SLH OR Technician

About the Role

The SLH OR Technician works under general supervision to deliver safe and effective care to patients during the intraoperative period. Technicians assist Surgeons, Registered Nurses, and Anesthesiologists with supplies, instruments, and procedures within the surgery unit. They are clinically competent and may serve as scrub nurses (sterile) in operating rooms, as well as witnesses for blood transfusions and certain legal documents.

Responsibilities

• Assists registered nurses in planning patient's surgical intervention in a logical sequence according to established physician's preference card, scheduled procedure, and individual patient needs.
• Provides intervention for all patient populations (pediatric, adolescent, adult, geriatric).
• Maintains asepsis by checking indicators and integrity of packages for each patient procedure and recognizing boundaries between sterile and non-sterile areas.
• Acts as an operating room technician for surgical procedures, ensuring aseptic technique of surgery personnel.
• Accurately performs all sponge, needle, and sharp counts at appropriate times according to department standards.
• Demonstrates proper use of instruments, equipment, suturing, and stapling devices.
• Saves and properly identifies all specimens according to department policy and procedure.
• Prepares instrumentation according to physician preference card and scheduled procedure.
• Follows department policy for wearing personal protective equipment during all procedures.
• Demonstrates proper concepts of draping according to department standards.
• Assists surgeons with instruments and putting on gowns and gloves; retrieves supplies or equipment as requested by surgeons, registered nurses, or anesthesiologists.
• Prepares the case cart postoperatively for central sterilizing return according to department policy.
• Prepares and properly disposes of sharps, blood, and waste according to hospital/department safety policy.
• Maintains a clean, neat, and safe environment for patients and staff according to hospital and department policy.
• Ensures supplies and equipment necessary for patient care are stored in an organized and efficient manner.
• Cleans operating room suite between cases when necessary.
• Prepares and sterilizes supplies and equipment used in the unit; drapes and covers operating and instrument tables; lays out supplies and equipment for scheduled or emergency cases.
• Replaces used supplies with fresh supplies for the following cases; ensures adequate supply levels; discards outdated drugs.
• Orders and checks supplies from Pharmacy and Central Supplies; stores and cleans cabinets periodically.
• Demonstrates correct and safe technique in the use of equipment according to specific product information and policy and procedure manuals.
• Follows appropriate procedure for obtaining, returning, cleaning, or disposing of equipment and supplies.
• Promptly reports malfunctioning equipment to the appropriate charge person.
• Performs maintenance on equipment; ensures preventative maintenance and necessary repairs are ordered and completed.

Requirements

• High School Graduate.
• Certificate of completion from an operating room technician program.
• Minimum of one-year recent preoperative experience.
• BLS - Basic Life Support Certification - issued by AHA-American Heart Association (required).
• ORT Certification (preferred).