Certified Surgical Technician

Certified Surgical Technician (CST)
Salary Range
-
Job Summary

NO CALL, NO HOLIDAYS, NO WEEKENDS !!

Certified Surgical Technician

Orders, organizes supplies, and equipment in the operating room. Sets up the operating surgeon’s sterile table trying to anticipate what might be needed during the procedure. Helps the surgeon and any assistants don their surgical gowns and gloves. Counts surgical instruments before and after the surgery. Hands the desired instruments to the surgeon during the operation. Prepares the sterile dressings. Cleans the surgical instruments after the operation. Assists with cleaning the operating room after an operation and setting up for the next case/following day. May assist with the transfer of the patient to the recovery room. Responsible for ensuring proper care and use of surgical instruments, to include central sterile and use of washer and autoclave. General surgery, GI procedures, and pain.

Hours vary but are typically, Monday - Friday, 615am - 330pm.

General Accountabilities

Duties and responsibilities:

1. Philosophy:

a) Supports the facility’s ideology, mission, goals, and objectives

b) Performs in accordance with the facility’s policies and procedures

c) Follows the facility’s standards for ethical business conduct

d) Conducts self as a positive role model and team member

e) Recognizes patients’ rights and responsibilities and supports them in performance of job duties

f) Participates in facility committees, meetings, inservices, and activities

2. Communication:

a) Communicates effectively and professionally with patients, visitors, physicians, and coworkers

b) Interacts with others in a positive, respectful, and considerate manner

c) Displays the ability to comprehend and interpret verbal orders and direction

d) Displays skill in oral and written communication techniques

3. Financial practices

a) Uses facility resources appropriately and avoids wasteful practices

b) Reports wasteful practices

c) Analyzes work area and makes recommendations for potential cost-effective improvements

4. Compliance program

a) Contributes to the progress and development of the organization’s adopted compliance program

b) Performs according to established compliance policies and procedures

5. Quality Assessment Performance Improvement program (QAPI)

a) Contributes to the progress and development of the organization's adopted Quality Assessment Performance Improvement program (QAPI)

b) Performs according to established Quality Assessment Performance Improvement (QAPI)policies and procedures

c) Objectively evaluates suggestions, grievances, and processes to identify opportunities to

improve performance and quality of care

d) Participates in data collection activities to support the Quality Assessment Performance Improvement program (QAPI)

6. Safety/risk-management program

a) Adheres to safety policies and procedures in performing job duties and responsibilities

b) Reports observed or suspected safety violations, hazards, and policy/procedure noncompliance to the safety officer or other designated person

c) Recognizes own limitations and seeks assistance and acquires sufficient information

necessary to function effectively in assigned setting.

7. Professional competence

a) Participates in continuing education and other learning experiences

b) Shares knowledge gained in continuing education with staff

c) Maintains membership in relevant professional organizations

d) Seeks new learning experiences by accepting challenging opportunities and responsibilities

e) Welcomes suggestions and recommendations

8. Duties

a) Performs specified functions to meet the requirements of each approved procedure

b) Assembles supplies and equipment for scheduled procedures according to physicians’ preference cards

c) Inspects equipment for proper working condition

d) Follows principles of aseptic technique and prescribed operating/procedure room procedures

e) Adheres to aseptic technique when opening sterile packages and preparing for the procedure

f) Arranges instruments according to given procedure

g) Confirms that instruments work properly

h) Maintains availability of instruments and supplies to avoid delays

i) Reports observed or suspected breaks in sterile technique and takes action according to policy

j) Correctly uses, cares for, cleans, and sterilizes instruments, supplies, and equipment as directed

k) Handles equipment and instruments correctly to provide appropriate availability and safety

l) Assists in maintaining adequate supplies in the operating room for immediate access during procedure

m) Assists in storing and stocking supplies as directed

n) Maintains and updates instrument cards and surgeons’ preference cards

o) Responds in a timely manner to meet the needs of the patient and physician

p) Documents patient-care records and other forms according to facility policies and procedures

q) Accurately advises others responsible for care of the patient about the patient’s status

Machines/ Equipment Used

All operating room instrumentation, video equipment, power equipment, laser and smoke evacuators, microscopes, OR beds, sterilization equipment, C-arm, clinical equipment used for patient care, including, but not limited to suction equipment, stretchers, blanket and fluid warmers. Office equipment, i.e. computers, copy machines, telephones, and fax machine

Job Qualifications

Qualifications

1. Cooperative work attitude toward co-employees, management, patients, visitors, and physicians.

2. Ability to perform and adapt to changes in a fast paced work environment.

3. Ability to make decisions and solve problems.

Requirements

1. High school diploma or GED certification.

2. Completion of surgical scrub technician course.

3. 2 yrs operating room experience.

4. Strong ethical and moral character references.

5. BLS certification.

6. Must be able to provide proof of identity and their right to work in the United States.

Preferred

1. ASC experience.

Job quality requirements

1. Accuracy.

2. Attention to detail.

3. Timeliness.

4. Organization.

5. Little supervision needed to accomplish tasks.

Dependability

1. Attendance.

2. Punctuality.

3. Ability to follow instructions.

4. Ability to meet deadlines.

Physical/mental requirements

1. Requires extensive mobility: walking, standing, bending, stooping, kneeling, crouching, or crawling.

2. Ability to sit for long periods of time.

3. Pushing, pulling, and lifting of equipment and/or patients.

4. Requires mental alertness and accuracy for decision making.

5. Requires ability to speak, hear, and to identify and distinguish colors.

6. Use of hands to reach, grasp, use fine finger movement and feel fine sensation to discern temperature, texture, size and shape.

7. Repetitive motion required for extensive use of computers.

8. Good visual acuity.

9. Ability to lift up to 50 lbs.

10. Ability to occasionally respond to disasters/emergencies, actual events, or drills.

Skills
Sterile Technique