Surgical Technician I

Under direct supervision, serves as scrub person for basic surgical procedures. Prepares instruments and operating room for surgery. Troubleshoots, reports, and removes from service faulty equipment. Inventories and monitors instruments, sponges, and needles on operative field. Anticipates surgeon's and patient care needs. Performs or assists in sterile preps. Maintains appropriate quantities of surgical supplies and equipment. Assists with decontaminating and cleaning rooms, furniture, and equipment according to established procedures. Serves as scrub person for complex surgical procedures. Provides orientation/training to Surgical Tech IIs and IIIs. Serves as resource/reference to surgical team with regards to surgical instrumentation.

Essential Functions:

* Serves as scrub person for complex surgical procedures

* Follows department procedures for scrub persons; assembles surgical packs, supplies and instruments for surgical cases, prepares operating room for surgery; assures sterile packages' integrity and expiration date before opening; inspects instruments and power equipment prior to use to assure operational order

* Troubleshoots, reports, and removes faulty instrument and equipment from service

* Assures adequate amount of appropriate supplies and instrumentation are available in accordance with surgeon's preference; counts all instruments, needles and sponges with registered nurse according to procedure

* Anticipates surgeon's needs; as directed by surgeon, assists surgeon by draping patients, holding/passing instruments, retractors, sutures, and medications, applying surgical dressings, suctioning, and sponging surgical wounds, holding extremities, and moving patients

* Inventories and monitors instruments, sponges, and needles on operative field using department count procedures

* Adjusts instrumentation and supplies to changes in procedures and patient condition

* Assists with monitoring and reporting blood and fluid loss during cases

* In conjunction with Registered Nurse, ascertains correctness of count prior to closure of body cavities and surgical wound

* Assist circulating nurse with restocking the room at end of shift

* Performs or assists in sterile preps as needed/requested; monitors aseptic techniques of surgical team members at field; reports and corrects breaks in sterile technique immediately; controls location of contaminated instruments and supplies

* Orients and trains Surgical Technologist IIs and IIIs as needed; provides feedback of same to supervisor; reviews, recommends and assists in updating department policies, procedures and protocols for surgical technologists

* Serves as resource/reference source to Surgical Technologists and other staff members with regards to surgical instrumentation; provides and conducts in-services as needed

* Additional essential functions as listed in the complete job description

Basic Qualifications:

* Four years of experience as Surgical Technologist and full competency of skills as evidenced by ability to scrub for ALL of following cases: general surgery, orthopedics, gynecology, eyes, ENT, plastics, neurosurgery, vascular, thoracic, and genito-urinary

* Completion of an accredited Surgical Technology training program

* Current BLS for Healthcare Provider CPR or CPR/AED for the Professional Rescuer Certification

* Knowledge of medical terminology

* Demonstrated knowledge of and skill in adaptability, change management, decision making, customer service, interpersonal relations, oral communication, problem solving, systems thinking, teamwork, initiative, and detail-orientation

* Ability to orient and train as needed

* Must be able to rotate on call

* Talking to co-workers, customers, outside vendors, and on the telephone

* Reading, writing, speaking, and understanding English

* Training/giving and receiving instructions

* Mathematical ability, attention to detail (e.g. organization, prioritization, proofing), concentration, and alertness

Preferred Qualifications:

* Experience scrubbing in an acute hospital setting

* Post High School OR training course work

* Certified Surgical Technologist (CST) by the Association of Surgical Technologists (AST)