Surgical Technician

JOB TITLE: Surgical Technologist

SUPERVISION RECEIVED: Physician and/or Registered Nurse

GENERAL SUMMARY OF DUTIES:

Surgical technologists, also called scrubs and surgical or operating room technicians, assist in surgical operations under the supervision of surgeons, registered nurses, or other surgical personnel. Surgical technologists are members of operating room teams, which most commonly include surgeons, anesthesiologists, and circulating nurses.

EDUCATION/EXPERIENCE/REQUIREMENTS:

• A graduate of an accredited surgical technologist program; or have completed an appropriate training program for surgical technologists in the Armed Forces; or is completing duties related to their employment by the federal government; or has equivalent training or experience
• Minimum 1 year of experience in orthopedic surgery
• Must be certified in Basic Life Support

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

• Prepares and maintains medical equipment and instrumentation for surgical procedures
• Before an operation, surgical technologists help prepare the operating room by setting up the sterile field to include surgical instruments and equipment, sterile drapes, and sterile solutions
• Follows state and federal facility regulations when attending to patients
• Performs pre-procedure preparations to the patient's skin and body
• Completes a safety check prior to start of the procedure on appropriate equipment, supplies, etc.
• Assembles both sterile and non-sterile equipment, as well as checking to ensure it is working properly
• May assist with prep for patient procedure
• May transport patients to the procedure room
• May assist with positioning on the procedure table
• Drapes the patient with surgical drapes per procedure to be performed
• Passes instruments and other sterile supplies to surgeons and surgeon assistants
• Retracts, cut sutures and performs other functions under the supervision of the physician performing the procedure
• Participates in the count of sponges, needles, supplies, and instruments, based on type of procedure performed
• Helps prepare specimens and assists with the disposition of specimens
• Applies dressings
• Post-procedure, assists with patient transfer from the procedure bed to the stretcher
• Cleans and restocks the procedure room
• Pulls supplies and instruments for upcoming procedures
• Assists with the maintenance of physician preference cards and inventory management
• Assists with the decontamination and cleaning, sterilization and performance of quality testing related to sterilization and high level disinfection
• Performs other duties as assigned

PHYSICAL/MENTAL DEMANDS:

• Ability to be on your feet for long periods and lift or turn disabled patients
• Requires sitting and standing associated with a normal office environment
• Ability to concentrate for periods of up to four hours
• Ability to communicate verbally both in person and on the telephone
• Ability to use computer keyboard and to view a computer monitor

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS and ABILITIES

• Must be able to demonstrate the knowledge and skills necessary to provide care appropriate to the age of the patients in the center
• Demonstrates the ability to utilize recognized channels of communication
• Demonstrates the ability to maintain good interpersonal relationships with patients, co-workers, and other health team members

PHYSICAL/MENTAL DEMANDS: Surgical technologists work in clean, well-lighted, well-ventilated environments. Must stand for long periods and remain alert during operations. At times may be exposed to communicable diseases and unpleasant sights, odors, and materials.

ENVIRONMENTAL/WORKING CONDITIONS: Occasional evenings

This description is intended to provide only basic guidelines for meeting job requirements. Responsibilities, knowledge, skills, abilities and working conditions may change as needs evolve.