Surgical Technologist II

Independence Health System Careers•Greensburg, PA

18d

About The Position

The Surgical Technologist II delivers direct and indirect patient care in accordance with hospital and departmental policies, procedures, protocols, and professional standards. Working with the RN, the technologist helps develop and implement individualized, age-specific plans of care, reassesses patient conditions as appropriate, involves patients, families, and other providers when appropriate, and completes care activities and documentation within required timeframes. The role collaborates with physicians and other health care providers to support patient outcomes and continuity of care, communicates information for interdisciplinary conferences and shift reports, and responds to changes in the operating room schedule and care-team needs. The position functions as the scrub member of the surgical team. It obtains instruments and supplies, establishes sterile setups for procedures in coordination with surgeon preferences, assists with patient movement and positioning and with the surgical procedure, handles specimens, performs accurate OR counts, and helps clean and set up cases. The technologist follows aseptic and infection-control practices, supports patient safety and identification requirements, and may perform central service technician duties as necessary or assigned. The Surgical Technologist II also contributes to quality improvement, regulatory compliance, survey readiness, cost control, and team development. The role demonstrates leadership, sound judgment, accountability, problem-solving, patient advocacy, and the ability to serve as a resource and preceptor or mentor. Scheduling is based on operational need and may include rotating shifts, standby, and on-call work. Local travel between system locations may be expected. For lifting requirements over 50 pounds, two-person assistance and/or a transfer device is required.

Requirements

Successful completion of a surgical technology program.
At least two years of experience as a Surgical Technologist.
Strong leadership ability and organizational skills.
Independent and critical-thinking skills and sound judgment.
Knowledge of legal aspects and liability of nursing practice.
Ability to communicate complex and/or controversial topics and concepts to a wide and diverse audience.
Act 81 compliance.
Current Basic Life Support (BLS) through an American Heart Association-approved CPR and AED curriculum; may be acquired within six months of hire or transfer into the unit.
Act 33 clearance with renewal.
Act 34 clearance with renewal.
Act 73 FBI clearance.
Ability to work a schedule based on operational need, including rotating shifts, standby, and on-call work.
Local travel between system locations may be expected.

Responsibilities

Deliver direct and indirect patient care in accordance with hospital and departmental policies, procedures, protocols, and professional standards.
Work with the RN to develop and implement individualized, age-specific plans of care, evaluate effectiveness, assist with reassessment, and take appropriate action.
Involve patients, families, and other health care providers in care when appropriate; complete care activities within scheduled time periods.
Complete accurate, timely documentation, including the OR Count Sheet and Surgical Site Identification/Verification Checklist.
Collaborate with physicians and other health care providers to support patient outcomes and continuity of care; communicate pertinent information for conferences and shift reports.
Report changes in the OR schedule and reassess physician or staff needs, consulting the OR CNC when the physician should be alerted.
Participate in performance-improvement activities, assist with data collection, and recommend modifications to improve care and customer service.
Demonstrate leadership, independent problem-solving, accountability, sound judgment, patient advocacy, and effective resource-person skills; precept or mentor new hires and students.
Assist in maintaining or decreasing organizational and departmental costs and support compliance with State, JCAHO, OSHA, and other regulatory requirements, including survey readiness.
Follow infection-control and aseptic principles, report and correct breaks in sterile technique, and support patient safety, including use of two forms of identification before care.
Assume an appropriate role on code teams during internal and external code situations.
Function as the scrub member of the surgical team; obtain instruments and supplies from Central Service and perform central service technician duties as necessary or assigned.
Arrange sterile setups for procedures in coordination with surgeon preferences and update physician preference cards.
Assist with moving, lifting, and positioning patients; identify the appropriate procedure and site according to surgical-site identification policy.
Assist the surgeon during procedures, handle specimens appropriately, perform accurate OR counts, and take appropriate action when counts are incorrect.
Adapt to changing surgical-team needs and assist with cleaning and setting up surgical cases.
Perform other duties as assigned.