The Surgical Tech provides surgical assistance pre and post operation. Organizes and prepares supplies and equipment for procedures. Sets up the operating surgeon’s sterile field and anticipates surgeon's needs. Provides direct assistance for surgical procedure: assists surgeon with surgical gowns and gloves, hands the desired instruments to the surgeon during the operation, prepares sterile dressings. Cleans the surgical instruments and operating room post operation. 

• Create and maintain a sterile field: Monitors sterile field at all times to prevent contamination; Reports any break in technique with proper follow-up. Organizes draping materials in the manner which they will be utilized sequentially.
• Assist surgeon or assistant to drape patient as indicated by choice of procedure. Avoids contamination of surfaces.
• Supplies necessary item to sterile field after patient draped.
• Opens sterile supplies to field without contamination after verifying sterile indicator and dates. Receives sterile supplies from circulator using proper technique. Always verifies dates on any fluids, medication, or other applicable.
• Provide equipment and supplies based on patient need: Anticipates surgeon’s needs as surgery progresses. Prepares instruments quickly and efficiently with regard to sequence of use. Ensures that all instruments and equipment are available and in good working order for each case.
• Prepare Mayo set-up: Selects appropriate instruments for procedure. Uses care with sharps on Mayo and when passing to surgeon (hands free method when possible). Maintains suture ties in an easily accessible manner. Never allows free sharps on Mayo: all needles remain in pack or secured on needle holder or in needle counter.
• Perform proper specimen handling: All specimens are handled according to guidelines from the lab after verification from scrub tech or surgeon as to tissue identification and desired tissue request (permanent specimen, fresh, frozen section, cultures, etc.) Never discards any tissue sample unless approved by the surgeon. Universal precautions are observed and appropriate PPE utilized.
• Prepare back table set-up: Maintains adequate count of all countable items on sterile field; never accepts items which are not x-ray detectable before the skin is closed (dressing sponges). Maintains order so that relief can assume role when necessary.
• Follows the established protocol for obtaining, charging for, and returning supplies/equipment and maintains adequate supply levels through the use of accurate inventory control.
• Assists in procedure specific wound closure under direct supervision of the surgeon.
• All other duties as assigned by department.

Education

• Graduate Accredited Surgical Tech Program OR 1-year Surgical Tech/Scrub Tech experience.

Experience

• Less than 1 year Surgical Tech/Scrub Tech experience.

Certificates/Licenses/Registration

• Basic Life Support (BLS)
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  Preferences
• Preferred: Certified Scrub Technician.
• Post Employment: BLS, provided by the American Heart Association (AHA), required within 30 days of hire

Skills & Abilities

• Withstand stressful situations and be flexible within daily work assignments.
• Good organizational skills; must have the ability and desire to promote good interpersonal relationships.