Surgical Technician

Job Description

Sign on Bonus up to $15,000

Position Summary:

Under the supervision and direction of an RN, performs various duties in the planning, preparation and participation of all surgical procedures in accordance with established Hospital policies and procedures. Understands and adheres to GCMC's Compliance Standards as they appear in GCMC's Corporate Compliance Policy, Code of Conduct and Conflict of Interest Policy. Keeps abreast of all pertinent federal, state and GCMC regulations, laws, and policies as they presently exist and as they change or are modified.

Education, License & Cert:

• High School Diploma or Equivalent.
• Graduate of Surgical Technology program.
• Current BLS-CPR certification required.
• Certification in Surgical Technology

Experience:

1. Provides evidence that the person was employed as a surgical technologist in a healthcare facility for a cumulative period of one year, occurring within the four years immediately prior to January 1, 2015; or
2. Is in the service of the federal government, to the extent the person is performing duties related to that service.; or
3. Holds an LPN license in the state of practice with at least one year of clinical experience as an LPN (this option is available only after all efforts to recruit candidates referenced in 1-2 above were unsuccessful).

Essential Functions:

1. Demonstrates and follows recommended practices for surgical attire.
   1. Wears hospital provided clean surgical attire, including OR scrubs, shoes, head covering, masks, jackets, and identification badges.
   2. Wears a surgical mask when open sterile supplies and equipment are present.
   3. Changes OR scrubs if upon returning from outside the building or if soiled.
2. Demonstrates and follows recommended practices for hand hygiene in the perioperative setting
   1. Maintains healthy skin and fingernail condition and follows standard practice regarding jewelry in the perioperative setting.
   2. Demonstrates and follows standardized procedure for hand washing.
   3. Demonstrates and follows standardized procedure for surgical hand scrub.
3. Demonstrates and follows recommended practices for maintaining a sterile field.
   1. Scrubbed persons function within a sterile field.
   2. Sterile drapes are used to establish a sterile field.
   3. Ensures items used within the sterile field are sterile.
   4. All items introduced to a sterile field are opened, dispensed, and transferred by methods that maintain item sterility and integrity.
   5. The sterile field is maintained and monitored constantly.
   6. All personnel moving within or around a sterile field do so in a manner that maintains the sterile field.
4. Demonstrates and follows recommended practices for infection control and traffic patterns in the perioperative setting.
   1. Maintains minimal movement of personnel while invasive and noninvasive procedures are in progress.
   2. Clean and sterile supplies and equipment are moved separate from contaminated supplies, equipment, and waste by space, time, or traffic pattern.
   3. Understands the designation of restricted and semirestricted areas.
   4. Follows infection control policy and procedures
   5. Wears PPE as appropriate
5. Coordinate care of patient with supervising RN, completing responsibilities within scope of practice as delegated.
   1. Actively participates in Universal Protocol Time out to identify and assure: Correct patient, correct procedure/site/side, Patient specific implants, equipment, and consistency with schedule.
   2. Communicates any surgical preference changes as they arise for preference card revision requests.
   3. Demonstrates ability to set priorities and to explain rationale for actions performed.
   4. Recognizes changes in patient condition or status and reports to circulating nurs, charge nurse, nurse manager, or physician as appropriate.
   5. Works to ensure patient safety is maintained in all aspects of patient care, by following all policies related to National Patient Safety Goals, etc.
   6. Raises concerns about patient care and utilizes the Chain Of Command as needed to prevent patient harm.
6. Medication Administration-Performs safe administration and complete documentation of medications, IV fluids, and blood products in accordance with nursing policy.
   1. Follows policy for labeling containers, syringes, and irrigations.
   2. Reports totals for medications, irrigations given from sterile field at end of procedure.
7. Providers-Performs any and all tasks required by the surgeon incident to the particular procedure, except tasks that fall within the scope of practice of a licensed profession(including, but not limited to, suture, tie, sever, cut or clamp tissue. Drill or apply casts).
   1. Demonstrates knowledge of surgical procedures and remains competent.
   2. Assists licensed practitioner in moving and positioning patient for surgery.
   3. Assisting in noninvasive prepping of the skin's surface and draping of patient for surgery.
   4. Anticipates instrument needs of the surgeon (may not use instruments, such as drills).
   5. Holds retractors after placement by a licensed professional.
   6. Assists the surgeon's provisions of homeostasis during a surgical procedure by engaging in such activities as handling instruments (may not place clamps or other devices on tissue) or use of sponges to control bleeding.
   7. Demonstrates proper care and handling of all surgical specimens.
   8. Performs appropriate sponge, needle and instrument counts according to GCMC P&P.
8. Equipment Use
   1. Demonstrates knowledge and ability to safely and effectively use equipment.
   2. Utilizes hospital and unit specific equipment per policy.
   3. Uses patient positioning, transfer, and lift equipment per policy at all times.
   4. Demonstrates knowledge and ability to appropriately clean and process equipment.
   5. Demonstrates knowledge of procedures for obtaining supplies and equipment before and during cases.
9. Emergency Preparedness-Demonstrates working knowledge and understanding of emergency preparedness plans and operations.
10. Nursing Promotion-Promotion of professional nursing to include participation in PI/QI, Customer satisfaction, community involvement, committee activities and nursing continuing education.
    1. Actively sits on and attends at least 1 team or committee, or participates in unit PI activity or department team or project.
    2. Attends at least 75% of all staff meetings.
    3. Attends at least 1 clinical update and all mandatory in services.
11. Assist and provide for participation in clinical learning experiences.
    1. Participates in learning experiences for orientees, nursing and ancillary staff and students by serving as a preceptor.
    2. Participates in Nursing Grand Rounds at least quarterly by either attending a session or assisting in preparing for unit topic.
12. Provide for continuum of care-Assure safe patient hand off through effective communication of the treatment status of each patient.
    1. Gives full report to relief personnel including, but not limited to, instrument placement, instrument count, specimens obtained, medications given, etc

The pay for this position ranges from $24.50-$38.23 per hour.

Rev: 9-6-2023

About Us

Joining the Guthrie team allows you to become a part of a tradition of excellence in health care. In all areas and at all levels of Guthrie, you'll find staff members who have committed themselves to serving the community.

The Guthrie Clinic is an Equal Opportunity Employer that welcomes and encourages diversity in the workplace.

The Guthrie Clinic is a non-profit, integrated, practicing physician-led organization in the Twin Tiers of New York and Pennsylvania. Our multi-specialty group practice of more than 500 physicians and 302 advanced practice providers offers 47 specialties through a regional office network providing primary and specialty care in 22 communities. Guthrie Medical Education Programs include General Surgery, Internal Medicine, Emergency Medicine, Family Medicine, Anesthesiology and Orthopedic Surgery Residency, as well as Cardiovascular, Gastroenterology and Pulmonary Critical Care Fellowship programs. Guthrie is also a clinical campus for the Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine.

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