SAH Surgical Technician

SUMMARY

The surgical technician’s responsibilities include, but are not limited to: reviewing the 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 prepare the operating room, gather and prepare sterile supplies, instruments and equipment, maintain the sterile field using sterile and aseptic technique, and ensure 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 as these guide everyday actions with patients, customers and one another.

• Demonstrates respect and regard for the dignity of all patients, families, visitors, and fellow employees to ensure a professional, responsible, and courteous environment.
• Recognizes and respects cultural diversity for all customers (internal and external).
• Communicates effectively with internal and external customers, 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 of 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, Universal Protocol, and 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. military (Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, or Coast Guard) or the U.S. Public Health Service that has been deemed appropriate by the commissioner.
• Holds and maintains a certified surgical technologist credential administered by a nationally recognized surgical technologist 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 has not, as of the date of hire, obtained the certified surgical technologist certification; such certification must be obtained within 12 months of the graduation date.

The employee may perform or have exposure to the following responsibilities for 75% or more of the time:

• 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, and cleaning agents/chemicals.

The employee may perform or have exposure to the following for 25–50% of the time:

• Lift up to 50 lbs.
• Exposure to outdoor weather…