Certified Surgical Technician

Job Duties and Responsibilities
The duties include but are not limited to the following
• Performs the full spectrum of sterile techniques, setting up surgical trays, preparing and draping patients for surgery, and assisting with post-operative dressings.
• Ensure surgical packs are cleaned and packed for sterilization after every procedure, to include restocking surgical supplies.
• Maintain a clean safe environment for the patient either by active participation in cleaning of clinical spaces, operating rooms, and medical equipment, or by guiding other personnel in the environmental maintenance.
• Immediately report events to the registered nurse or officer in charge and document notification.
• Serve as a member of the surgical team in an operating room by providing support for surgical procedures ranging from routine (e.g., appendectomy, myringotomy, herniorrhaphy) to complex, high risk (e.g., neurosurgery, thoracic, cardiovascular, orthopedic) or trauma (multisystem involvement due to vehicular accidents, gunshot, knife wounds) procedures.
• HCW regularly encounters patients classed as “sickest of the sick”, i.e., not expected to survive 24 hours with or without surgery. Follows preoperative nursing care plan in preparing the patient and the operating room for surgery
• Transports patients from hospital units to the operating room assuring safe transportation of the patient. Screens patient prior to transport to ensure preoperative medications have been given, that jewelry, dentures and any prosthetic devices have been removed. Checks patient’s chart and identification band for completeness. Comforts patients fearing surgery.
• Checks rooms for cleanliness, runs electrical checks to see if suctioning, cauterizing and other equipment is operating properly. Sets up special equipment and systems, such as operating microscopes, television equipment, prosthesis, skin graft equipment, operating lights, defibrillators, etc. Selects, assembles and organizes supplies, equipment and instruments for specific surgical procedures in accordance with operative work sheets, physician preference card and/or conferring with physicians and/or charge nurse, and specialty equipment vendors. Knowledge of a wide range of instruments, suture materiel and highly specialized and complex equipment used for various surgical procedures and skill to identify, use and make adjustments needed in equipment and surgical instrumentation. Skill to anticipate the needs of surgeon/anesthesiologist and respond to surgical emergencies such as hemorrhage or other life and/or limb threatening situations. The HCW must know and select the appropriate guideline based upon the patient’s condition. Judgement is required in preparing for alternatives and emergency contingencies.

Instant adjustment as a critical member of the surgery team is required to adapt to individual patient situations.
• Responsible for maintenance of aseptic procedures during preparation for, and assistance with, surgical procedures. Follows intraoperative nursing care plan in caring for and monitoring the patient during the surgical procedure. Assists in positioning and draping the patient for the specific procedure by anticipating the surgeon’s needs. Remains alert for complications developing during surgery such as hemorrhage, shock and cardiac arrest. Immediately notifies surgeon and supplies instrument to correct the situation. Performs sharp counts, measures blood and fluid loss. Performs sponge, needle and instrument counts under direct observation of a registered nurse. Assists with application of dressings. Requires practical knowledge of surgical instruments and equipment needed to perform full range of surgical procedures to include trauma where rapid adjustments to tools/instruments utilized is required. Complexity is increased by the requirement to make instantaneous decisions when faced with a surgical emergency such as hemorrhage. Precise coordination of action with other members of the surgical team and quick, accurate response to surgeon orders is required to ensure patient well-being. Frequently the situation does not allow consultation with supervisors. The correct action must be taken immediately to protect life/limb of the patient.
• Cleans operating room after surgery; removes and disposes of soiled and/or contaminated materials; changes linen; washes instruments and assembles them for sterilization. Replenishes sterile supplies and restocks shelves. Set up and performs first echelon maintenance on all OR equipment. In the absence of housekeeping personnel, performs mopping, disinfecting, etc. Assists operating Room Nurse to maintain adequate supplies for the specific surgical service assigned.
• Floating: HCWs will be required to float within all specialty surgical service assignments for which they have demonstrated competency. For example, orthopedic, ophthalmology, urology, GYN, etc.