Surgical Technician

Surgical Technician

Functions as a primary scrub person responsible for handling instruments, supplies, and complex equipment during all surgical procedures, such as vascular, microsurgery, gynecology, urology, ophthalmology, otolaryngology, GI Endoscopy, podiatry, a full range of general surgery cases, minimally invasive procedures, and orthopedic surgery.

Sets up sterile field and maintains working knowledge of all required items used for each procedure, such as disposable and non-disposable surgical instrumentation. Equipment examples include battery and air-powered equipment, fiber optic equipment, laparoscopic equipment, microscopes, lasers, surgical robots, arthroscopy equipment, urologic equipment, recording devices, and/or any other operating room supplies and equipment.

Plans and discusses each procedure with surgical professionals and assures all supplies and equipment are available prior to the surgical procedure.

Prepares, organizes, and maintains highly complex sterile surgical setups.

Observes and responds promptly to each stage of the surgical procedure and anticipates the needs of the surgeon by maintaining a high level of concentration for extended periods of time.

Utilizes universal precautions and follows all infection control policies and procedures when handling specimens, supplies, and equipment.

Assists the team members with care of the patient, i.e., positioning, prepping, sterile draping, and ensuring patient safety via participation in surgical time-out processes. The ST is responsible for ensuring sterility is maintained during the procedure by monitoring for breaches in technique of the surgical team members and/or the sterile field.

Handles all specimens appropriately.

In conjunction with the circulating registered nurse (RN), performs sponge and instrument counts to 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, applying skin staples, and cutting sutures. Prepares prosthesis and surgical devices during procedures.

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, to include the scrub role in surgical procedures.

Provides transportation of patients to and from the Operating Room, as assigned.

Accounts for the availability of correct prosthetics in the room, follows established procedures regarding prosthetic tracking. Follows correct site surgery policies.

Assists in the implementation and utilization of the Generic Inventory Package to maintain adequate surgical supplies. This includes, but is not limited to, re-stocking the OR cabinets, specialty carts, and other secondary storage containers.

Monitors daily surgery schedules, provides input into case scheduling duties as assigned.

Performs non-technical maintenance of equipment to prevent malfunctions.

Maintains rules and regulations of restricted and semi-restricted areas of the OR suite.

Assesses equipment needs and monitors adequate stock of supplies and materials. Assists in all aspects of supply management, including but not limited to collaborating with logistics staff to ensure ordering and stocking of supplies as assigned.

Recognizes potentially hazardous situations (e.g., frayed cords, water on the floor) and takes corrective action.

Performs required pre-treatment processing of instruments after surgery. Ensures used instruments are immediately transported to sterile processing.

Cooperates fully with equipment inventory, including meeting established timelines.

Cooperates fully in equipment trials and procurement processes.

Participates in all unit education and in-servicing to ensure competency for the set-up, use, and care of all complex surgical equipment used in the OR.

Provides guidance and support to OR Core Technician and other STs.

Supervises volunteers, aides, non-surgical team members, students, and other personnel.

Assists in developing and maintaining appropriate and cost-effective inventory practices.

Utilizes universal precautions in all work functions.

Work Schedule: 7:30 am - 4:00 pm, Monday - Friday, with on-call rotation.

This is not a virtual position.

Position Description/PD#: Surgical Technician/ PD25209A

Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized

Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not Approved

Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized