Surgical Tech Fellowship

About the Role

Under direct preceptor supervision, the Surgical Tech Fellow prepares the room and gathers supplies needed for surgical procedures; delivers instruments to the surgeon and other members of the surgical team intraoperatively; may function as second assistant to the surgeon; assists in the proper decontamination of the room, supplies, and instruments postoperatively. All fellowship activities will be educational in nature and will not be substituted for staff personnel within the clinical institution.

Responsibilities

• Prepares for surgical cases by obtaining and preparing appropriate supplies, equipment, and instruments; reviews surgeon's preferences to determine required items.
• Establishes and maintains a sterile field and presents instruments to the operating team.
• Delivers appropriate instruments/supplies utilizing proper principles of sterile technique.
• Acts as 2nd assistant to surgeon, performing duties related to draping and operative site exposure.
• Responsible for removal of all sharps and initials return card for verification.
• Holds extremities, assists with casting and splinting.
• Mixes medications on the sterile field once verification by a registered nurse has occurred.
• Assists with positioning, can fix specimens in formalin, and assists circulator in proper care and handling of surgical specimens.
• Washes and thaws grafts, holds a stapler while surgeon fires it, operates skin stapler for wound approximation, and cuts suture material as directed by and under the supervision of a surgeon.
• Assists in post-procedure cleaning of the OR/equipment, returns equipment/supplies to proper areas, and assists in room re-stocking.
• Reports any damaged equipment appropriately, mops floor between cases, and ensures equipment cords are not frayed.
• Participates in unit operations to contribute to efficiency of department, effective communication, quality care, personal growth, and development.
• Maintains all annual unit-specific competencies, ACE, and PAR requirements.
• Performs room turnover and set-up for subsequent cases, checks next case cart, and participates in verification of specimen and specimen labeling.

Tasks You Can Perform Under Direct Preceptor Supervision

• Mix medications on the sterile field following verification with an RN.
• Deliver medications to the sterile field if an RN is in scrub role.
• Run dart/biologics for sterilizers if annual competency has been met.
• Sterilize instrumentation if annual competency has been met.
• Assist with positioning and hold extremities.
• Check next case cart.
• Perform room turnover and set-up for subsequent cases.
• Assist with casting and splint application/removal.
• Participate in verification of specimen and specimen labeling with the surgery team.
• Fix specimens in formalin if annual competency has been met.
• Wash or thaw grafts.
• Hold a stapler while the surgeon fires it.
• Cut suture material as directed by and under the supervision of a surgeon.
• Operate the skin stapler for wound approximation.
• Assist in the dislocation of joints if annual competency has been met.

Tasks You Cannot Perform

• Inject or administer medications, dye, and blood products.
• Set up IVs.
• Desiccate tissue.
• Suture or tie suture.
• Use or activate cautery.
• Operate ESU (Electrosurgical Unit).
• Perform anything invasive.
• Prep patient.
• Access Pyxis for controlled substances.
• Complete documentation for the legal medical record.
• Manipulate or alter grafts.
• Assist anesthesia with airway management and placement of invasive lines.
• Mark surgical site.

Requirements

• Attending an accredited surgical technologist school with three semesters of completed work, with 2 semesters being clinical.
• BLS (Basic Life Support) Certification from the American Heart Association.

Schedule

Scheduled Weekly Hours: 24

Department: Surgery Main