Surgical Technologist (Norwin Surgery Center)

Independence Health System Careers•North Huntingdon, PA

1d•Onsite

About The Position

The Surgical Technologist I assists with surgical procedures in the Operating Room as a scrub member of the surgical team under the direction of a registered nurse and a surgeon. This role involves delivering direct and indirect patient care in accordance with hospital/departmental policies, procedures, protocols, and professional standards of care. The technologist works with the RN to develop and implement individualized, age-specific plans of care and evaluate their effectiveness. They assist the RN in reassessing patient conditions and taking appropriate action, involving patients, families, and other healthcare providers as needed. Responsibilities include completing patient care activities within schedule, ensuring accuracy and timeliness of documentation on the O.R. Count Sheet and Surgical Site Identification/Verification Checklist, and maintaining collaborative relationships with physicians and other healthcare providers for optimal patient outcomes and continuous patient care flow. Communication of pertinent information for interdisciplinary patient care conferences and shift reports is also key. The role involves participating in unit performance improvement activities, assisting in data collection, and recommending modifications for enhanced quality of care and customer service. Demonstrating leadership abilities, problem-solving skills, and accountability for actions are essential. The technologist acts as a resource person and patient advocate, and may serve as a preceptor/mentor for new hires or students. Assisting in cost reduction and ensuring departmental compliance with State, JCAHO, OSHA, and other regulatory agencies are also part of the role. Preparation for continuous survey readiness and adherence to infection control processes, including universal precautions, are critical for reducing the risk of infection. Patient safety is paramount, utilizing two forms of patient identification before any patient care and assuming appropriate code team roles during code situations. As the scrub member, the technologist obtains necessary instruments and supplies, arranges sterile setups according to surgeon preference, updates physician preference cards, and assists in patient positioning. They identify the correct surgical procedure and site, assist the surgeon during the procedure, handle specimens appropriately, and perform OR counts accurately, taking action for incorrect counts. Adaptability to the changing needs of the surgical team, assisting with cleaning and setup of surgical cases, and following principles of asepsis are also required. Other duties as assigned.

Requirements

Successful completion of surgical technology program.
Strong leadership ability, good organizational skills, independent and critical thinking skills, sound judgment.
Strong ability to communicate complex and/or controversial topics and concepts to a wide and diverse audience.
Current Basic Life Support (BLS) approved curriculum of the American Heart Association (CPR and AED) program (can acquire within six (6) months of hire or transfer in unit)
Act 33 with renewal
Act 34 with renewal
Act 73 FBI Clearance
Act 81 Compliance

Nice To Haves

One (1) year surgical scrub experience.

Responsibilities

Delivers direct and indirect patient care in accordance with hospital/departmental policies, procedures, protocols and other professional standards of care.
Works directly with the RN to develop and implement an individualized, age-specific plan of care and evaluate its effectiveness.
Assists the RN in reassessment of the patient's condition and takes appropriate action as indicated or by unit specific policy.
Involves the patient/family and other health care providers when appropriate.
Completes patient care related activities within schedule time periods.
Complies with completeness, accuracy and timeliness of documentation on O.R. Count Sheet as well as Surgical Site Identification/Verification Checklist.
Maintains a collaborative relationship with physicians and other health care providers to achieve desired patient outcomes and assure a continuous flow of patient care.
Communicates pertinent information for interdisciplinary patient care conferences, shift reports.
Reports changes in the OR schedule, including the need to reassess the needs of the physicians or the OR staff, confers with the OR CNC when there is a need to alert the physician.
Participates in the unit performance improvement activities designed to enhance the quality of patient care and customer services.
Assists in data collection process as requested.
Recommends modifications for performance improvement.
Demonstrates leadership abilities by utilizing the concepts inherent to the practice of the credo standards.
Demonstrates an ability to solve problems independently and seeks assistance from immediate supervisor when appropriate.
Maintains accountability for actions taken.
Effectively functions as a resource person.
Acts as a patient advocate.
Performs effectively in the role of preceptor/mentor to new hires and/or students.
Assists in maintaining/decreasing organizational/department costs.
Assists in the department's compliance with State, JCAHO, OSHA and other regulatory agencies.
Participates in preparation for continuous survey readiness for inspections and surveys.
Adheres to the infection control process, including universal precautions, to reduce the risk of acquiring or transmitting infections.
Provides for patient safety in compliance with hospital and nursing department policies.
Utilizes two forms of patient identification before implementing any form of patient care.
Assumes appropriate code team role during code situations, including internal and external.
Functions as the scrub member of the surgical team.
Obtains necessary instruments and supplies from Central Service.
Arranges sterile setup for each specific operative procedure coordinating with surgeon preference.
Updates physician preference cards.
Assists in moving, lifting and positioning the patient.
Identifies patient appropriate surgical procedure and site by following policy for the surgical site ID.
Assists the surgeon in performing the surgical procedure.
Handles specimens appropriately.
Performs OR counts accurately and takes appropriate action in response to incorrect counts.
Maintains the ability to adapt to the changing needs of the surgical team.
Assists with the cleaning and setting up of surgical cases.
Follows the principles of asepsis, reporting any breaks in aseptic technique and rectifying the situation.
Other duties as assigned.