Surgical Tech

When you join the growing BILH team, you're not just taking a job, you’re making a difference in people’s lives. The Surgical Technologist under the supervision of the Director of The Comprehensive Pain Center, and the Registered Nurse performs services in a designated area according to the policies, procedures, philosophy, and objectives of the department and hospital.

The Surgical Technologist works cooperatively within department and other services to create a system of safe, high quality health care and assists in patient care, transports equipment, assists in room turnovers, prepares case supplies, equipment and restocks room. The Surgical Technologist selects and prepares the appropriate supplies and equipment for surgical cases as necessary and ensures appropriate equipment needs for surgeon are met, participates in OR activities related to quality improvement, continuing education, orientation of new personnel, and emergency preparedness. The Surgical Technologist is a trained individual with advanced technical knowledge and skills in asepsis and the intraoperative phase of surgical patient care management, pediatric, adolescent, adult and geriatric patients. Based upon such expertise, the surgical technician is responsible for providing all the necessary instrumentation, supplies and equipment for the surgical procedure. The Surgical Technologist, as a member of the surgical team assists with patient care under the direction and supervision of the circulating nurse (RN). Is responsible for meeting established OR standards for supplies and other equipment on the unit; is responsible for developing collaborative and collegial relationships with physicians and interdepartmental personnel as they relate to the care of the surgical patient.

Job Description:

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

Roles and Responsibilities

• Assists the registered nurse and collaborates with other team members to formulate care plan to assure patient’s well-being. Provides intervention for all patient populations.
• Collaborates with an operating room circulator prior to surgical procedure to carry out the plan of care including 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 surgical equipment is functioning properly and safely.
• Performs tasks at the sterile field, as directed in an OR setting, including passing supplies, equipment or instruments, sponging or suctioning an operative site, preparing and cutting suture material, transferring and irrigating with fluids, transferring, but not administer drugs within the sterile field, handling specimens, holding retractors and assisting in counting sponges, needles, supplies, and instruments with an OR circulator.
• Verifies the surgical procedure site/side with the surgical team
• Checks indicators and integrity of all packages for each surgical procedure and recognizes unseen boundaries between sterile and not sterile while monitoring breaks in sterile technique
• Performs scrubbing duties not limited to but including, a proper scrub according to policy. Demonstrates proper concept of draping and performs an accurate count at appropriate time. Demonstrates proper use of all surgical equipment surround a procedure.
• Maintains current BLS certification, attends continuing education related to own specialty practice and shares information with other staff, maintains annual mandatory education requirements.
• Follows hospital policy regarding attendance and tardiness.
• Demonstrates flexibility and cooperation in response to unexpected change in work volume, emergencies, staffing or scheduling changes.
• Demonstrates sound knowledge of surgical techniques, both routine and specialized, and performs in a professional manner. Applies this knowledge appropriately to develop and improve skills in assisting the surgeon and in the organization of work utilizing economy in time, motion and materials.
• Adheres to unit-specific policies, procedures, and protocols.
• Demonstrates ability to retract, suction, irrigate, apply pressure and assist in homeostasis by use of assorted sponges in the surgical field under the direction of the surgeon.
• Demonstrates department specific skills and competencies, including high-risk, low-volume and problem-prone competencies.
• Provides retraction of tissue and organs for optimal visualization with regard to tissue type and appropriate retraction instrument and/or technique.
• Demonstrates ability to use all equipment and supplies necessary for surgical procedures.
• Develops and demonstrates initiative in order to inquire and explore new surgical procedures and subject relating to the operating room and to the surgical patient. Demonstrates initiative, adaptability and self-learning when learning new equipment and operative procedures.
• Demonstrates self-direction above and beyond daily assignments and actively offers assistance to colleagues.
• Maintains clinical competency for all areas of surgical services.
• Demonstrates collegially behavior of respect and consideration with regard to work environment, i.e. restocking rooms, returning equipment/supplies for other surgical procedures, cleaning work areas/station and or communicate as appropriate in the OR.
• Assists with and prepares surgical suites with appropriate instruments, supplies and has standard and specialty surgical equipment available and in working order. Assembles supplies and equipment for scheduled procedures according to physicians' preference cards.
• Works effectively and maintains a cooperative working relationship with the surgeons.
• Demonstrates the ability to perform work in an accurate and timely manner in periods of increasing workload and high stress.
• Strives to make productive use of time through careful coordination of daily tasks, setting priorities, and reducing non-essential interruptions in order to complete the job during the allocated time. Demonstrates self-motivation in performing job duties.
• Assist in moving and positioning of patient.
• Supports the goals and objectives of Perioperative Services, the Nursing Division and Beth Israel Lahey Health Anna Jaques to ensure safe, efficient quality patient care.
• Masters new work routines, methods and techniques. Demonstrates knowledge of current trends and practices and makes suggestions for changes of policies, procedures and standards
• Demonstrates the ability to assess age specific needs to provide care and equipment for specialized operative techniques used by the surgical team.

May be directed to perform other job-related tasks in order to promote the smooth operation of the department

• Participates in Operating Room activities related to quality improvement, continuing education, orientation of new personnel, and emergency preparedness.

Safety

• Keeps workspaces where medications are prepared clean, orderly, well lit, and free of clutter, distraction and noise.
• Inspects equipment for proper working condition; confirms that instruments work properly. Arranges instruments according to given procedure.
• Differentiates sterilization methods for special equipment and instruments necessary for specific surgical procedures.
• Maintains integrity of sterile field. Demonstrates competency with aseptic technique during surgery. Adheres to aseptic technique when opening sterile packages and preparing for the procedure.
• Follows hospital protocol to prevent the occurrence of wrong site procedures or wrong patient procedures.
• Ensures that care information is transmitted in a timely and clear understandable form to all patients’ current healthcare providers who need that information to provide care.
• Decontaminates hands with either hygienic hand rub or by washing with a disinfectant soap prior to and after contact with a patient or objects immediately around the patient.
• Ensures that documentation does not include any abbreviations listed on the "Do not use abbreviation" list.
• Assists with the orientation and development of new staff members, which includes training, problem resolution, evaluating performance and making recommendations as needed.

Other Duties as Assigned

• Completes other duties as assigned

JOB REQUIREMENTS

Required Skills

• Qualifications: To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable the individual to perform the essential functions.
• Communication: Must possess verbal and written skills to communicate effectively and courteously with a diverse group of professional and non-professional members of the health care team, patients and family/significant others.
• Self-motivated and directed; able to work in a high volume, fast paced work environment and perform and prioritize multiple tasks simultaneously.

Minimum Education

• Must be a graduate of an accredited school or Surgical Technology program.

Minimum Work Experience

• One year current OR experience preferred

Required Licenses

• Other
• Must possess a current surgical technician certification if hired after June 30, 2013. BLS required.

FUNCTIONAL DEMANDS
Physical Demands

• Provide direct care to patients, including lifting, moving and assisting. Regular standing, bending, walking and lifting. Lifting approximately 30 lbs, pushing approximately 200 lbs, pulling approximately 100-150 lbs.

Work Environment

• Exposed to both biologic and chemical hazards. Proper use of personal protective equipment is required.

Age-Specific Criteria

• Patient care provider

Patient Care Provided For

• Pediatric
• Adolescent
• Adult
• Geriatric

Pay Range:

$33.50 - $49.78

The pay range listed for this position is the base hourly wage range the organization reasonably and in good faith expects to pay for this position at this time. Actual compensation is determined based on several factors, that may include seniority, education, training, relevant experience, relevant certifications, geography of work location, job responsibilities, or other applicable factors permissible by law. Compensation may exceed the base hourly rate depending on shift differentials, call pay, premium pay, overtime pay, and other additional pay practices, as applicable to the position and in accordance with the law.

As a health care organization, we have a responsibility to do everything in our power to care for and protect our patients, our colleagues and our communities. Beth Israel Lahey Health requires that all staff be vaccinated against influenza (flu) as a condition of employment.

More than 35,000 people working together. Nurses, doctors, technicians, therapists, researchers, teachers and more, making a difference in patients' lives. Your skill and compassion can make us even stronger.

Equal Opportunity Employer/Veterans/Disabled