Surgical Technologist CST

About the role

The Surgical Technologist 2 works during surgery to speed up procedures, under a Registered Nurse's supervision. This position helps the surgical team by using equipment and tools to ensure a safe operating room and that equipment is available and working properly.

Responsibilities

• Discuss any special needs with the surgeon before surgery.
• Scrub into surgery in time to prepare instruments before the surgeon scrubs in.
• Prepares the operative site by aseptically cleaning and patient clipping, as needed.
• Prepares and maintains the instrument table in an organized way. This avoids damage and incorrect instrument counts.
• Identifies damaged or incomplete trays. Rectify discrepancies immediately or contact those who can help to avoid delays or injury.
• Sets up the operating room based on surgical procedure schedules. Arranges sterile setup of instrument table supplies and equipment for the specific procedure.
• Carefully selects and opens only needed supplies.
• Ensures the proper functioning of surgical instruments, equipment, and supplies during surgical procedures.
• Performs surgical counts of sponges, sharps, instruments, and miscellaneous items, according to established policies and procedures.
• Anticipates the needs of the surgeon and surgical team staff.
• Passes sterile supplies and equipment to surgeons and assistants.
• Holds retractor devices and responds to the surgical team's needs during surgery.
• Aids the surgical team with draping and positioning the patient.
• Receives surgical specimens following protocol. Passes the specimens off the sterile field to the circulating nurse, verifying the source.
• Aids with placement of surgical dressings to operative site following surgical case completion.
• Disassembles surgical instruments at the end of the procedure. Recycles as needed. Disposes of sharps, fluids, and waste properly.
• Prepares soiled instrumentation for proper transportation to decontamination area.
• Ensures the cleaning, decontamination, sterilization, maintenance, and preparation of surgical instruments, equipment, and supplies for distribution.
• Cleans the operating room following each case, and returns equipment to appropriate storage areas.
• Fulfills infection control policies, AORN Guidelines, OSHA guidelines, and other regulations to ensure a safe work environment for self, coworkers, and patients.
• Maintains inventory of clean and sterilized surgical equipment, instruments, and supplies.
• Follows established policies, procedures, and regulatory standards.
• Collaborates to control inventory maintenance.
• Orders supplies, documents equipment use, and maintains records and files.

Qualifications

• Grad of an Accredited Program
• Less than 1 Year of Experience
• Basic Life Support (BLS): BLS or BLS within 30 days of hire or transfer.
• Cert Surgical Technologist (CST): If candidate completed military/Public Health Service ST training or worked as an ST before 9/1/2009 → HS/GED is sufficient. Otherwise, candidate must have both GAP (accredited ST program) and current CST (NBSTSA or NCCT).