Surgical Technologist I

Job Summary

Under direct supervision, serves as scrub person for basic surgical procedures; prepares instruments and operating room for surgery; troubleshoots, reports, and removes from service faulty equipment; inventories and monitors instruments, sponges and needles on operative field; anticipates surgeons and patient care needs; performs or assists in sterile preps; maintains appropriate quantities of surgical supplies and equipment; assists with decontaminating and cleaning rooms, furniture, and equipment according to established procedures. In addition, serves as scrub person for complex surgical procedures; provides orientation/training to Surgical Tech IIs and IIIs; serves as resource/reference to surgical team with regards to surgical instrumentation.

Essential Responsibilities

• Serves as scrub person for complex surgical procedures.
• Follows department procedures for scrub persons; assembles surgical packs, supplies and instruments for surgical cases, prepares operating room for surgery; assures sterile packages integrity and expiration date before opening; inspects instruments and power equipment prior to use to assure operational order; troubleshoots, reports, and removes faulty instrument and equipment from service; assures adequate amount of appropriate supplies and instrumentation are available in accordance with surgeons preference; counts all instruments, needles and sponges with Registered Nurse according to procedure.
• Inventories and monitors instruments, sponges and needles on operative field using department count procedures; adjusts instrumentation and supplies to changes in procedures and patient condition; assists with monitoring and reporting blood and fluid loss during cases; in conjunction with Registered Nurse, ascertains correctness of count prior to closure of body cavities and surgical wound; assists circulating nurse with restocking the room at end of shift.
• Anticipates surgeons needs; as directed by surgeon, assists surgeon by draping patients, holding/passing instruments, retractors, sutures and medications, applying surgical dressings, suctioning and sponging surgical wounds, holding extremities, and moving patients.
• Recognizes and reports emergency situations; under direction of surgeon or nurse, adjusts priorities and participates in resolving problems as appropriate.
• Assists in identification, labeling and proper specimen disposition using departmental procedures.
• Performs or assists in sterile preps as needed/requested; monitors aseptic techniques of surgical team members at field; reports and corrects breaks in sterile technique immediately; controls location of contaminated instruments and supplies.
• Maintains appropriate quantities of surgical supplies and equipment; restocks room with necessary equipment and supplies; apprises supervisor of special requests for surgical supplies and equipment.
• Assists with decontamination of all equipment, instruments and supplies as necessary; assists with cleaning rooms, furniture, and equipment according to established procedures.
• Orients and trains Surgical Technologist IIs and IIIs as needed; provides feedback of same to Supervisor; reviews, recommends and assists in updating department policies, procedures and protocols for surgical technologists.
• Serves as resource/reference source to Surgical Technologists and other staff members with regards to surgical instrumentation; provides and conducts in‑services as needed.
• Demonstrates sufficient knowledge, skills, and abilities in area of specialization.
• Demonstrates knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to provide care and/or service appropriate to age groups served.
• Demonstrates knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to provide culturally sensitive care and/or service.
• Performs other duties and accepts responsibility as assigned.

Basic Qualifications

• Experience – Minimum two (2) years as Surgical Technologist and full competency of skills as evidenced by ability to scrub for ALL of following cases: general surgery, orthopedics, gynecology, eyes, ENT, plastics, neurosurgery, vascular, thoracic and genito‑urinary.
• Education – Completion of an accredited Surgical Technology training program; or equivalent combination of education (lesser) & experience may be considered in lieu of requirements.
• License, Certification, Registration – Basic Life Support from American Heart Association.

Additional Requirements

• Knowledge of medical terminology.
• Demonstrated knowledge of and skill in adaptability, change management, decision making, customer service, interpersonal relations, oral communication, problem solving, systems thinking, teamwork, initiative, and detail‑orientation.
• Talking to co‑workers, customers, outside vendors, and on the telephone.
• Reading, writing, speaking, and understanding English.
• Training/giving and receiving instructions.
• Mathematical ability, attention to detail (e.g. organization, prioritization, proofing), concentration, and alertness.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience scrubbing in an acute hospital setting.
• Certified Surgical Technologist (CST) by the Association of Surgical Technologists (AST).
• Post High School OR training course work.