Operating Room Skills: Fundamentals for the Surgical Technologist

Nancy Dankanich is Surgical Technology Program Manager at Frederick Community College in Frederick, Maryland. In her 22 years in this position, she has helped develop this program by implementing national standards, negotiating contracts with numerous clinical sites, and overseeing growth in the number of qualified program applicants. Ms. Dankanich has taught in health care for over 30 years (surgical technology theory, laboratory and clinical, and in registered nurse and practical nurse programs). Her additional teaching responsibilities include online documentation training for nurses, electronic medication administration record-training for nurses, and American Heart Association CPR. She also participates on numerous college-wide committees. As the recipient of several grants, Ms. Dankanich has networked with colleagues to develop surgical instrument training modules, online CST preparation examinations, and interactive on-campus surgical technology skill sessions. She is a member of Phi Kappa Phi, Sigma Theta Tau, AST and AORN, and established the Joseph and Margaret Droll Memorial Student Scholarship Fund through the Frederick Community College Foundation, Inc. Ms. Dankanich holds a bachelor's degree with high honors in nursing from the University of Maryland, Baltimore and a master's degree from Hood College, Frederick, Maryland. She also holds a certification from CCI in operating room nursing-CNOR.