Surgical Technician

Description

SUMMARY:

The Surgical Technician assists the circulating nurse in preparation of surgical patients by performance of routine and delegated duties according to standards and policies. The Surgical Technician scrubs for surgical procedures, cleans instruments and rooms, and opens for cases using aseptic technique and the standards of care. The Surgical Technician will monitor inventory and stocks OR rooms. The individual works closely with physicians and provides service to the "physician customer" to provide excellent patient care. In addition, as it relates to reprocessing job duties, the surgical technician is responsible for all decontamination, cleaning, inspecting, packaging, sterilizing and labeling of reusable items. The Surgery Technician assists in facilitating the daily surgery schedule and intake of facility supplies.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

• Assist and anticipate needs of surgeon relating to instruments, sutures, sponges and supplies according to technique, procedure and special requirements
• Prepare for surgical and special procedures cases by:
• Picking supplies and equipment for the procedure
• Ensuring that all necessary supplies and equipment are available
• Maintaining inventory and stock rooms
• Familiarize self with procedures performed
• Know and understand surgeons’ preferences
• Maintain sterile technique at all times
• Provide care based on the age-related needs of the patient with consideration of their developmental/psychosocial needs, environmental safety, educational needs, communication style, and level of understanding
• Stocks and cleans environment between cases and at the end of schedule
• Assists with turnover of the O.R. 
• Assists circulating nurse in proper care of specimens
• Sorts, cleans, and decontaminates all instruments, equipment, and other reusable items
• Examines, inspects, and tests equipment and instruments, and is current on all cleaning and decontamination procedures
• Operates sterilizers according to manufacturer’s guidelines
• Follows proper procedures for items being sterilized
• Sets up, packages or wraps all reusable items for terminal sterilization
• Knows how to identify instruments and can recognize shortages of instruments and equipment from trays and sets
• Labels and documents all forms, stickers, charts, graphs, etc. that are involved in terminal sterilization and quality assurance according to policy
• Maintains all implant logs up to date
• Assist with monthly and quarterly inventory counts
• Prepares monthly outdate checks of all OR supplies
• Intakes supplies, verifying with packing slips, and distributes to designated areas. 
• Assists with supply re-ordering to designated par levels
• Is cost consciousness when ordering supply and works within set budget
• Transfers frozen sections to lab as necessary
• Assists as directed in the delivery of emergency care.
• Maintains confidentiality of the patients’ records and protects the patients’ privacy
• Participates in performance improvement program
• Other duties as assigned

Requirements

QUALIFICATIONS:

Licensure/Certifications:

• Current certification by the California Certified Surgical Technician Board or equivalent training
• Current Basic Life Support certification

Experience:

• Minimum one year OR experience (within the last 2 years)

Knowledge:

• Basic knowledge of anatomy
• Knowledge of sterilization procedures and aseptic technique
• Knowledge of maintenance and care of equipment and instrumentation
• Awareness of safety precautions and emergency procedures
• Thorough understanding of surgical procedures
• Ability to read, write and understand English

REQUIRED:

• High School graduate or equivalent
• Graduate of a Surgical Technician program, or equivalent education, experience, or training
• Basic knowledge of anatomy
• Knowledge of sterilization procedures and aseptic technique
• Knowledge of maintenance and care of equipment and instrumentation
• Awareness of safety precautions and emergency procedures
• Ability to read, write, and understand English

DESIRABLE:

• Current certification by the California Certified Surgical Technician Board preferred
• Minimum one year OR experience (within the last 2 years)
• Thorough understanding of surgical procedures

CERTIFICATES/LICENSES/REGISTRATIONS:

• Current Basic Life Support certification
• High School Diploma

WORK ENVIRONMENT:

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job.

• This is primarily an office classification. Temperature conditions are controlled with limited direct exposure to hazardous physical substances. The noise level in the work environment is usually low to moderate.  
• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit, stand, walk, handle, or feel, reach with hands and arms, see, talk and hear. The employee will frequently lift and/or carry reports, records and other materials that typically weigh less than 20 pounds. The employee is occasionally required to stoop, kneel, bend, or crouch. 
• Finger dexterity is needed to access, enter, and retrieve data using a computer keyboard, calculator, and other standard office equipment.

All the information contained herein reflect general details as necessary to describe the principal functions of this classification, the level of knowledge and skill typically required and the scope of responsibility, but should not be considered an all-inclusive listing of work requirements. Management reserves the rights to add, modify, change, or rescind the duties and/or work assignments of all positions, without advanced notice, and to make reasonable accommodations so that qualified employees can perform the essential functions of the job.

Notwithstanding any of the foregoing described job responsibilities, employee shall not engage in activities that constitute the practice of ophthalmology as prohibited under applicable law. Employee shall neither exercise control over nor interfere with the clinician-patient relationship. Clinicians shall have sole responsibility for all professional services provided to patients.