Certified Surgical Technologist, Operating Room, Full-time, First Shift

UC Health is seeking a Certified Surgical Technologist to join the Operating Room team on a full-time, first shift basis. In this role, you will serve as a scrub technologist, performing specific tasks essential to surgical procedures while maintaining the highest standards of aseptic technique and patient safety.

Clinical Setting

You will work in a busy academic health system operating room, supporting surgical teams across a variety of procedures. UC Health is the region's adult academic health system, providing world-class care to patients from the local community and around the world.

Responsibilities

Surgical Preparation and Setup

• Review daily assignments and surgical preference sheets to clarify surgical routines
• Update preference sheets as needed and obtain physician's special instruments and sutures prior to case start
• Check operating tables for complete readiness and ensure all necessary items are present
• Communicate with surgeons regarding any unavailable supplies or equipment
• Set up sterile instrumentation, supplies, and equipment on assigned procedures
• Demonstrate, maintain, and correct any breaks in aseptic technique during setup and throughout the surgical procedure
• Handle special supplies and equipment with knowledge and dexterity, ensuring proper functioning
• Perform tasks in an organized and efficient manner

Intraoperative Support

• Under surgeon supervision, assist with suctioning secretions, holding retractors, assisting with skin closure, cutting sutures, and irrigating wounds
• Circulate for operative procedures under the supervision of the RN
• Receive instruments from the surgeon and keep them clean by wiping blood and tissue
• Keep the operative field free of unused instruments, equipment, and sharps
• Count instruments, sharps, and sponges according to policy
• Identify and transfer surgical specimens according to OR policy
• Perform safety checks on all equipment for proper assembly, completeness, and operation before use
• Correctly prepare and label medications including dosages and percentages according to procedure type and physician preference
• Follow universal precautions according to hospital policy

Postoperative Care and Cleanup

• Prepare and cleanse the operative site
• Connect drainage tubes to appropriate devices
• Assist with or apply sterile dressings
• Assist with patient transfer to bed or stretcher using proper body mechanics and adequate assistants
• Cover soiled gloves with clean exam gloves
• Process case carts by disassembling table contents and instruments, placing them in proper receptacles for cleaning
• Thoroughly spray dirty instruments in their containers prior to transport to Sterile Processing
• Send appropriate instruments to Sterile Processing and clean up room for terminal cleaning
• Dispose of trash and linen appropriately
• Assist in expediting case turnaround time and cleaning of tables and floors

Teamwork and Communication

• Maintain positive customer relations
• Effectively communicate pertinent information to relief personnel to provide safe continuity of care
• Communicate with all health team members in a timely and courteous manner
• Share pertinent information with the Clinical Nurse Manager
• Share knowledge with others and demonstrate flexibility and adaptability to change
• Return borrowed equipment to proper locations
• Maintain prompt and regular attendance
• Take only allotted time for breaks and lunch according to policy

Patient Care and Safety

• Engage in population-appropriate communication
• Identify physical limitations of patients and deploy interventions when necessary
• Recognize and respond appropriately to patients and families with behavioral health problems
• Identify and respond appropriately to different needs resulting from unique psychological needs or those associated with religious and cultural norms
• Operate equipment safely
• Recognize and respond to signs and symptoms of abuse or neglect
• Maintain awareness of physical and emotional patient needs at all times
• Assist any patient in need, not just those assigned to your care
• Protect patient dignity while anesthetized by avoiding unnecessary exposure
• Protect patient privacy by ensuring confidentiality of charts and history
• Put patient welfare above personal consideration and admit to errors, taking proper steps to correct them

Professional Development and Emergency Response

• Recognize benefits of learning from positive and negative experiences and integrate this knowledge into daily practice
• Serve as a role model
• Recognize and acknowledge peer accomplishments
• Participate in committee work pertinent to Nursing Service and the OR
• Identify and utilize feedback in identifying your own learning needs
• Assist in the orientation of new personnel
• Participate in and plan unit in-services as appropriate
• Attend unit in-services
• Meet emergency needs of the department through participation in the on-call system
• Respond promptly to calls and efficiently organize the needs of emergency cases
• Exercise safe judgment in decision making

Required Qualifications

• High school diploma or GED
• Certification as a Surgical Technologist (CST)
• 6 months to 2 years of active experience

Preferred Qualifications

• Associate degree in Surgical Technology

Schedule

• Full-time, first shift