Surgical Technologist - Operating Room

Surgical Technologist 1

The Surgical Technologist 1 functions in the inter-operative phase of patient care to expedite surgical procedures, under the direction and supervision of a Registered Nurse. This position assists the surgical team through the use of equipment and instrumentation to ensure that the operating room environment is safe, and that required equipment is available and functioning properly.

Essential functions of the role include:

• Discussing any special needs with the surgeon before surgery and scrubbing in to surgery in an adequate time for proper preparation of instruments before the surgeon scrubs in.
• Preparing the operative site by aseptically cleaning and patient clipping, as needed.
• Preparing and maintaining the instrument table(s) in an organized and comprehensive manner to avoid damage to instrumentation as well as incorrect needs or instrument counts.
• Identifying damaged or incomplete trays, rectifying discrepancies immediately, or contacting those that can help in order to avoid delays or injury.
• Setting up the operating room according to surgical procedure schedules; arranging sterile set up of instrument table supplies and equipment required for specific procedure, carefully selecting and opening only needed supplies.
• Ensuring the proper functioning of surgical instruments, equipment, and supplies during surgical procedures.
• Performing surgical counts of sponges, sharps, instruments, and miscellaneous items, according to established policies and procedures.
• Anticipating the needs of the surgeon and surgical team staff.
• Passing sterile supplies and equipment to surgeons and assistants during procedures, holding retractor devices, and acting to anticipate and respond to the surgical team's needs during the course of surgery.
• Assisting the surgical team with draping and positioning the patient.
• Receiving surgical specimens following specimen protocol, and passing the specimen(s) off the sterile field to the circulating nurse, verifying the source of specimen.
• Assisting with placement of surgical dressings to the operative site following surgical case completion.
• Disassembling surgical instrumentation as indicated at the end of the procedure, recycling as indicated, and appropriately disposing of sharps, fluids, and waste at the end of the surgical procedure.
• Preparing soiled instrumentation for proper transportation to the decontamination area.