Certified Surgical Technician

About the role

The Certified Surgical Technologist/Technician (CST) serves as a member of the healthcare team and provides technical support to the surgeon, registered nurse, and anesthesiologist in the operating room. The CST assumes appropriate responsibilities in the perioperative area by scrubbing, assisting the RN circulator, setting up and breaking down surgical procedures, pulling and putting away supplies and equipment, and environmental service duties.

What you'll do

· Ensure proper supplies, equipment, and instruments are ready for use.

· Clean operating room between cases.

· Restock operating rooms as necessary to meet par levels.

· Assist other operating rooms for coverage.

· Knowledge of surgeon preferences, procedures, instrumentation, and equipment.

· Prepare cases for the next day.

· May operate sterilizer, lights, suction machine, and other designated equipment.

· Ensure patient, procedure, operative site, positioning and equipment correspond.

· Follow the center exposure control plans/blood borne and airborne pathogens.

· Report observed or suspected breaks in sterile technique and acts according to policy.

· Perform hand scrub according to policy and procedure.

· Arrange instruments and supplies for surgical procedure.

· Maintain integrity of instruments.

· Ensure proper counting of sponges, instruments, and sharps.

· Assist in gowning of other personnel and draping of patient.

· Anticipate surgeon’s needs.

· Pass instruments to surgeon and/or assistant as appropriate.

· Communicate needs to circulators to ensure efficient and uninterrupted progress of procedure.

· Prepare and preserve specimens.

· Verify name, strength, and dosage of medication with circulator; confirms, labels, and places on surgical field.

· Clean and disinfect all tables, counter surfaces, stands, and floor.

· May help transport patients and restock the operating room.

· Perform other duties as assigned

Qualifications

EDUCATION/EXPERIENCE

REQUIRED:

· High school diploma or equivalent

· Graduate of an accredited school of surgical technology

· CST certification verified via NBSTSA

· BLS certification

PREFERRED:

· One year of current Surgical Tech experience in an OR setting.

KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential responsibility satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skills and abilities required.

CLINICAL KNOWLEDGE:

· Demonstrate knowledge of surgical procedures and the scrub tech role in performing these procedures.

· Demonstrate knowledge of principles and methods of sterilization.

· Demonstrate knowledge of equipment and its use in the surgical environment.

· Demonstrate knowledge of a surgical scrub technician’s duties before, during and after the surgical case