Surgical Technician

Hot Springs County Hospital District

 Job Description

SURGICAL TECHNICIAN

______________________________________________________________________________

DEPARTMENT:          Surgical Services

SUPERVISOR:             Surgical Services Director

STATUS:                     Non-Exempt               

EMPLOYEE NAME:  

APPROVED BY:          Chief Clinical Officer   DATE:   January, 2023

_____________________________________________________________________________

GENERAL:

 

In accordance with the Hot Springs County Hospital District Personnel Policy and Procedure Manual and the requirements of our accrediting bodies, the employee will: support the mission “Partnering with our community for quality health and healing”, the five core values “Ownership, Always better than yesterday, Service first, Integrity, and Stewardship of our resources (OASIS).  Our behavior creates our OASIS – a place where we can find safety, sustenance, and a pleasant change from the usual.  and vision of “being the hub for the development and provision of quality health services while ensuring the viability of Hot Springs County Hospital District as a valued healthcare partner in the community.”

 

The established priorities of Quality, Service, Finance, People, and Growth, will be utilized in decision making. Furthermore, the employee will demonstrate the ability to manage time, maintain a safe and clean environment; practice confidentiality; treat all persons with respect and professional courtesy; accept change; accept and provide constructive feedback; work as a team player and adhere to the infection control, fire and safety, disaster and hazardous waste policies.  The employee must also demonstrate the competencies for their position, and adhere to policies and procedures of their department. The employee will participate in quality improvement activities.

 

BEHAVIORAL REQUIREMENTS:

The following is a list of minimally required behaviors to assist the employee in partnering with our community:

 

Ownership

Accepts responsibility for actions, attitudes and health.  Doing things right the first time, every time for excellent results.  Accepts ownership of mistakes and takes constructive action to avoid repeating mistakes.  Works with empowerment to the highest potential both as an individual and as part of the team. Unsatisfied with the status quo or just being “good.” 

 

Always Better Than Yesterday

Performs at the highest level, always learning and looking for ways to improve, with an unwavering focus on safety.  Celebrates and encourages the contributions of one another. 

Constructively challenges the status quo by being flexible, adaptable and embracing change as a key element of our future success.    Contributes to an environment that encourages creative thinking.  Shares ideas and opinions, and supports opportunities to learn and grow.   Contributes to an environment that encourages creative thinking.  Shares ideas and opinions, and supports opportunities to learn and grow.

 

Service First

Doing our best every day to anticipate and exceed the expectations of patients, providers and co-workers. Understands excellence is the result of team effort.  Creates legendary experiences.

 

Integrity

Does the right things.  Consistently open, honest, trustworthy and ethical.  Demonstrates respect for patients, their families, staff, providers and the community. 

 

Stewardship of Our Resources

Strives to care wisely for our human, financial and natural resources.  Strengthens HSCHD as a partner in the community.

 

POSITION SUMMARY:

 

Surgical technologists, also known as surgical technicians or operating room assistants, help prepare the operating room and the patient for a surgical procedure. They sterilize instruments using a variety of techniques, arrange equipment, and assist in surgical operations. They prep the patient by cleaning and disinfecting the area near the incision. They may help dress the wound after the operation is complete, and accompany a patient to the recovery room.

 

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Performs daily/weekly unit preparation.  Stocking, ordering supplies to maintains par levels within the department.  General housekeeping functions such as cleaning and preparing room for patient arrival-assist with room turnover
2. Organizes and pulls cases according to doctor preference cards.  Provide equipment and supplies based on patient needs.  Check surgical machines and equipment to assure they are in working order.
3. Create, maintain, monitor and control a sterile environment.  Demonstrates integrity in technical and aseptic practice and complies with sterile technique when appropriate.
4. Differentiates sterilization methods for equipment and instruments necessary for specific Endoscopy and surgical procedures
5. Perform scrub functions in the area assigned.
6. Prepares specimens for Lab/Pathology accurately according to HSCHD policy and procedure
7. Process instruments, supplies and equipment using appropriate sterilization parameters
8. Assist surgical team with transportation of patient to appropriate procedural area
9. Post-operatively obtain beds/stretcher to accommodate OR schedule and patient transport.
10. Maintains proper documentation of patient records and or equipment monitoring.

 

Additional Duties:

For procedures that require the Registered Nurse to administer conscience sedation ie: pain procedures, the surgical technologist is utilized in the circulating role. The surgical technologist assisting in circulating obtains additional instruments, supplies, and equipment necessary while the surgical procedure is in progress. He/she monitors conditions in the operating room and constantly assesses the needs of the patient and surgical team. The surgical technologist will function in this role under the direct supervision of the Registered Nurse who is readily available to manage emergencies.

1. Assists with transferring patient to the operating room table.

2. Assists in maintaining normothermia.

3. Assists the nurse providing sedation.

4. Assists with positioning the patient, using appropriate equipment and

anatomical principles to avoid patient injury.

5.  Applies the electrosurgical grounding pad.

6. Assists with applying tourniquets and monitors before the procedure begins.

7. Completes the patient skin prep prior to draping by the sterile surgical team.

8. Anticipates additional supplies needed during the procedure.

9. Keeps accurate records throughout the procedure.

10. Secures dressings after incision closure.

11. Helps transport the patient to the post anesthesia care unit.

12. Updates and keeps accurate records of the surgeon’s preferences.

 

The above duties are intended to describe the key aspects of the work performed by individual(s) assigned to this position. They are not to be construed as an exhaustive listing of requirements relative to the position. Therefore, the employee may be required to perform other duties as assigned.

      

QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS: To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily.  The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill and/or ability required.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

 

EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE

The Surgical Technician shall:

 

1.         High School Graduate or equivalent

2.         Graduate of a Surgical Technology Program with Surgical Technology certification.  

3.         Previous Central Sterile experience preferred.

4.         Previous experience in this area required.

5.         Previous experience working in a medical or health care facility with knowledge of medical terminology is preferred.

6.         Must possess communication skills to relate to the public in person

7.         Demonstrate good organizational abilities

 

LANGUAGE SKILLS:

Ability to read, analyze, and interpret appropriate journals, financial reports, and legal documents. Ability to respond to common inquiries or complaints from customers, regulatory agencies, or members of the business community. Assist in writing policies and procedures as needed. 

 

MATHEMATICAL SKILLS:

Ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide in all units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals. Ability to compute rate, ratio, and percent

 

REASONING ABILITY:

Ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables in situations where only limited standardization exists. Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form. Ability to modify care based on the developmental / functional age of the patient as well as that of the patient's ethnic background.

 

CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS:

 

• BLS
• Surgical Technology Certification preferred

 

OTHER SKILLS AND ABILITIES:

Ability to interact with patients, families, visitors and co-workers.  Ability to interact assertively and tactfully when dealing with conflict and in group solving activities.  Ability to demonstrate a professional, open minded approach in identifying problems and resolving problems/conflicts.

 

AGE SPECIFIC:

Must be able to provide care according to the developmental level and or chronological patient served.  This includes, but is not limited to, identifying the needs and abilities of each patient, and demonstrating an understanding of how a patient’s chronological and developmental age influences his/her need for adaptations related to his/her abilities.  Also, an understanding of how a patient’s age impacts his/her ability to deal with and adapt to the care needed/provided is required.  General census of neonatal to geriatric patients

 

PHYSICAL DEMANDS: The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

 

While filling this position, the employee must regularly lift and or move 10 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds.  Specific vision abilities required by this position include close vision, distance, vision, color vision, peripheral vision, and depth perception.  This position also requires walking or standing to a significant degree.  This position also requires reaching, handling, fingering, feeling, talking, and hearing, stooping, bending, crouching, and working with equipment.

 

WORK ENVIRONMENT: The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

 

The employee is also subject to exposure to blood and body fluids, proximity to moving mechanical parts, electrical shock, exposure to burns and radiant energy, exposure to toxic chemicals and biological agents.