Certified Surgical Technologist

Summary:

Works under the direct supervision of a registered nurse while delivering safe and effective care to the patient during the intra-operative period. Provides technical care to the surgical patient through the role of the scrub assistant. Effectively interacts with patients of all ages and health care team members, while maintaining the surgical department standards.

Responsibilities:

1. Maintains a sterile environment and practices the principles of aseptic technique., Criteria A: Maintains appropriate sterile/unsterile boundaries during surgery while functioning within a sterile field. Maintains a sterile environment and practices the principles of aseptic technique., Criteria B: Don sterile gown and gloves from a sterile area away from the main instrument table to prevent contamination. Maintains a sterile environment and practices the principles of aseptic technique., Criteria C: Ensures integrity of sterile packages before dispensing onto a sterile field to include looking at expiration dates. Maintains a sterile environment and practices the principles of aseptic technique., Criteria D: Identifies breaks in sterile technique and reports to the Circulating RN.
2. Demonstrates the proper selection of instrumentation based on the scheduled procedure Criteria A: Checks case cart prior to the patient entering the room for appropriate instruments/supplies. Demonstrates the proper selection of instrumentation based on the scheduled procedure Criteria B: Prepares the surgical room with the Circulator utilizing the physicians preference card and ensures all jackets are buttoned prior to dispensing items onto the sterile field to ensure sterility. Demonstrates the proper selection of instrumentation based on the scheduled procedure Criteria C: Assures that special supplies/instruments are available prior to the patient entering the room. Demonstrates the proper selection of instrumentation based on the scheduled procedure Criteria D: Communicates to the Circulating RN in a timely manner any outliers preventing the scheduled case from moving forward.
3. Utilizes correct methods of cleaning and disinfection for different types of instruments. Criteria A: Prepares opened trays and instruments for decontamination by spraying & wiping down gross soil, ensuring instrument jaws are kept opened and instruments with lumens are irrigated before going to decontamination. Utilizes correct methods of cleaning and disinfection for different types of instruments. Criteria B: Cleans, tags and removes from all broken instrument and or equipment from circulation Utilizes correct methods of cleaning and disinfection for different types of instruments. Criteria C: Disassembles used loaner instruments and wipes gross soil and inventories tray for completion prior to transporting to decontamination area. Utilizes correct methods of cleaning and disinfection for different types of instruments. Criteria D: Communicates to SPD in a timely manner any instrument trays needed for next cases.
4. Assists with positioning of the patient maintaining correct patient body alignment based on the scheduled procedure. Criteria A: Has appropriate positioning devices, OR bed and padding readily available prior to the patient entering the room. Assists with positioning of the patient maintaining correct patient body alignment based on the scheduled procedure. Criteria B: Maintains the patient's body in correct anatomical alignment. Assists with positioning of the patient maintaining correct patient body alignment based on the scheduled procedure. Criteria C: Maintains proper body mechanics when transporting, moving, lifting or positioning of the patient. Assists with positioning of the patient maintaining correct patient body alignment based on the scheduled procedure. Criteria D: Communicates to the surgical team any immediate patient safety concerns / outliers such as body piercing, medication patches, broken hardware.
5. Accurately performs surgical counts according to established standards for preventing retained surgical items. Criteria A: Performs initial base line counts of instruments, sponges and sharps according to hospital policy by separating each piece during count and making counts audible and visible. Accurately performs surgical counts according to established standards for preventing retained surgical items. Criteria B: Dispenses appropriate radiopaque surgical soft goods on to the sterile field for use during the procedure (sponges, towels, pushers, laps). Accurately performs surgical counts according to established standards for preventing retained surgical items. Criteria C: Takes caution to ensure all soft goods are return in their entirety. Accurately performs surgical counts according to established standards for preventing retained surgical items. Criteria D: Communicates immediately to the Circulating RN when sponges and towels used in the procedure are not radiopaque.
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