Surgical Technician, Surgery

JOB SUMMARY

The Main Unit Surgical Technician at North Mississippi Health Services demands mastery in handling and maintaining surgical instruments and equipment, ensuring they are sterile and ready for use. The technician is responsible for preparing surgical procedures by selecting supplies, instruments, and equipment, performing surgical counts, maintaining sterile techniques, assisting surgeons during procedures, and decontaminating clinical equipment. This role requires a diverse set of skills and abilities to effectively support trauma surgeons and medical teams during critical procedures, ability to think and act swiftly in high-pressure situations, understanding of trauma care protocols and procedures, and the capacity to remain calm and composed in stressful and emotionally charged environments.

These abilities are essential for ensuring the highest level of care and support in a Tier 2 trauma setting.

• Technical Proficiency:
  Mastery in handling and maintaining surgical instruments and equipment, ensuring they are sterile and ready for use.
• Uses procedure preference lists.
• Selects & arranges supplies, instruments and equipment for surgical procedures.
• Surgical counts along with RN circulator performs sponge, needle, and instrument counts as specified by policy and procedure of the hospital.
• Ability to think and act swiftly in high-pressure situations, making crucial decisions to support the surgical team.
• Keen observation skills to monitor patient vitals and surgical procedures, ensuring no detail is overlooked.
• Restocks supplies.
• Decontaminates, cleans, and sterilizes instruments for re-use according to hospital policy and procedure as needed.
• Prepares and organizes operating room suite for next use.
• Capacity to remain calm and composed in stressful and emotionally charged environments.
• Assists surgeons by performing duties under the supervision of the RN including care of specimen until turned over to Registered Nurse.
• Required to take specialty/trauma call and work specified holidays as needed to provide 24/7 coverage based on the assigned department.
• Patient Advocate:
  Protects patients from potential injury and contamination of sterile field.
• Communication/Record-Keeping:
  Strong communication and teamwork skills to coordinate effectively with surgeons, nurses, and other medical staff.

Education

• High School Diploma or GED Equivalent
• Associate's Degree;
  Graduate of an accredited school of Surgical Technology or will accept 1 year of experience in lieu of certification

Licenses and Certifications

• CST - Certified Surgical Technologist (Preferred)
• American Heart Association (AHA) CPR certification at HCP Level (Required)

Work Experience

• Less than 1 year:
  Up to three months of orientation/training depending on experience (Required)
• 1-3 years: 1 year of applicable work experience (Preferred)

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Outstanding written and verbal communication (Required)
• Interaction with a patient population of all ages ranging from young adults to geriatrics (Required)
• Assists surgeon as a “scrubbed” member of the operating team (Required)
• Must have integrity (Required)
• Trusted to provide sterile supplies and quality patient care during surgical procedures (Required)
• Must be able to function independently as well as within a group setting (Required)
• Detailed oriented (Required)
• Must have extensive contact with: surgeon(s), nurse practitioners, nurses, surgical team members and patients (Required)
• Must reflect a positive, caring attitude toward clients, patients, staff and the public we serve (Required)
• Ability to work well under pressure while providing a high level of care (Required)