Certified Scrub Tech

Job Summary

Surgical technicians assist surgeons and other medical professionals in hospital operating rooms and similar environments. Chiefly, they prepare patients, rooms and equipment for pending surgical procedures. They also assist during those procedures as part of a team of operating room professionals.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Must be able to clean, sterilize, and assemble equipment, instruments, special trays, packs.
• Sterilize supplies obtained from other departments and return them to appropriate areas.
• Order stock and inventory supply closets as well as surgery.
• Attend all staff meetings and required in-services.
• Communicate with colleagues, peers and superiors through succinct expression and receptive listening.
• Participate in resolving problems of the department.
• Help maintain and update all surgical procedure cards and make notebooks.
• Safely operate the steam and steris sterilizer.
• Assist in the orientation and training of new personnel.
• Remain cognizant of changing laws and regulations pertinent to the O.R. and develops and recommends policies and procedures to assure compliance with the changing laws.
• Maintain required confidentiality.
• Deal with anger, frustration and criticism in a constructive manner.
• Assume responsibility for personal actions and results.
• Recover surgery patients when necessary.
• Prepare and arrange instruments, supplies, and assist the surgeon by providing sterile instruments and supplies.
• Anticipate, plans for and responds to the needs of the surgeon.
• Maintain an accurate count of sponges, needles and instruments used during the surgical procedure.
• Assure that all team members adhere to the principles of aseptic technique.
• Hold retractor placed by the surgeon or assistant.
• Move the endoscope at the duration and visualization of the physician.
• Close biopsy forceps under the direct supervision of the physician allowing him to remove tissue samples.
• Assist physicians in other areas of the hospital.
• Maintain the integrity, safety and efficiency of the sterile field throughout the operation.
• Actively engage in quality improvement activities.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Minimum Requirements

• Certificate in Surgical Technology
• Previous experience as a scrub tech

Preferred Requirements

• Bilingual (English and Spanish)
• Associate’s degree in Surgical Technology

Skills/Competencies

• Complete twelve (12) hours of Sterile Processing (SPD) training via webinars, podcasts, formal classes or online study.
• Able to communicate effectively in English, both verbally and in writing

Physical Requirements

May be required to pull up or reposition patients in bed, lift supplies, place equipment on supports, push beds throughout the hospital, and perform external cardiac compressions. The individual must be able to bend over to perform certain duties, e.g., check chest tube drainage, check urinary output, etc. The individual must also be able to maneuver throughout halls, stairways, and patient rooms in response to hospital emergencies. Interpretation of environmental input requires visual and auditory skills. In the event there is a need to evacuate the building, heavy lifting will be required to carry patients to safety. Frequently lifts up to 100 or more pounds consistently causing a high volume of stooping, bending, lifting, pulling, and twisting.