helped train me and I've helped train them, and it's just been a really special experience to go through that together. They're kind of like my students with training wheels, because this was my first cohort. We're kind of growing up together, and I just appreciate them. They're such a great group," Program Chair for the Surgical Technology Program in the School of Health Sciences at Ivy Tech South Bend and Elkhart Susan Barrier said. 

If you’re interested in learning more about the nursing program at Ivy Tech, head to its website.