POSITION DESCRIPTION/PERFORMANCE EXPECTATIONS

POSITION DESCRIPTION

COLUMBUS REGIONAL HEALTHCARE SYSTEM

JOB TITLE

SURGICAL TECHNOLOGIST

JOB CODE

0860

DEPARTMENT

OPERATING ROOM

FLSA (Exempt/Non-Exempt)

NON-EXEMPT

DEPARTMENT DIRECTOR SIGNATURE

ADMINISTRATIVE DIRECTOR SIGNATURE

V. P. HUMAN RESOURCES SIGNATURE

EFFECTIVE DATE

09/13/94

REVISION DATE

07/31/12

DESCRIPTION SUMMARY: Performs specified duties for the set-up, handling and maintenance of surgical supplies, instruments and equipment necessary during

a surgical procedure. Understands the procedure being performed and works under medical supervision to facilitate the safe and effective conduct of invasive

surgical procedures, ensuring that the operating room environment is safe, that equipment functions properly and that the operative procedure is conducted under

conditions that maximize patient safety.

EDUCATION, CREDENTIALS AND TRAINING:

Required: Graduate of an approved program in surgical technology, an approved school of Practical Nursing (with current and valid NC license to practice practical

nursing), or meet all eligibility requirements for certification by the National Board of Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting (NBSTSA). Incumbent must

acquire national certification as a Certified Surgical Technologist (CST) within one year of employment. Current BLS certification. Incumbent will be required to

demonstrate competence in the performance of duties specific to all age groups of patients.

Preferred: Same

EXPERIENCE: New graduates will be considered; however, one year of previous surg tech experience is preferred. Given training and on-the-job experience

incumbent should be proficient in basic aspects of the job within 6 months.

OTHER: Verbal communication skills. Interpersonal skills. Self-directed and motivated. organizational skills. Strong work ethic and the ability to become a

productive member of the perioperative team.

ORGANIZATIONAL RELATIONSHIPS:

Supervises: None

Reports To: Assistant Nurse Manager; OR Charge Nurse for daily assignments

COMMUNICATIONS: Required to communicate frequently with physicians and departmental personnel. Routine communications with personnel in other nursing

units and ancillary service departments. General communications with patients. Purpose includes giving and receiving information, explaining services, rules or

procedures, or providing instructions regarding policies or standards of care. Requires well developed communication skills, tact and discretion in order to obtain

cooperation and understanding, discuss and resolve routine problems, and maintain goodwill.

WORKING HOURS AND OVERTIME STATUS: Normally works eight (8) or ten (10) hour day shifts Monday - Friday. Required to take restricted call with a

maximum response time of thirty (30) minutes. May be required to work alternate shift or additional hours as the workload demands. Classified as non-exempt for

purposes of overtime.

DRESS POLICY: Approved departmental uniform (surgical scrubs)

WORKING ENVIRONMENT: Spends almost all of the time in Surgical Suite and adjacent areas where temperature and lighting are controlled. Spends some time

in transit to and from other patient care areas. Routinely exposed to somewhat unpleasant odors and fumes. Routinely handles sharp objects and contaminated or

potentially infectious materials, supplies and equipment. Exposure during laser use. Potential exposure to air and blood borne pathogens. Exposed to toxic,

volatile or corrosive substances such as cidex and formalin.

EXPOSURE DETERMINATION: OSHA requires an exposure determination concerning which employees may incur occupational exposure to blood or other

potentially infectious materials. The exposure determination is made without regard to the use of personal protective equipment (i.e. employees are considered to

be exposed even if they wear personal protective equipment.) This exposure determination is required to list all job classifications in which all employees may be

expected to incur such occupational exposure, regardless of frequency. It is the department¡¯s responsibility to perform exposure determination for all employees

and to list job classifications in one of three categories.

Category 1 includes employees who are routinely exposed to blood borne pathogens

Category 2 includes employees who are not usually exposed, but for whom contact with infectious materials can be reasonably anticipated during the course of

their duties.

Category 3 is for employees who are not exposed to infectious materials during the normal operations of their job duties.

This job is rated as a category ___1__ (1, 2, or 3).

BIOHAZARDOUS DRUGS: As a health care facility which dispenses drugs, some of which have been identified as hazardous by NIOSH, our goal is to provide

training and where necessary, personal protective equipment (PPE) to insure employee safety. *See list of hazardous drugs in Pharmacy Policy Manual,

Chemotherapy Preparation section. Warning labels will be used to identify drugs requiring special handling or waste disposal procedures. It is the department¡¯s

responsibility to train in safe handling and disposal. It is the employee¡¯s responsibility to follow policies and procedures, and to report situations and/or make

recommendations to improve safety.

It is also the department¡¯s responsibility to perform exposure determination for all employees and to list job classifications in one of three categories.

Category 1 includes employees who are routinely exposed to hazardous drugs.

Category 2 includes employees who are not usually exposed, but for whom contact with hazardous drugs can be reasonably anticipated during the course of their

duties.

Category 3 is for employees who are not exposed to hazardous drugs during the normal operations of their job duties.

This job is rated as a category ___2__ (1, 2, or 3).

WORK AIDS: Medical and surgical supplies, instruments and equipment distinguished by surgical specialty. Reference books and materials. PC (computer)

workstation.

KEY ELEMENTS: SURGICAL TECHNOLOGIST

Demonstrates the required knowledge and technical skills to perform core and specialty procedure in assigned services/specialties as well as common

emergencies.

Understands and uses instrumentation/equipment properly, considering the maintenance, safety and availability.

Demonstrates good communication skills which include giving and receiving information, explaining services, rules or procedures or providing instructions

regarding policies or standards of care.

Demonstrates ability to anticipate surgeon¡¯s requests on core cases of assigned services, expediting the progress of surgery, maintaining strict compliance

with regulatory and safety guidelines and improving patient outcome.

JOB ACCOUNTABILITIES

1.

2.

Perform pre-operative surgical technology duties:

-Gather and assembles necessary instruments and supplies

-Create the sterile field/environment

-Don appropriate surgical attire and PPE.

a.

Properly set up, assemble or arrange necessary and sufficient quantities of supplies, instruments and equipment in accordance with procedure for

assigned case.

b.

Ensure that preparations are complete in accordance with established schedule and case preference cards.

c.

Ensure that sterile field is properly established and maintained, and that other members of the sterile surgical are properly gowned and gloved in

accordance with established procedures.

d.

May assist with application of grounding pads, tourniquets, monitors, etc. before procedure begins.

Perform intraoperative surgical technology duties:

-Assists with draping the sterile field.

-Pass instruments to surgeon, anticipating needs and responding appropriately to changes in the clinical situation.

-Operates all sterile equipment in a safe and competent manner.

-Maintain preventative measures for fire safety, sharps safety and retained surgical items (RSIs).

-Prepares and handles all specimens according to departmental policy.

-Prepare and applies dressings

a.

Respond accurately and promptly to RN or physician's orders and instructions when assisting with patient preparations and when assisting during

surgical procedures.

b.

Ensure the safety of the patient during procedures, so that adverse patient outcomes due to inadequate circulation, pressure injury or thermal

circumstances do not occur.

3.

4.

5.

c.

Intervene with proper procedure, technique and safety precautions as warranted by condition of patient or adverse circumstances which affect the

procedure, such as a break in the sterile field.

d.

Promptly and appropriately respond in accordance with procedure or protocol in emergency or STAT situations.

e.

Performs sponge, instrument and sharps counts with the RN circulator according to departmental policy.

Perform post-operative surgical technology duties:

-Assists with transfer of the patient from the operating table to bed or stretcher.

-Cleans and cares for contaminated instruments in preparation for their transport to Central Sterile decontamination area.

-Disposes of all biohazard waste and sharps in approved methods per hospital and regulatory policies.

-Assists with the turnover of the OR and preparation for subsequent procedures.

a.

Ensure that breakdown and clean-up occurs in accordance with procedure and standards for cleanliness/asepsis, that designated areas are

restocked, and items/equipment are properly stored.

b.

Handles surgical instruments and equipment carefully and properly so as not to cause breakage/damage.

Care for equipment and instruments.

- Decontaminate instruments, supplies and equipment

- Inspect equipment, instruments and linen before and after use for imperfections and integrity

- Order, receive, inspect and store supplies

- Purge out-of-date supplies from inventory

- Document records/logs associated with cleaning/restocking duties

a.

Follow established procedures for the decontamination of instruments, supplies and equipment.

b.

Use all sterilizing equipment safely and efficiently in accordance with procedures, and ensures that associated documentation is accurate,

complete and kept current.

c.

Ensure that any malfunctioning or damaged items are removed from patient use, and reported to the appropriate person, when found.

d.

Maintain par levels of routinely used supplies, and ensure that out-of-date items are removed from inventory by their expiration date.

e.

Follow established procedures for the ordering, verification, acceptance and storage of supplies.

f.

Assists in appropriate documentation of implants and patient supply charges In collaboration with the RN.

Perform quality assurance activities, as assigned.

a.

6.

Effectively perform data collection, analysis and idea generation pertinent to the quality assurance and quality improvement programs, on an ongoing basis, without prompting.

Maintain skill competence.

a.

Remain capable of communicating and demonstrating all skills required for the position.

b.

Attend at least 80% of scheduled staff meetings, and acquires at least 3 hours per quarter of relevant continuing education.

7.

Perform miscellaneous duties, as needed.

-Performs other duties as assigned.

a.

Accomplish routine and non-routine miscellaneous assignments in accordance with procedure and instructions, and time frames.

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