Position Summary

Certified Surgical Technologists (CST) are allied health professionals, who are an integral part of the team providing surgical care to patients. Certified Surgical Technologists work under the supervision and delegatory authority of a surgeon to facilitate safe and effective invasive and non-invasive surgical procedures, ensuring that the operating room environment is safe, that equipment functions properly, and that the operative procedure is conducted under conditions that maximize patient safety. Surgical Technologists are experts in the theory and application of the principles of asepsis and sterile technique to combine the knowledge of human anatomy, surgical procedures, and implementation and tools and technologies to facilitate a physician’s performance of invasive therapeutic and diagnostic procedures. CSTs collaborate with leadership in developing and implementing the Spartanburg Regional Healthcare Systems culture, vision mission, and goals.

Minimum Requirements

Education:

• Graduate of an accredited surgical technology program accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) prior to the year 2022.
• Graduate of a CAAHEP accredited Surgical Technology, Associate Degree program as of 2022.

Experience:

• New graduate thru experienced certified surgical technologist

License/Registration/Certifications:

• Certification, as a certified surgical technologist (CST), conferred by the National Board of Surgical technology and Surgery Assisting (NBSTSA)
• Certified in BLS obtained thru the American Heart Association

Preferred Requirements

Preferred Education:

• N/A

Preferred Experience:

• Six months to a year of scrub experience

Preferred License/Registration/Certifications:

• Activemember of the Associate of Surgical Technologist (AST) organization

Core Job Responsibilities

• Successfully completes annual hospital and unit-based required competencies and education.
• Successfully completes hospital and unit-based orientation and onboarding programs.
• Able to establish priorities and prepare for emergency situations during scheduled work hours and scheduled on-call hours.
• Accepts constructive feedback to improve job performance and collaborates with Manager, CUE and/or Charge Nurse to make necessary adjustments.
• Attends staff meetings to remain knowledgeable in department updates and practices.
• Complies with established policies and procedures.
• Demonstrates knowledge of appropriate infection prevention strategies to prevent surgical site infections.
• Demonstrates knowledge of standard and transmission-based precautions to reduce the risk of cross-contamination by using appropriate disinfectant according to pathogen present in the environment.
• Demonstrates knowledge of the procedure being performed and anticipates the needs of the surgeon.
• Ensures compliance with all clinical expectations regarding regulatory requirements such as: ER to OR patient throughput, improved on time starts initiatives, and reduction in surgical site infections.
• Function as member of the surgical team in the role of a scrub tech.
• Handles and prepares instruments, supplies, and equipment necessary during the surgical procedure.
• Knowledgeable in maintaining the sterility of the surgical field.
• Maintains skill, knowledge, and ability to provide quality patient care during the operative procedure.
• Participates in continuing education and achieving/maintaining certification.
• Meets continuing education requirements, demonstrates knowledge of and ensures compliance with all clinical expectations of regulatory agency requirements (DNV, DHEC, CMS).
• Performs patient care according to guidelines provided thru the Associate of Surgical Technologist (AST) and thru the Association of Peri-Operative Nurses (AORN).
• Recognizes the importance of hand hygiene and performs appropriate hand hygiene techniques.
• Responsible and accountable for own professional growth and development thru local and national AST chapter involvement.

• Supports effective, efficient, and timely case starts.
• Prepare and organize the operating room, equipment, scopes, instruments, and supplies, etc. for various procedures. Anticipate surgeon and patient needs during a procedure.

• Preoperative duties include as follows: Appropriately dons OR attire and personal protective equipment (PPE). Gathers, checks, and opens supplies and equipment needed for the surgical procedure. Performs the surgical scrub, donning gown, and gloves. Sets up the sterile back table and mayo stand with instruments, supplies, equipment, and medications/solutions needed for the procedure. Performs initial instrument, sharps and sponge counts with the circulator. Assists team members with gowning and gloving. Assists with table set-up, safe patient positioning, draping the patient, and establishing the sterile field. Participates in the surgical site and patient verification during the time out procedure. Secures tubing, cords, and other sterile accessories.

• Intraoperative duties include as follows: Prepares and anticipates additional instrumentation, equipment, and supplies for usage during the procedure. Anticipates the needs of the surgeon by passing instruments and supplies to surgeon during procedure. Verifies medications with circulator and measures, labels, and passes medications, hemostatic agents, and irrigation solutions utilized during the surgical procedure. Holds retractors or instruments as directed by the surgeon. Sponges or suctions the operative site. Applies electrocautery to clamps or forceps on bleeders. Cuts suture material as directed by the surgeon. Coordinates the camera or changes out robotic arms/instruments during endoscopic surgery as directed by the surgeon. Maintains highest standard of sterile technique during the procedure. Performs instrument, sharps, and sponge counts prior to closure of a cavity, before the incision is closed, and additional as necessary during the surgical procedure. Prepares sterile dressings and/or immobilization devices. Verifies specimen with surgeon and circulator prior to preparation and passing off specimen(s), as appropriate. Cleans and prepares used instruments for terminal sterilization by spraying with enzymatic product at end of surgical case. Assists other members of the team with in-between case cleaning of room. Assists in prepping the OR for the next patient. Participates in debriefing and quality improvement practices to ensure quality patient care.

• Demonstrates flexibility and adaptability by performing other duties as necessary such as: Assists with transferring patient to the operating room table. Monitors the comfort of the patient and provides verbal and tactile reassurance to the patient. Assists in maintaining patient normothermia. Assists with positioning the patient using appropriate equipment and anatomical principles to avoid patient injury. Applies the electrosurgical grounding pad. Assists with applying tourniquets and monitors before the procedure begins. Completes the patient skin prep prior to draping by the sterile surgical team. Anticipates additional supplies needed during the procedure. Properly cares for specimens. Secures dressings after incision closure.

• The surgical technologist in the second scrub role assists the surgeon and/or surgical assistant during the operative procedure by carrying out tasks including sponging, suctioning, cutting suture, holding retractors, and manipulating the endoscopic camera. This role is distinct from that of the first scrub and surgical first assistant.
• May assist the surgeon in surface wound closure after additional education, competency, and validation of skill check offs are obtained and maintained.
• Assist with application of dressings, devices, and hardware, as requested.

• Coordinates the use of supplies and equipment for intra-operative and endoscopic care in a timely, organized, and cost-effective manner.
• Provides appropriate measures for positioning patients according to surgical procedure and monitors position intra-operatively.
• Labels damaged equipment and reports to BioMed.
• Assures all damaged instruments are tagged and reported to Sterile Processing.
• Utilize correct body mechanics in moving, transporting, and positioning patients, stretchers, and/or tables to prevent injury to patient and personnel.
• Follow relevant safety and sanitation guidelines to set up a sterile and sanitary environment and maintain the sterile field for the patient during procedure.
• Participate in stocking and restocking medical supplies.
• Assure medical instruments are sterile through the inspection process and replace as necessary.

• Detail-oriented and have excellent dexterity.

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned this job classification. They are not to be constructed as an all-inclusive list of all duties, skills, and responsibilities of people so assigned.