Surgical Technician (Level I-III) -Adult Surgery OUMC - FS

OU Health•Oklahoma City, OK

1d•Onsite

About The Position

General Description: Under general supervision, provides technical assistance to operating room physicians and nurses performing difficult and complex surgical procedures. Certified Surgical Techs will have a primary designated service line. They will have expertise and competencies specific to the service line. Essential Responsibilities: Utilizes physician’s preference cards to assist in preparing the operating room for the surgical procedure. Assists in maintaining and updating preference cards. Maintains an adequate supply of instruments and supplies to meet the patient’s changing needs. Scrubs in and sets up instruments and supplies prior to procedure. Prepares sterile field by obtaining, opening, and arranging instruments and supplies anticipated for the procedure. Assists in draping the patient and operative area. With nurse, opens and prepares the sterile field. Assists the nurse in correct identification of operative specimens for laboratory analysis. Remains attentive during surgery and provides additional instruments, supplies or other items as needed. Remains attentive to sterile field and recognizes and corrects breaks in sterile technique. Delivers medications to the surgeon. Participates in sponge, needle and instrument counts as directed by policy. Reports all drains, packs, implants, etc., to the circulating nurse and assists with application of dressings. Informs appropriate personnel of any potential problems regarding patient or procedure. Takes emergency action as required. Assists with post-operative processing of instruments and equipment. Cleans operating room areas and disposes of sharps from sterile field according to policy. Participates in evaluation of new products, methods or equipment to determine quality. Serves as clinical resource for physicians and for staff in other departments. Conducts daily discussions with the Supervisor regarding service line needs. This may include equipment issues, instrument needs and supply shortages. Acts as a liaison between physicians and Supervisor regarding instruments and supplies. Works with other departments and vendors to learn about new equipment and ensure that tools and supplies are updated. Assists in the training of Surgical Technicians. Assists with patient transport as needed. If assigned to the Labor and Delivery unit incumbent may be required to perform a variety of clerical and technical direct patient care activities. Performs related work as required.

Requirements

Graduation from an accredited school/program for Surgical Technicians
Eligible to sit for the national exam by the Association of Surgical Technicians.
Service line competency achievement.
Current Basic Life Support issued by the American Heart Association required upon hire.
Graduation from an accredited school/program for Surgical Technology required.
Basic Life Support issued by the American Heart Association required.
Certified Surgical Technologist (CST) issued by the National Board of Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting (NBSTSA) or Tech in Surgery (TS-C) issued by the National Center for Competency Testing (NCCT) required.
Advanced knowledge of medical asepsis as it applies to the operating room.
Advanced knowledge of various instruments used for each type of surgical procedure.
Advanced knowledge of proper operating room setup.
Advanced knowledge of proper method of handling and transferring instruments and supplies.
Advanced knowledge of proper handling of tissue specimens, cultures, and smears.
Advanced knowledge of inventory methods.
Advanced skills in maintaining an effective working relationship with others.
Advanced skills in following technical written and verbal instructions.
Advanced skills in providing technical assistance in all specialty areas.
Advanced understanding of the principles of growth and development over the lifespan and relevant ability to provide care appropriate to the patient's age-specific needs (neonate, pediatric, adolescent, adult, geriatric).
Proficient in basic computer functions and programs.
Knowledge of medical asepsis as it applies to the operating room; of various instruments used for each type of surgical procedures; of proper set-up of operating room; of correct method of handling instruments and supplies to surgeon; of proper handling of tissue specimens, cultures and smears; of inventory methods.
Skill in maintaining an effective working relationship with others; in following technical written and verbal instructions; in scrubbing for all specialty areas.
Surgical Technician II must demonstrate the knowledge and skills necessary to provide care appropriate to the age of the patients served by his or her service. The Surgical Technician II must demonstrate knowledge of the principles of growth and development over the life span and possess the ability to assess data reflective of the patient’s status; and to interpret the appropriate information needed to identify each patient’s requirements relative to his or her age-specific needs; and to provide the care needed by the appropriate patient age group (neonate, pediatric, adolescent, adult, geriatric).
Must have sufficient computer skills to check and respond to emails and edit preference cards.

Responsibilities

Utilizes physician’s preference cards to assist in preparing the operating room for the surgical procedure.
Assists in maintaining and updating preference cards.
Maintains an adequate supply of instruments and supplies to meet the patient’s changing needs.
Scrubs in and sets up instruments and supplies prior to procedure.
Prepares sterile field by obtaining, opening, and arranging instruments and supplies anticipated for the procedure.
Assists in draping the patient and operative area.
With nurse, opens and prepares the sterile field.
Assists the nurse in correct identification of operative specimens for laboratory analysis.
Remains attentive during surgery and provides additional instruments, supplies or other items as needed.
Remains attentive to sterile field and recognizes and corrects breaks in sterile technique.
Delivers medications to the surgeon.
Participates in sponge, needle and instrument counts as directed by policy.
Reports all drains, packs, implants, etc., to the circulating nurse and assists with application of dressings.
Informs appropriate personnel of any potential problems regarding patient or procedure.
Takes emergency action as required.
Assists with post-operative processing of instruments and equipment.
Cleans operating room areas and disposes of sharps from sterile field according to policy.
Participates in evaluation of new products, methods or equipment to determine quality.
Serves as clinical resource for physicians and for staff in other departments.
Conducts daily discussions with the Supervisor regarding service line needs. This may include equipment issues, instrument needs and supply shortages.
Acts as a liaison between physicians and Supervisor regarding instruments and supplies.
Works with other departments and vendors to learn about new equipment and ensure that tools and supplies are updated.
Assists in the training of Surgical Technicians.
Assists with patient transport as needed.
If assigned to the Labor and Delivery unit incumbent may be required to perform a variety of clerical and technical direct patient care activities.
Performs related work as required.