SAH Surgical Technician

SUMMARY

The surgical technician’s responsibilities include, but are not limited to: reviewing upcoming OR schedule to anticipate need for instrumentation/equipment, ensuring all necessary equipment is available and in proper working order, setting up all necessary equipment and instrumentation for surgical procedures, performing appropriate surgical counts according to facility policy, and organizing case carts for upcoming procedures. The surgical technician works in collaboration with the operating room circulator prior to a surgical procedure to carry out the plan of care by preparing the operating room, gathering and preparing sterile supplies, instruments and equipment, maintaining the sterile field using sterile and aseptic technique, and ensuring that the surgical equipment is functioning properly and safely.

Work involves inventorying, disassembling, decontamination, high level disinfection, cleaning, reassembling, and maintaining operating room instrumentation and endoscopy equipment. The surgical technician performs in‑between case cleaning turnover in the OR suite.

Brown University Health employees are expected to role‑model the organization’s values of Compassion, Accountability, Respect, and Excellence. The core Success Factors include:
Instill Trust and Value Differences;
Patient and Community Focus and Collaborate.

• Demonstrates respect and regard for the dignity of all patients, families, visitors, and fellow employees to ensure a professional, responsible, and courteous environment.
• Commits to recognize and respect cultural diversity for all customers (internal and external).
• Communicates effectively with internal and external customers with respect of differences in cultures, values, beliefs and ages, utilizing interpreters when needed.
• Anticipates surgeon needs.
• Maintains surgeon’s preference cards.
• Processes all instruments and equipment for the operating room.
• Performs surgical counts.
• Passes supplies, equipment, or instruments.
• Prepares and cuts suture material.
• Transfers, but does not administer, drugs within the sterile field.
• Assists in counting sponges, needles, supplies, and instruments with an operating room circulator.
• Performs specimen handling.
• Assists in room turnover.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

• 1–5 years previous experience preferred.
• Knowledge of aseptic technique, infection control principles, sterilization techniques, equipment and supply processing, and operation of steam sterilizers.
• Knowledge of Spaulding Classification.
• Knowledge of Universal Protocol.
• Knowledge of AORN Standard and Recommended Practices.
• Ability to prioritize equipment needs of the operating room.
• Good organizational and communication skills.
• Ability to work in a fast‑paced environment.

High School Diploma or GED required; graduation from an accredited school of surgical technology required.

Certification/Licensure: CST required; BLS required.

• Has successfully completed a training program for surgical technology in the U.S. Armed Forces or in the U.S. Public Health Service deemed appropriate by the commissioner.
• Is a licensed surgical technologist holding and maintaining a certified surgical technologist credential administered by a nationally recognized certifying body accredited by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies and recognized by the American College of Surgeons and the Association of Surgical Technologists.
• Was employed as a surgical technologist in a surgical facility on or before July 1, 2013.
• Has successfully completed an accredited school of surgical technology but, as of the date of hire, has not obtained the certified surgical technologist certification; such certification shall be obtained within 12 months of the graduation date.

• 75% or more: stand / walk, use hands to finger, feel, reach, climb or balance, stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl, talk or hear, taste or smell, exposure to blood‑borne pathogens, infections from disease‑bearing specimens, infectious/contagious diseases, cleaning agents/chemicals.
• 25–50%: lift up to 50 lb, exposure to outdoor weather conditions, extreme cold…