Surgical Technologist - Birthing Center (Days)

Duke Careers•Durham, NC

20h•Onsite

About The Position

At Duke Health, we're driven by a commitment to compassionate care that changes the lives of patients, their loved ones, and the greater community. No matter where your talents lie, join us and discover how we can advance health together. Duke University Hospital in Durham, North Carolina, is consistently ranked among the best in the United States. It is the largest of the four Duke Health hospitals with 1062 patient beds, featuring comprehensive diagnostic and therapeutic facilities, including a regional emergency/trauma center and an endo-surgery center. Duke University Health System is designated as a Magnet organization, and its nurses are consistently recognized as North Carolina's Great 100 Nurses. The health system was awarded the American Board of Nursing Specialties Award for Nursing Certification Advocacy and has over 6000 registered nurses. Surgical Technologists (ST) are allied health professionals who assist in the preparation and care of surgical patients ranging from infancy to geriatrics under the general direction of a professional nurse. The ST possesses expertise in the theory and application of sterile aseptic technique and combines the knowledge of human anatomy, surgical procedures, and implementation tools and technologies to facilitate a surgeon's performance of invasive therapeutic and diagnostic procedures. Surgical Technologists with a dual function in the operating room and ambulatory setting demonstrate competency in the care of surgical patients preoperatively and postoperatively in the ambulatory surgical clinic setting.

Requirements

Graduate of an accredited Surgical Technology program or maintains an accredited Surgical Technologist certification (NCCT or NBSTSA).
Provides evidence of the successful completion of an appropriate training program for Surgical Technology in the United States Military.
Level I: Entry level position for new graduates of Surgical Technology program or Surgical Technologists with 0 to 18 months experience.
Level II: Requires 6 to 12 months of full-time equivalent Surgical Technology or relevant military experience.
BLS required.
Ability to adapt to changes within unit.
Ability to work effectively and efficiently under pressure in a stressful environment, and often without relief.
Ability to demonstrate knowledge of anatomy relating to the surgical procedure and the instrumentation required in order to effectively anticipate the needs of the surgeon.
Ability to set priorities and respond appropriately to actual and/or potential life threatening situations.

Responsibilities

Perform all responsibilities in a manner that demonstrates Service Excellence towards patients, physicians, peers and other departments.
Assume responsibility for upholding the policies and procedures of the department and organization.
Demonstrates eagerness to learn, takes direction, adapts to changes within unit, demonstrates consistent progress toward Level II (for Level I).
Establishes and maintains sterile field and assures team maintains sterile environment.
Demonstrate and practice a good understanding of sterile technique.
Has a basic knowledge of instrumentations.
Prepare Operating Room with appropriate instrumentation, equipment and supplies.
Demonstrates correct and safe instrumentation passing and performs sponge, needle and instrument counts in a safe and accurate manner.
Maintain technical skills to serve a patient population comprised of infancy to geriatric clients.
Take calls and rotate shifts as required under the direction of a registered nurse.
For Surgical Technologists with a dual role in an ambulatory environment, additional responsibilities may include: prepare patients for examinations and procedures in the surgical clinic setting; assist the physician during patient examination and procedures in the clinic; collect and label laboratory specimens for processing; reinforce postoperative instructions under direction of physician or RN; assist with incoming and outgoing patient calls under supervision of physician or RN; remove sutures/ staples, change sterile and non-sterile dressings, following DUHS policies and procedures, under direction of RN or physician; perform other clinical functions as delegated and supervised by the RN or physician; schedule and post surgical cases; coordinate complex scheduling of cases which require additional surgical support; update and file patient medical records.
Must advance to level II within 18 months (for Level I).
Perform other duties and responsibilities as required.
Assist with the teaching of newly hired technologists and student technologists (for Level II).
Serve as a role model to new employees and other staff members (for Level II).
Establish and maintain sterile field and assure team maintains sterile environment independently (for Level II).
Anticipate the needs of the surgical team (for Level II).
Apply basic knowledge of instrumentations to several cases (for Level II).
Demonstrate appropriate and correct case preparation (for Level II).
Competent at unit level (for Level II).
Corrects deficiencies at the case level (for Level II).
Communicate effectively with patients, staff members and physicians (for Level II).
Adherence to standards including but not limited to unit and hospital policies and procedures, regulatory standards, and patient safety goals (for Level II).
Assume responsibility for self and ensures that the policies, procedures and safety practices of the Operating Room and Hospital are reinforced (for Level II).