Surgical Technologist

Duties and Responsibilities

• Philosophy
• Supports the facility’s ideology, mission, goals, and objectives
• Performs in accordance with the facility’s policies and procedures
• Follows the facility’s standards for ethical business conduct
• Counsels self in a professional manner, and as a positive role model and team member
• Recognizes patients' rights and responsibilities and supports them in performance of job duties
• Respects patients' right to privacy, dignity, and confidentiality
• Participates in facility committees, meetings, in-services, inventory and activities
• Maintains professional relationships with management and medical staff
• Communication
• Communicates effectively and professionally with patients, visitors, physicians, and coworkers
• Interacts with others in a positive, respectful, and considerate manner
• Displays the ability to comprehend and interpret verbal orders and direction
• Displays skill in oral and written communication techniques
• Financial practices
• Uses facility resources appropriately and avoids wasteful practices
• Reports wasteful practices
• Analyzes work area and makes recommendations for potential cost-effective improvements
• Compliance program
• Contributes to the progress and development of the organization’s adopted compliance program
• Performs according to established compliance policies and procedures
• Performance-improvement program
• Contributes to the progress and development of the organization's adopted performance-improvement program
• Performs according to established performance-improvement policies and procedures
• Safety/risk-management program
• Adheres to safety policies and procedures in performing job duties and responsibilities
• Reports observed or suspected safety violations, hazards, and policy/procedure noncompliance to the safety officer or other designated person
• Professional competence
• Participates in continuing education and other learning experiences
• Shares knowledge gained in continuing education with staff
• Maintains membership in relevant professional organizations
• Seeks new learning experiences by accepting challenging opportunities and responsibilities
• Welcomes suggestions and recommendations
• Duties
• Performs specified functions to meet the requirements of each approved procedure
• Assembles supplies and equipment for scheduled procedures according to physicians’ preference cards
• Inspects equipment for proper working condition
• Follows principles of aseptic technique and prescribed operating/procedure room procedures
• Adheres to aseptic technique when opening sterile packages and preparing for the procedure
• Arranges instruments according to given procedure
• Confirms that instruments work properly
• Maintains availability of instruments and supplies to avoid delays
• Reports observed or suspected breaks in sterile technique and takes action according to policy
• Correctly uses, cares for, cleans, and sterilizes instruments, supplies, and equipment as directed
• Handles equipment and instruments correctly to provide appropriate availability and safety
• Assists in maintaining adequate supplies in the operating room for immediate access during procedure
• Assists in storing and stocking supplies as directed
• Maintains and updates instrument cards and surgeons’ preference cards
• Responds in a timely manner to meet the needs of the patient and physician
• Accurately advises others responsible for care of the patient about the patient’s status

Qualifications

• Cooperative work attitude toward co-employees, management, patients, visitors, and physicians
• Ability to promote favorable facility image with physicians, patients, insurance companies, and general public
• Ability to make decisions and solve problems

Requirements

• Graduate from Surgical Technology program from an accredited school
• Operating room experience
• CPR / AED and First Aid
• Certification in Surgical Technology

Prior Experience

• Two years of previous operating room experience is preferred

Job Quality Requirements

• Accuracy
• Attention to detail
• Timeliness
• Organization
• Little supervision needed to accomplish tasks

Dependability

• Attendance
• Punctuality
• Ability to follow instructions
• Ability to meet deadlines

Physical/Mental Requirements

• Ability to sit/stand for long periods; ability to walk
• Capability for occasional overhead and low reaching
• Physical strength for equipment needs and patient-care activities
• Visual and auditory acuity for timely response and patient-care assessment activities
• Ability to move quickly in response to patient needs
• Ability to make frequent judgments and respond to routine problems
• Ability to make occasional judgments and respond to disasters or emergencies, actual events, or drills

Working Conditions

• Well lit and ventilated, with non-hazardous and hazardous equipment
• Category I: involves occupational exposure to blood and other potentially infectious body fluids and materials

Contacts

• Patients
• Patients’ family/significant others
• Physicians and physician office personnel
• Facility personnel
• Vendors
• Clinical Director