Surgical Technician

at  UPMC

CERTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS:

• Must have completed a program sponsored by nationally recognized institutional or programmatic accreditation and maintain certification, or
• Completed an appropriate military training program, or
• Maintain certification from an accredited program, or
• Was employed as a surgical technologist in a healthcare facility on or before the effective date (12/27/2020), or
• Employed as a surgical technologist at another healthcare facility two years before the effective date (12/27/2020).

Exception: A healthcare facility may employ individuals who do not meet the certification requirements if, after a diligent and thorough effort, they are unable to employ a sufficient number of qualified surgical technologists who meet the requirements (i.e., certification). A written record of efforts must be made and retained at the healthcare facility.

• All recruitment efforts are documented and can be supplied for this record.
• The supply of certified or eligible-to-be-certified surgical technologists does not meet our needs.

CONTINUING EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS:

• Compliance with continuing education requirements specified by the credentialing organization for certification.
• Individuals not certified must complete 30 hours of continuing education every two years.

Specialty Experience: Surgical specialties include, but are not limited to:

• General
• Orthopedic
• Vascular
• Plastic and Reconstructive
• Obstetrics and Gynecology
• Thoracic
• Ophthalmic
• Neurosurgery
• Organ Procurement
• Endoscopic Surgical Settings

PURPOSE:

As a member of the operating room or surgery center nursing team, you will provide direct care to surgical patients and perform various related duties under the supervision of a registered nurse.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Utilizes hospital policy to meet JCAHO requirements.
• Assists surgeon as scrub technician according to prescribed standards. Scrubs and dones gown and gloves by performance standards.
• Maintains proper traffic control in the Operating Room Suite. Maintains use and cleanliness of autoclaves by following directions for use and cleaning.
• Maintains correct count of sponges, instruments, and needles with circulating nurse and reports correctness or discrepancies according to department policy. Maintains aseptic technique at all times.
• Observes patients and is ready for emergencies.
• Knows where all supplies are kept and can get them or put them away accordingly.
• Assists in handling specimens as directed. Assists in the application of dressing, casts, and in moving of patient as directed. Assists in the clean up of the room, furniture, supplies, and equipment after a procedure.
• Assists in the workroom in cleaning, storage, packing, and autoclaving of instruments.
• Employee complies with established occupation exposure policy.
• Sets up table, instruments, and supplies according to to type of operation. Assists in preparation and draping of patient and operative area according to need. Anticipates the need for instruments, sutures, sponges, etc.