Surgical Technician

UPMC•Altoona, PA

10h•Onsite

About The Position

Functions as a member of the operating room or surgery center nursing team providing direct care to the surgical patient and performing other related duties under the direction of the registered nurse.

Requirements

PA legislature House Bill 81 was enacted on 10/29/2020 and became effective on 12/27/2020. Must have completed a program sponsored by nationally recognized institutional or programmatic accreditation and maintains certification or Has completed an appropriate military training program or Maintains certification from an accredited program or Was employed as a surg tech in a health care facility on or before the effective date of the act (12/27/2020) or Employed as a surg tech at another health care facility two years before the effective date (12/27/2020). Exception: A healthcare facility may employ individuals who do not meet the certification requirements if after a diligent and thorough effort has been made they are unable to employ a sufficient number of qualified surg techs who meet the requirements (i.e. certification) and a written record of efforts is made and retained at the health care facility. 1. All of our recruitment efforts are documented and can be supplied for this record. 2. The supply of certified or eligible to be certified surg techs does not meet our needs. Continuing education requirements: Compliance with continuing education requirements specified by the credentialing organization for certification. For individuals not certified - must complete 30 hours of continuing ed every two years. Specialty experience: Surgical specialties include but are not limited to general, orthopedic, vascular, plastic and reconstructive, obstetrics and gynecology, thoracic, ophthalmic, neurosurgery, organ procurement, and endoscopic surgical settings. Access to medications is limited to the distribution of the medication to the nurse.
CPR is required based on AHA standards that include both a didactic and skills demonstration component within 30 days of hire.
Certification Details - Certified Surgical Technologist (CST) or Technologist Surgery Certified (TSC) within 6 months of program completion: Note: Staff employed to practice surgical technology by the health care facility on or before the effective date of the law (12/27/2020) or who were employed as a surg tech at another health care facility two years before the effective date of the law are grandfathered and therefore not required to have certification. New graduates of a program sponsored by nationally recognized institutional or programmatic accreditation can work for six months before certification but must be certified within six months of program completion. Exception: A healthcare facility may employ individuals who do not meet the certification requirements if after a diligent and thorough effort has been made they are unable to employ a sufficient number of qualified surg techs who meet the requirements (i.e. certification) and a written record of efforts is made and retained at the health care facility. (1. Recruitment efforts are documented and can be supplied for this record. 2. The supply of certified or eligible to be certified surg techs does not meet the needs of the organization.).
Basic Life Support (BLS) OR Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR)
Act 31 Child Abuse Reporting with renewal
Act 33 with renewal
Act 34 with renewal
Act 73 FBI Clearance with Renewal

Responsibilities

Utilizes hospital policy to meet JCAHO requirements.
Assists surgeon as scrub technician according to prescribed standards. Scrubs and dones gown and gloves by performance standards.
Maintains proper traffic control in the Operating Room Suite. Maintains use and cleanliness of autoclaves by following directions for use and cleaning.
Maintains correct count of sponges, instruments, and needles with the circulating nurse and reports correctness or discrepancies according to department policy. Maintains aseptic technique at all times.
Observes patients and is ready for emergencies.
Knows where all supplies are kept and can get or put them away accordingly.
Assists in handling specimens as directed. Assists in the application of dressing, casts, and in moving of patient as directed. Assists in cleaning the room, furniture, supplies, and equipment after a procedure.
Assists in the workroom cleaning, storage, packing, and autoclaving of instruments.
Employee complies with established occupation exposure policy.
Set up tables, instruments, and supplies according to the type of operation. Assists in preparation and draping of patient and operative area according to need. Anticipates the need for instruments, sutures, sponges, etc.