Surgical Technician

Job description

Job Summary
To maintain the sterile field in the operating room, being constantly vigilant to see that proper aseptic techniques are utilized to prevent contamination and infection. To assist the surgical team as the sterile member who passes instruments, sutures, and sponges during surgery.
Essential Functions
• Before an operation, helps set up the operating room and organizes sterile table with surgical instruments and equipment, sterile linens, and sterile solutions.
• Checks, adjusts, and operates equipment such as sterilizers, lights, suction machines, electrosurgical units, and diagnostic equipment.
• Maintains supply of fluids such as plasma, saline, blood, and glucose for use during operation.
• Prepares patients for surgery by washing, shaving, and disinfecting incision sites. Also transports, positions patients on table, and covers them with sterile surgical "drapes."
• Scrubs hands and arms, puts on sterile operating room attire to be able to work within the sterile field established around the patient and to handle the sterilized instruments, equipment, and supplies used in the procedure.
• Anticipates the needs of the surgeon, passing instruments, and providing sterile items in an efficient manner.
• Helps prepare, care for, and dispose of specimens taken for laboratory analysis, holds retractors, cuts sutures, and applies dressings as directed.
• Cleans and restocks the operating room.
• Adheres to The Joint Commission (TJC) on professional standards and attends hospital in-service training sessions as directed. Provides age-appropriate care for all age groups.

Other Duties
Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice.
Minimum Education/Certifications
Must have completed a post-high school program accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP). Associate degree preferred.
Must be certified by the NBSTSA - National Board of Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting or AST - Association of Surgical Technologists
Surgical technologists who were already working as surgical technologists in a licensed health care facility before December 20, 2011, were grandfathered and are not required to meet the education or certification requirement to continue working.
BLS-CPR
Minimum Work Experience
At least two years of experience as a surgical technologist in acute care setting.
Position Type/Expected Hours of Work: Must be willing to work holidays, weekends and provide additional coverage as needed
Physical Demands Analysis:
The following tables detail the individual physical demands using the following six categories: Mobility, Strength, Upper Extremity Postural Activity, Sensory/Perceptual, Work Environment, and Conditions of Work