Surgical Technologist I

Job Description

Job Summary:

• The Surgical Technologist I is an entry level professional. Incumbents are expected to have a general understanding of procedures being performed and anticipate the needs of the Surgical Team.

Duties and Responsibilities:

1. Preoperative Duties:

• Identifies patient, verifies surgery to be performed with consent forms, and assists in the transport of patient to procedural suite when requested.
• Assists with transferring patient to the operating room table.
• Assists with positioning the patient, using appropriate equipment and anatomical principles to avoid patient injury.
• Gathers, checks and opens supplies and equipment needed for the surgical/invasive procedure.
• Performs the surgical scrub, and donning gown and gloves with sterile technique.
• Performs initial instrument, sharps and sponge counts with the RN according to the client policy and procedure.
• Assists with draping the patient and establishing the sterile field.
• Participates in the surgical site and patient verification during the Time-Out Universal Protocol.
• Secures tubing, cords and other sterile accessories.
• Assists with surgical patient preparedness.

2. Intraoperative/Post-Procedure Duties:

• Prepares and anticipates additional instrumentation, equipment and supply requirements throughout the procedure.
• Labels, measures, passes medications, hemostatic agents and irrigation solutions utilized during the procedure.
• Holds retractors or instruments as directed by the surgical team.
• Sponges or suctions the operative site as requested.
• Cuts suture material as directed by the surgical team.
• Coordinates the camera or changes out robotic arms/instruments during endoscopic surgery as directed by the surgical team.
• Maintains highest standard of sterile technique.
• Performs additional counts as requested or necessary.
• Prepares sterile dressings and/or immobilization devices.
• Prepares and passes off specimen(s) according to the client policy and procedure.
• Cleans and prepares instruments for terminal sterilization and transport according to the departmental guidelines.
• Participates in debriefing and quality improvement practices to ensure quality patient care.
• Performs instrumentation counts prior to each procedure (when applicable).
• Maintain active participation in all phases of the Time-Out Universal Protocol according to client policy and procedure.
• Secures dressings after incision closure.
• Ensure all required instrumentation is returned to the Processing Department according to departmental protocol.
• Follows all federal, state and departmental safety procedures.

Additional Duties:

• Assists other members of the team with turnover cleaning of the surgical or procedural suite.
• Assists in patient monitoring to ensure the comfort of the patient and provides verbal and tactile reassurance to the patient (when applicable).
• Assists in maintaining normothermia.
• Keeps accurate records throughout the procedure.
• Helps transport the patient to the post anesthesia care unit.

Education and Certifications:

• High School Diploma/GED required.
• Graduation from an accredited Surgical Technology Training Program Possession and maintenance of a current American Heart Association Healthcare Provider Basic Life Support (BLS) card.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Demonstrates clinical knowledge and skill in the care of the newborn, infant, toddler, child, adolescent, adult and geriatric patient population.
• Performs other related duties within skill set when assigned
• Strong working knowledge of aseptic technique.
• Demonstrate the necessary knowledge and ability to ensure quality patient care during the operative procedure and is constantly vigil for the maintenance of the sterile field.
• Maintain a high level of surgical conscience in professional behavior demonstrating understanding and application of principles of surgical technology and legal, ethical, and moral responsibilities to patients and team members.