SAH Surgical Technician

Surgical Technician

The surgical technician's responsibilities include, but are not limited to: reviewing upcoming OR schedule to anticipate need for instrumentation/equipment, ensuring all necessary equipment is available and in proper working order, setting up all necessary equipment and instrumentation for surgical procedures, performing appropriate surgical counts according to facility policy and organizing case carts for upcoming procedures. The surgical technician works in collaboration with the operating room circulator prior to a surgical procedure to carry out the plan of care by preparing the operating room, gathering and preparing sterile supplies, instruments and equipment, preparing and maintaining the sterile field using sterile and aseptic technique and ensuring that the surgical equipment is functioning properly and safely. Work involves inventorying, disassembling, decontamination, high level disinfection, cleaning, reassembling, and maintaining operating room instrumentation and endoscopy equipment. The surgical technician performs in-between case cleaning turnover in the OR suite Brown University Health employees are expected to successfully role model the organization's values of Compassion, Accountability, Respect, and Excellence as these values guide our everyday actions with patients, customers and one another. In addition to our values, all employees are expected to demonstrate the core Success Factors which tell us how we work together and how we get things done. The core Success Factors include: Instill Trust and Value Differences Patient and Community Focus and Collaborate

Key Responsibilities:

• Demonstrates respect and regard for the dignity of all patients, families, visitors, and fellow employees to ensure a professional, responsible, and courteous environment.
• Commits to recognize and respect cultural diversity for all customers (internal and external).
• Communicates effectively with internal and external customers with respect of differences in cultures, values, beliefs and ages, utilizing interpreters when needed.
• Anticipates surgeon needs
• Maintains surgeon's preference cards
• Processes all instruments and equipment for the operating room
• Performs surgical counts
• Passes supplies, equipment, or instruments
• Prepares and cuts suture material
• Transfers, but not administer, drugs within the sterile field
• Assists in counting sponges, needles, supplies and instruments with an operating room circulator
• Performs specimen handling
• Assists in room turnover
• Performs other duties as assigned

Minimum Qualifications:

• 1 – 5 years previous preferred
• Knowledge of aseptic technique, infection control principles, sterilization techniques, equipment and supply processing, and operation of steam sterilizers.
• Knowledge of Spaulding Classification
• Knowledge of Universal Protocol
• Knowledge of AORN Standard and Recommended Practices
• Ability to prioritize equipment needs of the operating room
• Good organizational and communication skills
• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment

Education:

• High School Diploma or GED required; graduation from an accredited school of surgical technology required
• Certification/Licensure: CST required, BLS required
• One or more of the following:
• Has successfully completed a training program for surgical technology in the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, or Coast Guard of the United States or in the United States Public Health Service which has been deemed appropriate by the commissioner
• Surgical technologists are required to complete an accredited educational program for surgical technologists and hold and maintain a certified surgical teachnologist credential administered by a nationally recognized surgical technologist certifying body accredited by the National Commisson for Certifying Agencies and recognized by the American College of Surgeons an d the Association of Surgical Technologists
• Was employed as a surgical technologist in a surgical facility on or before July 1, 2013
• Has successfully completed an accredited school of surgical technology but has not, as of the date of hire, obtained the certified surgical teachnologist certification. This is provided, however, that such certification shall be obtained within 12 months of the graduation date

Physical Requirements:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the main duties and responsibilities of this job. The employee may perform or have exposure to the following 75% or more:

• Stand / walk
• Use hands to finger, feel, reach with hands, climb, or balance
• Stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl
• Talk or hear
• Taste or smell
• Exposure to blood-borne pathogens
• Exposure to infections from disease bearing specimens
• Exposure to infectious/contagious diseases
• Exposure to cleaning agents/chemicals

The employee may perform or have exposure to the following 25 - 50%:

• Lift up to 50 lbs
• Exposure to Outdoor Weather Conditions
• Exposure to Extreme Cold or Heat (Non-Weather)
• Risk of Radiation
• Exposure to flammable, explosive, gases
• Exposure to toxic or caustic chemicals
• Exposure to dust or other irritants
• Exposure to grease or oils
• Exposure to hot or noisy equipment
• Exposure to humid or wet conditions (non-weather)

Vision Requirements:

• Close vision
• Distance vision
• Color vision
• Peripheral vision
• Depth perception
• Ability to adjust focus

Safety equipment used while performing this job: Safety eye glasses Face shields Surgical mask Gowns Gloves