Job Summary
Assists the surgeon during operative and invasive procedures to provide optimal patient care in the operating room. Provides surgical exposure, hemostasis, assists with suturing and stapling and other technical skills. Participates in departmental staff meetings and performance improvement activities.
Demonstrates Competency in the Following Areas
- Under the direct supervision of a surgeon, provides exposure, hemostatis, suturing, stapling and other technical skills to provide quality patient care in the operating room.
- Ability to position patient safely per surgeon's orders.
- Preps and drapes patient according to planned procedure.
- Provides exposure of the operative site for the surgeon through various techniques.
- Assists the surgeon with closure of body planes.
- Applies dressings per surgeon's orders.
- Anticipates needs of surgeon during intraoperative phase.
- Interacts professionally with patient and family.
- Provides patient with explanations and verbal reassurance, as necessary.
- Adapts procedures to meet individual needs of pediatric, adolescent, adult and geriatric patients.
- Ensures room has been prepared with the anticipated instruments, sutures, supplies and equipment for each individual surgical procedure.
- Demonstrates competence in care of specimens and accurately handles specimens at all times.
- Accurately completes operating room counts (instruments, sponges, needles); follows proper procedure in the event of incorrect count; reports all discrepancies to Circulating Nurse and surgeon and/or corrects immediately.
- Carries out medical/surgical asepsis during treatments/procedures.
- Maintains safe environment for patient, co-workers and self, per hospital policies and procedures.
- Protects patient’s sensitivities and right to privacy.
- Treats patients and their families with respect and dignity. Identifies and addresses psychosocial, cultural, ethnic and religious/spiritual needs of patients and their families.
- Performs all aspects of patient care in an environment that optimizes patient safety and reduces the likelihood of medical/health care errors.
- Supports and maintains a culture of safety and quality.
- Demonstrates the ability to be flexible, organized and function under stressful conditions.
- Completes documentation within shift and meets current standards, policies and procedures.
- Establishes and maintains effective communication and good working relationship with surgeon and operating room staff for the patient’s benefit
- Makes decisions reflecting knowledge of facts and good judgment within the CST/FA scope of practice.
Professional Requirements
- Adheres to Operating Room dress code, appearance is neat and clean.
- Completes annual education requirements.
- Maintains regulatory requirements.
- Maintains patient confidentiality at all times.
- Reports to work on time and as scheduled, completes work within designated time.
- Wears identification while on duty, uses computerized punch time system correctly.
- Completes inservices and returns in a timely fashion.
- Attends annual review and department inservices, as scheduled.
- Attends at least 6 staff meetings annually, reads and returns all monthly staff meeting minutes.
- Represents the organization in a positive and professional manner.
- Actively participates in performance improvement and continuous quality improvement (CQI) activities.
- Complies with all organizational policies regarding ethical business practices.
- Communicates the mission, ethics and goals of the hospital, as well as the focus statement of the department.
Regulatory Requirements
- Minimum High School diploma or equivalent.
- Certified Surgical Technologist (CST)
- Certification as First Assistant through the Liaison Council on Certification for the Surgical Technologists affiliated with the Association of Surgical Technologists (LCC-ST) preferred
- Current BCLS Certification
Language Skills
- Able to communicate effectively in English, both verbally and in writing.
- Additional languages preferred.
Skills
- Basic Computer Knowledge
- Excellent organizational skills
Physical Demands
- For physical demands of position, including vision, hearing, repetitive motion and environment, see following description.
Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the position without compromising patient care.
