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, 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. assist 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.