SURGICAL TECHNICIAN (OR TECH)

Qualifications

• Possess expertise in the theory and application of sterile and aseptic technique and combines the knowledge of human anatomy, surgical procedures, and implementation tools and technologies to facilitate a physician\’s performance of invasive therapeutic and diagnostic procedures. Surgical procedures range from routine (appendectomy, myringotomy, herniorrhapy) to complex high risk (neurosurgery, thoracic, cardiovascular, orthopedics) or trauma (vehicular accidents, gunshot, knife wounds) cases.
• Must have a minimum of one (1) year experience within the last three (3) years providing services as a certified Surgical Technologist (also known as OR Tech).
• Have and maintain current certification from the National Board of Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting (NBSTSA) as a Certified Surgical Technologist (CST).
• Have and maintain a current Basic Cardiac Life Support (BCLS) certification through American Red Cross (ARC) or American Heart Association (AHA).
• High School Diploma or Equivalent.
• Must exercise a positive, helpful demeanor, display courtesy and tact frequently under stressful conditions and duress at an accelerated pace due to life threatening patient situations. Constant standing, walking, lifting and bending is required. Must be able to read, write, and speak English well enough to effectively communicate with all patients and other health care providers.
• Shall possess sufficient initiative, interpersonal relationship skills and social sensitivity such that he/she can relate constructively to a variety of patients from diverse backgrounds.
• Basic computer skills to include but not limited to entering patient demographic data into facility computer system and hospital information system.
• Be a U.S. Citizen.

Job Duties and Responsibilities

• Be able to circulate the full range of surgical procedures performed in the operating room at BAMC.
• Performs surgical scrub and utilizes personal protective equipment.
• Function as a sterile member of the surgical team who passes instruments, sutures and sponges during surgery. After performing the surgical scrub, they don gown and gloves and prepare the sterile setup for the appropriate surgical procedure.
• Be proficient at the entire gamut of processing, sterilizing and packaging surgical instrumentation for use in surgical procedures.
• Be able to anticipate the needs of surgeons, pass instruments, provide sterile items in an efficient manner and practice aseptic technique wherever and whenever indicated.
• May also perform the role of the circulator (under the direct supervision of a RN).
• Exercise the universal precautions set forth by the Centers for Disease Control when providing direct patient care and/or indirect patient care involving possible exposure to contaminated items at BAMC.
• Transport patients from hospital units to the OR assuring safe transportation of the patient. Screen patients prior to transport to ensure preoperative medications have been given, jewelry, dentures and any prosthetic devices have been removed.
• Check patient chart and identification band for completeness.
• Comfort patients fearing surgery. Contact with family and significant others are to provide information, counseling, emotional support, alleviate anxiety, fear and stress concerning patient condition and/or prognosis.
• Documents all patient care given and the progress of the patient utilizing BAMC\’s documentation standards in the patient\’s medical record manually and/or electronically.
• Performs a vast array of direct patient care procedures to include but are not limited to: range of motion exercises, lifting, turning, transporting and positioning patients and securing patients as required.
• Orient and train newly assigned personnel and students. Explain OR procedures and requirements identify and explain use of surgical instruments and equipment, sterilization techniques and aseptic procedures.
• Observe, monitor and report findings to restore health and to prevent complications and deterioration in conditions such as respiratory distress, neurovascular and neurologic compromise, hemorrhage, sepsis, cardiac and vascular emergencies and requires emergent corrective action within the scope of practice.
• Follow perioperative nursing care plan in preparing patients and OR. May be required to shave operative areas.
• Responsible for quality assurance/risk management and responds to breaches of standard procedures which compromise the patient or staff members. May also serve as a project officer for select committees and participate in research projects that are consultative in nature and involve sharing information, gathering data for new or existing technologies.
• Accounts for sponges, needles, blades, and instruments during the procedure and participates with counts at prescribed times during the procedure with the OR Nurse. Also measures blood and fluid loss.
• Assists surgeons with complex or potentially life-threatening procedures and assists Anesthesiologists and Anesthetists during induction and throughout procedure.
• Select, assemble and organize required supplies, equipment and instruments for specific surgical procedure in accordance with operative work sheets, physician preference card and/or conferring with physician or charge nurse.
• Obtain sterile supplies, sutures, dressings, linens, blood, medications, solutions, instruments, etc. for the specific procedure.
• Open instrument sets, pour solutions, set up and adjust equipment such as electric coagulator, electric bone saw and drill, operate microscope, air power drills, defibrillators and resuscitators, make suction connections and adjust operating lights.
• Clean OR after surgery, remove and dispose of soiled and/or contaminated materials, change linen, washes, disassembles, sterilize and reassemble instruments.
• Replenish sterile packs and general supplies and restock shelves after using existing supplies.
• Set up and perform first echelon maintenance on all OR equipment.
• Perform basic computer operation to include but not limited to entering patient.
• Perform basic administrative duties associated with work.
• Shall be able to work independently with attention to detail and full knowledge of all aspects of the daily collection process. Comply with safety, policies, procedures, and universal precautions in the work area.
• Perform all tasks in compliance with local operating instructions, Joint Commission on Accreditation of Health Care Organizations (JCAHO), regulations and policies and all other Federal, State, and local laws.
• All other duties as assigned.

Duty Hours and Shift

• Rotating Shifts every Quarter. Shift times are: 0645 am – 3.15pm; 2.45 pm – 11.15pm; and 10.45pm – 7.15 am Sunday through Saturday s required by the established schedule, which may include weekdays, weekends, federal holidays, training holidays, or other planned/unplanned closures.
• Techs will be required to provide services for various times consisting of 8/10/12-hour shifts, with 12 being the maximum number of shift hours to be scheduled within a 24-hour period.
• Normally work 32-40 hours per week on rotating shifts.
• Each shift will also consist of either a 30 or 45-minute lunch, which may vary depending on the Section and specific shift assigned. The facility maintains the right to make unplanned or unannounced work schedule changes to meet operational needs.