Surgical Technologist - Operating Room

The Surgical Technologist works under the supervision of leadership. Performs and functions as a member of the surgical team. Passes instruments to the surgeon, assists the surgeon and/or holds retractors during surgical procedures.

Responsibilities

• Assumes responsibility for setting up and passing instruments, labeling medications, holding retractors, assisting the surgeon, and assists with circulating duties as necessary. Applies and maintains principles of asepsis and infection control skillfully.
• Assists in preparing the operating room for procedure, obtaining needed equipment and supplies. Maintains working knowledge of assembly and function of surgical instrumentation and equipment.
• Completes required sponge, needle and instrument counts following policy/procedure.
• Anticipates the needs of equipment and instruments by the surgeon during an operation utilizing physician preference cards. Researches information of surgical procedure as needed.
• Handles and cares for surgical specimens according to policy/procedure.
• Prepared the operating room for the next procedure by utilizing proper cleaning techniques and returning equipment to designated area.
• Assists with positioning, prepping, draping of the patient, and with transfer of the patient to and from the operating room. Applies surgical dressings.
• Practices within limitations of preparation and experience and maintains continuing education relative to practice. Contributes to the professional development of peers, colleagues, and others (example: students, orientees).
• Takes mandatory stand-by call to ensure 24/7 capabilities of OR. (Not required for Albany)
• Other duties as assigned

• H.S. Diploma - Required
• Completion of an approved surgical technologist education program. - Preferred

• Six months operating room procedural experience - Required
• Applicable OR clinical rotation experience - Required

• Basic Life Support (BLS) - Required Upon Hire
• Certified Surgical Technologist (CST) - Preferred Upon Hire

• Must be able to travel between various system facilities and off-site locations as needed. - Required

Qualifications

Essential Technical/Motor Skills

• Speaking clearly.
• Communicate with Doctor, circulating nurse and schedule coordinator.
• Calibrate equipment.
• Surgical instrumentation, precise hand/eye coordination.
• Passing instrument to physician, assemble surgical instrumentation.
• Manipulate small items and equipment.
• Surgical instrumentation and supplies.
• Fine motor skills.
• Thread needles, handling micro instrumentation, able to work under operating microscope.

Interpersonal Skills

• Ability to work and communicate in a team setting with doctors, nurses, patients, and other technologists.
• Positive attitude and outgoing personality.

Essential Physical Requirements

• Moving, patients, carts, instruments on sterile field, equipment, supplies, etc.
• Assembling, instrumentation, sterile supplies, etc.
• Standing, for operative procedure for long periods of time, (up to six hours uninterrupted).
• Operating, instrumentation and equipment on sterile field.
• Walking, filling case carts, opening cases, transporting patients, transporting supplies, etc.
• Pushing, pulling, case carts, equipment, tables, holding retractors for long periods of time (up to six hours uninterrupted), patient carts.
• Lifting, extremities (30 pounds), patients (100 pounds), instrument sets (40 pounds).
• Climbing, standing on stools for table height during surgeries.
• Reaching, holding retractors, taking equipment and supplies from shelves.
• Restraining, patients immediately post op if needed
• Ability to take call.
• Emergency/Urgent cases after hours for extended periods of time.

Essential Mental Abilities

• Manipulate numbers.
• Sponge, needle, instrument counts.
• Interpret data from physician preference card.
• Comprehend/understand, surgical procedures, instrumentation, anatomy, physiology, sequence of events.
• Assess/Evaluate, patient and surgeon needs (anticipate).
• Short and long term memory.
• Sequence events, set ups, draping, instrumentation, position preference, supplies used in cases, etc.
• Concentration/alertness, patient and physician needs for extended periods of time (up to six hours).
• Adaptability, able to go from case to case, service to service in short periods of time.
• Follow rules/instructions, policies/procedures of department with minimal supervision.
• Organizational skills, instrumentation and supplies to pass on surgical procedures.

Essential Sensory Requirements

• Visual skills, able to see and distinguish instrumentation, sutures, needles, supplies on a sterile field.
• Hearing surgeon, circulating nurse, and schedule coordinator while wearing masks.
• Feel instrument, sutures, needles, etc.
• Distinguish colors, color coded instruments and supplies.

Exposure to Hazards

• Blood and body fluids, chemical compounds used in surgery, drugs, radiation, cleaning solutions, anesthesia waste gasses, wet floors, needle sticks, cuts from knife blades, exposure to Methyl methacrylate, Laser Plume.

Other Skills and Abilities