SURGICAL TECHNICIAN

Surgical Technician

The Surgical Technician (ST) functions as the primary scrub person responsible for handling instruments, supplies, specimens, and equipment during all surgical procedures, including but not limited to thoracic, major vascular, and endovascular surgery, neurosurgery, ophthalmologic surgery, colorectal and oncological surgery, robotics, and minimally invasive surgery. The ST must possess knowledge of a wide variety of complex surgical procedures and possible complications in order to prepare for the procedure, to anticipate the needs of the surgical team, to respond with speed and accuracy, and to report observations and immediate procedural needs to the RN circulator. The incumbent must have a thorough knowledge of all appropriate names, uses, physical characteristics function, and processing procedures for the full range of surgical supplies and equipment. The ST must be familiar with dosages and proper use of all medications administered from the sterile field.

Major duties consist of the following:

• Sets up the sterile field with all required items for each procedure, such as robotic equipment, air-powered equipment, fiber optic equipment, laparoscopic equipment, microscopes, lasers, arthroscopy equipment, urologic equipment, recording devices, and other operating room supplies and equipment.
• Plans and discusses each procedure with surgical professionals and ensures that all supplies and equipment are available before the surgical procedure.
• Prepares, organizes, and maintains highly complex sterile surgical set-ups.
• Observes and responds promptly to each stage of the surgical procedure and anticipates the needs of the surgeon by maintaining mental focus for extended periods.
• Utilizes universal precautions and follows all infection control policies and procedures when handling specimens, supplies, and equipment.
• Assists the team members with the care of the veteran, i.e., positioning, prepping, and obtaining supplies.
• Handles all specimens appropriately.
• In conjunction with the circulating Registered Nurse (RN), performs soft goods, sharps, and instrument counts to prevent retention of surgical items and verify accuracy. Responsible for the accountability of all surgical instruments and equipment during the surgical procedure.
• Assists the surgeon by performing such procedures as preparing skin grafts, suctioning, holding retractors, and cutting sutures. Prepares prostheses and surgical devices during operations and calibrates instruments/equipment in the sterile field.
• Assists in training residents, medical students, nursing students, operating room technology students, and new Operating Room (OR) staff in the operation of equipment, sterile technique, handling of instruments, and OR procedures, including the scrub role in surgical procedures.
• Functions as a runner for complex surgical procedures under the direct supervision of an RN.
• Assists circulating nurse with veteran care during each phase of perioperative interventions, such as gathering equipment and supplies, opening sterile items, setting up the surgical field, veteran transferring and positioning, providing comfort measures, monitoring and maintaining sterility pre- and intra-operatively, staying inside the OR from the time of sterile field set-up to the time of veteran transfer out of the OR to ensure the integrity of the sterile environment, and participating in veteran care activities related to induction of and emerging from anesthesia.
• Functions as laser technician (operator) within the operating room environment monitoring compliance with the organization's policy and procedures, supervising usage and safety, documenting treatment parameters, and reporting any adverse outcomes to Nurse Manager and Laser Safety Officer.
• Maintains Equipment and Work Areas
• Performs non-technical maintenance of equipment to prevent malfunctions.
• Maintains OR area.
• Assesses equipment needs and maintains an adequate stock of supplies and materials.
• Recognizes potentially hazardous situations (e.g., frayed cords and water on the floor) and takes corrective action.
• Collaborates with engineering and biomedical services, promoting the use and maintenance of VA property safely that preserves the equipment.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Work Schedule: Rotational

Position Description Title/PD#: SURGICAL TECHNICIAN/ PD60069A

Physical Requirements: Duties regularly require providing manual assistance in lifting and positioning patients, most of who are at stages of unconsciousness. There are extensive periods of regular and recurring standing, walking, bending, lifting, pushing, reaching, and prolonged stretching to provide easy accessibility of instruments and supplies for the surgeon. The ST must be dexterous in passing instruments to surgeons without compromising principles of aseptic technique and in a manner requiring little or no effort from the surgeon.