PRN Surgical Technician - Fort Carson

Assist the Lead Technician in the day-to-day operations of the clinic, the work of the Polysomnographic technicians, the management of support staff, and the ordering and maintaining of supplies.

Responsibilities

• Provide surgical patient care activities
• Transport patients and related records to and from the OR and recovery room
• Assist with routing medical materiel management activities
• Accomplish routine safety checks and operator preventive maintenance on fixed and moveable medical equipment and fixtures
• Perform routine and specialized housekeeping activities
• Assist anesthesia personnel with patient positioning
• Apply principles of asepsis, infection control, and medical ethics
• Assist with terminal cleanup of OR and prepare for follow-up procedures
• Receive, decontaminate, and clean soiled patient care items
• Assemble, wrap, and sterilize instrument sets, supplies, and linen packs; store, maintain, and distribute sterile patient care items
• Assist the circulating nurse with preparing records, reports, and requests; prepare specimens for transport to the laboratory
• Perform scrub duties in the Operating Room:
  • Scrub hands and arms and don sterile gown and gloves
  • Prepare and maintain sterile instruments, supplies, and equipment of draped tables and stands
  • Count sponges, needles, instruments, and related items with circulating nurse before, during, and after surgical procedures
  • Assist the operative team with applying sterile drapes to the surgical field
  • Pass instruments, sutures, and other supplies to the sterile operative team
  • Anticipate surgeon's needs and provide additional assistance as directed
  • Care for surgical specimens on the sterile field
  • Clean and prepare instruments and reusable supplies for terminal sterilization and decontamination
• Perform recovery room or basic nursing duties:
  • Assist surgeon and nursing staff with monitoring and recording vital signs
  • Administer oxygen, help arouse patient, and carry out surgeon's post-operative orders
  • Assist with identifying and managing postoperative complications
• Perform general clinic functions:
  • Prepare patients, instruments, supplies, and equipment for specialized procedures in the OR and specialty clinics
  • Assist specialty surgeon during surgical and diagnostic procedures
  • Assemble, operate, and maintain diagnostic and therapeutic equipment
  • Order diagnostic laboratory and radiographic procedures as directed
  • Perform activities unique to specific surgical clinics
• Assist nursing staff with preoperative patient preparation activities
• Attend in-service training in new procedures, techniques, and equipment
• Prepare OR for surgery by setting up and opening sterile supplies and instruments
• Maintain regular and punctual attendance
• Perform all other duties as assigned

Requirements

• Knowledgeable in fundamentals of anatomy and physiology; principles of asepsis and sterile techniques; preparing and storing surgical sets and packs, surgical instrumentation, and equipment; OR and anesthesia procedures; pathology as it applies to specimen care and handling; basic microbiology and infection control principles; basic surgical pharmacology; sterilizing and disinfecting procedures; surgical and anesthesia complications and their treatment; hospital and OR environmental hazards and safety procedures; handling and storage of compressed gases; basic medical material procedures; basic medical administrations procedures; legal aspects of preoperative care and medical ethics; roles and qualifications of surgical team members; and basic clinical functions
• Completion of an accredited surgical service and clinical course
• Completion of a surgical technologist program recognized and accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) or the Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (ABHES)
• At least twelve (12) months of experience within the last thirty-six (36) months as a surgical services technician
• Current certification in Basic Life Support (BLS) from the American Red Cross (must be maintained at all times)
• Obtain and maintain the site's required health screening and immunization requirements
• Obtain and maintain any necessary security access and/or background checks
• Obtain and maintain all required documents, certifications, licenses, etc. listed on the credentialing checklist for this position

Qualifications & Skills

• Ability to effectively read, write, and speak English to communicate with patients and healthcare providers
• Ability to effectively communicate and collaborate with a diverse group of people
• Excellent written communication skills for accurate documentation, both written and electronic

Schedule

Full-time. May be required to work additional hours as needed to complete assignment or project.

Travel

All Market contractors are subject to working at a duty location at any of the Military Treatment Facilities (MTFs) or associated sub clinics within the Colorado Military Health System (CMHS).

Work Environment

• Work is performed primarily indoors at a well-lit military treatment facility such as a clinic, outpatient facility, or hospital
• Environment is normally air-conditioned, but conditions may vary
• Work may need to be performed in a fast-paced environment requiring quick thinking and rapid judgments
• Exposure to a wide variety of clients with differing functions, personalities, and abilities
• Exposure to bloodborne pathogens, bodily fluids, latex, radiation, or other contaminants and safety issues
• May be exposed to infection or diseases from contact with patients
• Highly social work environment with patients, which can be stressful and emotionally demanding

Physical Demands

• Sitting for long periods of time
• Using hands/fingers, handling, reaching with hands and arms
• Speaking or translating
• Periods of walking, standing, bending, kneeling, stooping, crouching
• Lifting boxes weighing up to 30 pounds
• Moderate to extended periods of office work with heavy computer usage

It is Katmai's business philosophy and practice to provide reasonable accommodations, according to applicable state and federal laws, to all qualified individuals with physical or mental disabilities.