Position Summary :
Facilitates patient care by assisting physicians and nursing staff before, during and after surgical procedures by creating and maintaining a sterile field and providing the instruments and supplies required by the surgeons in a sterile manner according to the established plan of patient care.
Competently performs with and / or without assistance the majority of assigned cases in a given service / shift; may perform difficult or complicated cases either with or without assistance.
Responsibilities
- Under supervision of RN / MD, facilitates patient care by assisting the surgeon before, during and after surgical procedures by creating and maintaining a sterile field and providing the instruments and supplies required by the surgeons in a sterile manner according to the established plan for patient care;
- follows unit standards and processes to deliver age-appropriate care for all patients; demonstrates accountability as an individual and team member in meeting patient / family needs;
participates in identifying cost-effective measures for clinical care.
Plans, sets up, performs and cleans up the assigned surgical procedure as a circulator and / or as a scrub tech; demonstrates knowledge of equipment and instrumentation pertaining to case;
safely operates special equipment which may be used in surgical cases (e.g. lasers, microscopes, tourniquets, endoscopes, drills, saws, etc.
maintains instrument and equipment integrity; performs room turn-over and terminal cleaning; utilizes supplies appropriately and in a cost effective manner.
- Demonstrates knowledge of and the ability to apply the principles of asepsis in creating and maintaining the sterile field;
- uses proper technique when scrubbing, gowning, gloving, and setting up of sterile fields; recognizes what is sterile and what is unsterile;
recognizes contamination and takes proper action to correct situation; continually monitors the sterile field and surgical team to assure that sterility is maintained.
Assists nurse in performing sharp, sponge and instrument counts according to policy as needed; demonstrates proper counting technique for all countables and applies proper procedures with incorrect counts;
demonstrates understanding of exceptions to counts.
- Demonstrates proper positioning techniques; knows the proper position for cases and understands the use of proper positioning aids to protect nerves, bony prominences and to maintain circulation.
- Follows policies, procedures, and safety standards. Completes required education assignments annually. Works toward achieving goals and objectives and participates in quality improvement initiatives as requested.
- Performs other duties as assigned.
Qualifications
Minimum Education :
None specified; however, must be sufficient to meet the standards for achievement of the below indicated license and / or certification as required by the issuing authority.
Minimum Experience :
None with certification.
Licensure Requirements :
Must hold current and active national Certified Surgical Technologist (CST) certification established by the National Board of Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting (NBSTSA).