Surgical Technologist I - Operating Room

About the position

The Surgical Technologist I works under the supervision of a surgeon and registered nurse 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. Surgical technologists possess expertise in the theory and application of sterile and aseptic technique and combine the knowledge of human anatomy, surgical procedures, and implementation tools and technologies to facilitate a physician's performance of invasive therapeutic and diagnostic procedures. Has baseline knowledge and ability to perform duties of surgical scrub at entity they serve.

Responsibilities

• Performs technical skill duties in all operating room specialty service areas, ensuring that proper technical practices are employed according to accepted standards of process.
• Provides proper maintenance, assembly, handling, and sterilization techniques of specialty instrumentation.
• Follows aseptic technique. Proactively identifies contamination and/or breaks in aseptic technique and implements corrective actions.
• Performs surgical counts. Follows policies and procedures for incorrect counts and reports discrepancies appropriately.
• Labels drugs and solutions; monitors quantities used.
• Assists in the proper identification, preparation, handling, and labeling of surgical specimens.
• Actively participates in the planning and set up of instruments, supplies, and surgical drapes in an organized manner to provide optimal accessibility during the procedure.
• Assists the surgeon, demonstrating an understanding of the patient's anatomy and abnormalities which affect the surgical procedure.
• Assists in picking cases and planning of instrument needs.
• Recognizes and modifies scrubbing procedures based on pertinent information to develop modifications to standard approaches to care and communicates with the surgical team. Responds to surgical emergencies and follows hospitalwide emergency management plans.
• Inventories, receives, and stores supplies under the direction of Surgical Services leadership.
• Identifies and reports defective instruments, supplies, and equipment. Assists with restocking operating/procedure rooms and sub-sterile areas.
• Assists the registered nurse during the intraoperative implementation phase of nursing practice.
• Operates complex equipment and other resources in the operating room, troubleshooting as necessary.
• Serves as a mentor for Surgical Technician Trainees and will serve as a preceptor as needed.

Requirements

• Graduate of an accredited Surgical Technology or Nursing Program; or Graduate of a Military Training Program in Surgical Technology; or Formal education/training may be substituted for individuals with 3+ years of prior experience as a surgical tech.
• Basic Life Support (BLS) for Healthcare Provider certification.
• 0-3 years of professional experience.

Nice-to-haves

• Successful completion of service specific portion of the UNC Health Surgical Technologist competencies.
• Strong communication skills/customer service relations.
• Excellent organizational/priority setting skill.

Benefits

• $5,000.00 paid over two (2) years as part of the UNC Health Johnston Incentive Program.
• An additional $1,000.00 at time of hire.