Surgical Technologist, Surgery

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PRIMARY DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

Core Duties:

1. Participates in unit-based quality improvement initiatives and assists in the ongoing development and administration of hospital and department Quality Improvement program.
2. Practices proper safety techniques in accordance with hospital and departmental policies and procedures. Immediately reports any mechanical or electrical equipment malfunctions, unsafe conditions, or employee/patient/visitor injury accident to Manager.
3. Performs as a Surgical Technologist as assigned, including such duties as reviewing supplies and equipment, maintaining a sterile field, and assisting the surgical team by anticipating needs and passing instruments.
4. Assists in preparing patients for surgery, sets up surgical equipment prior to surgery, and prepares, positions, and preps patients on the O.R. table.
5. Maintains sterile techniques, recognizes breaks in technique, and takes steps to regain sterility.
6. Assists with cleaning the O.R. rooms in preparation for subsequent surgical procedures.
7. Assists the surgeon in surgery by passing instruments, draping sterile field, and may serve in the first or second scrub role during surgical procedures.
8. Organizes sterile table and Mayo stand with instruments, supplies, equipment, medication and solutions needed for surgical procedures.
9. May assist nurse with special assignments and work with nurse and Education Coordinator
10. Provides clinical experience and instruction for student programs, and may provide written and verbal evaluations of student performance.
11. May transport patients or specimens as necessary.

1. Trains and serves as a preceptor for new surgical technologist staff and surgical technologist students and surgical tech externs. May assist in training staff in the use, maintenance, and minor repair of equipment used in surgical specialty (including ophthalmology, if applicable). Demonstrates equipment use to physicians upon request.

Operating Room – Expeditor Role

1. Completes case cart with all supplies and instruments required for scheduled cases at least 30 minutes prior to subsequent scheduled case start. Retrieves supplies kept in specific OR/locations for case as needed
2. Transports case cart from Case Cart Room to hallway outside of appropriate OR
3. Provides all necessary equipment for next scheduled case outside room prior to scheduled case start
4. Obtains instruments used on previous case that will be needed for subsequent case and delivers to Instrument Tech for cleaning and sterilizing
5. At end of case, delivers dirty case cart/instruments to Case Cart Tech
6. At end of case, places unused clean supplies in appropriate area
7. Retrieves extra supplies and equipment that are not listed on preference card. Facilitates changes in preference card to reflect needed items
8. Opens supplies and assists Scrub Tech with room set up
9. Removes any unnecessary equipment, returning it to designated storage areas

Labor and Delivery:

1. Performs various patient care activities for the patient in labor including obtaining vital signs, performing catheterizations, obtaining urine specimens, performing perineal care, and performing skin preps for surgical procedures; assists patients as necessary with position changes and ambulation.
2. Performs various patient care activities related to newborn care to include immediate care which involves drying, warming, and observation and performing identification, measurement (inches and pounds), eye care, bathing, and other related activities.
3. Assembles equipment and supplies for procedures using aseptic techniques.
4. Assists physicians and nurses during vaginal deliveries by performing various tasks including preparing and monitoring patients and operating suction and other equipment.
5. Performs Surgical technologist function for surgical procedures including cesarean deliveries, tubal ligations, and hysterectomies; sets‑up sterile field, passes instruments and surgical items to physician, and performs surgical counts; and, assists with cleaning the OR rooms in preparation for subsequent surgical procedures.
6. Transports patients and newborns to assigned rooms and/or nursery.
7. Maintains a clean, neat, and safe environment which involves, but is not limited to, such activities as tidying rooms, cleaning equipment, restocking linens and other supplies and materials (in assigned areas and as otherwise necessary), preparing rooms, and keeping utility and equipment rooms, and hallways neat and clean. 

1. Obtains information as necessary to initiate routine admission procedure.

Turnover Tech:

1. May bring case carts to rooms, checks supplies and equipment in preparation for subsequent procedures.
2. May assist with moving the patient and cleaning the OR room in preparation for subsequent surgical procedures.
3. May bring all supplies and equipment for next case into the room. Places all supplies and equipment in appropriate places and opens rooms.
4. Safety: Performs appropriate pre‑ and post‑surgical counts with circulating nurse.

Specialty-Specific Duties – Ophthalmology:

1. Supports the Ophthalmology service in both the outpatient surgery center, as well as the main hospital for those patients who do not meet criteria for an outpatient surgery center.
2. Ophthalmology Surgical Technologists are expected to take call to support the Ophthalmology service for emergent cases that occur in the main hospital Monday through Friday after 7PM, on weekends, and holidays.

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND LEADERSHIP

1. Attends and supports professional activities.
2. Identifies and participates in solutions to departmental problems.
3. Promotes colleagues’ bio/psycho/social well-being.
4. Positively represents self, peers, and the organization.
5. Participates in unit-based activities, education, in-services, staff meetings, and Hospital Grand Rounds.

ADDITIONAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Other duties as assigned by supervision.

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work performed by people assigned to this classification.  They are not construed to be an exhaustive list of all job duties performed by the personnel so classified.

REQUIRED

1. Graduate of an accredited surgical technology program and working as a Surgical Technologist with two or more years of experience OR at least 5 years of experience in an OR setting working as a Surgical Technician or Surgical Technologist.
2. Certified in Basic Life Support (BLS).

Note: As of February 7, 2016, employees previously in the Surgical Technologist role are considered grandfathered and are therefore not required to meet the educational requirements of the Surgical Technologist III job.  

PREFERRED

1. Certification as a Certified Surgical Technologist (CST) through the National Board of Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting (NBSTSA) or Technologist in Surgery-Certified (TS-C) through the National Center for Competency Testing (NCCT).
2. Femtosecond Laser Certification preferred, if applicable.