Surgical Scrub Technician

Job Summary

Under the supervision of the OR RN Supervisor or Director of Surgical Services, this position prepares and maintains medical equipment, instruments and supplies for surgical procedures, and assists with surgical patient care under the direction of an RN or physician.

Reports to: Director of Perioperative Services |RN Supervisor

Hourly pay range

$26.31 to $39.16 per hour (hourly rate excludes overtime and bonuses which are not guaranteed)

• Essential Job Functions
• Prior to surgery case, verifies supplies, equipment and instruments are readily available for procedure.
• Pulls case materials accurately and completes checklists appropriately.
• Communicates any noted deficiencies in equipment or supplies to the Service Line Coordinator or OR RN Supervisor.
• Prepares room utilizing preference cards and resource people to maintain competency level.
• Independently prepares the operating suite/sterile field for the intraoperative experience in core area.
• Recognizes and modifies scrubbing procedures based on pertinent information to develop modifications to standard approaches to care and communicates with the surgical team. Responds to surgical emergencies and follows hospital wide emergency management plans.
• Participates in timeout process prior to every surgical case.
• Performs initial instrument, sharps, and sponge counts. Follows policies and procedures for incorrect counts and reports discrepancies appropriately. Performs additional counts as necessary.
• Assists with draping the patient and establishing the sterile field.
• Performs activities based on principles of sterility, aseptic technique, infection control, universal precautions guidelines, environmental control, and life safety guidelines.
• Anticipates needs of patient and surgeon.
• Demonstrates critical thinking skills, ability to prioritize activities and integrate experiences across core area and call areas when performing the scrub role.
• Under supervision of an RN or physician, demonstrates ability to prepare medications for procedures.
• Knows routine drugs used intra-operatively, dosages, and/or concentration and appropriate route of administration.
• Labels drugs and solutions; monitors quantities used.
• Maintains sterile field and always utilizes sterile technique when setting up and participating in surgical cases.
• Prepares and is knowledgeable about the specific uses of equipment, instrumentation and supplies used for surgical procedures.
• Operates complex equipment and other resources in the operating room, troubleshooting as necessary.
• Inspects equipment and instruments for defects or breakage prior to case, during case and at end of procedure.
• Immediately tags defective or malfunctioning equipment and removes from service and delivers to appropriate location or person as indicated.
• Ensures equipment incident form is filled out and submitted
• Performs room turnover, including case breakdown, room cleaning, and room set up.
• Is competent in sterile processing processes and procedures.
• Differentiates and demonstrates knowledge of sterilization methods required for instruments or equipment.
• Reprocesses surgical instruments per manufacture IFU.
• Functions independently in all areas of sterile processing, including decontamination.
• Communicates and ensures that preference cards are accurate and updated.
• Works collaboratively with OR team to ensure accuracy of cards.

• Additional Responsibilities
• Participates in debriefing and quality improvement practices to ensure quality patient care.
• Acts professionally and respectfully to all members of the surgical team.
• Demonstrates the spirit of the philosophy, mission, and values of the hospital through words and actions and implements them into departmental processes, programs, and the working environment.
• Applies the principles and values of customer service and continuous quality improvement while performing day-to-day activities of the position.
• Maintains and protects confidentiality regarding all aspects of patient care, personnel and strategic issues. Adheres to Confidentiality Policy.
• Maintains positive working relationships and fosters a cooperative work environment. Adheres to the hospital’s Guidelines for Appropriate Conduct in the HR Manual.
• Displays honesty and mutual respect when communicating with peers and other departments.
• Follows through on problems that may compromise effective job performance by using an appropriate chain of command.
• Other duties as assigned.

Minimum Requirements

Education

High School Diploma or its equivalent; completion of accredited school of surgical technology or the equivalent in clinical surgery training and experience.

Certification, Licensure: Current CPR certification; DORA registered

Experience, Training, Knowledge

2 years surgical experience preferred.

Physical Requirements

Position requires lifting, carrying, pushing, and/or pulling up to fifty (50) pounds while administering patient care; stooping, kneeling and/or crouching; standing and walking five (5) or more hours per day; reaching, grasping, and handling and/or feeling five (5) or more hours per day. Visual acuity to correctly distinguish skin tone variations, evidence of IV infiltration, infection and to read telemetry, blood pressure gauges, etc; audio acuity to correctly distinguish various body sounds, i.e. respirators, heart sounds, bowel sounds and to discern sounds made by various types of machinery or equipment which would indicate dangerous or improper operation.

Working Conditions/Environmental Exposures

Environmental hazards such as chemicals, solvents, needles, needle containers, sharps, blood, body fluids, various infectious/communicable diseases, infectious medical waste, radiation, and/or radioactive materials and/or radioactive waste, proximity to moving mechanical parts. Protective clothing/equipment may be necessary.

Animas Surgical Hospital is a drug free workplace and performs a pre-employment drug screen which includes marijuana.

ASH IMMUNIZATIONS AND VACCINATIONS REQUIREMENTS – Aligns with CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) for Healthcare Personnel

Hepatitis B- Lab evidence of immunity (titer) to Hepatitis B or three doses Hep B vaccine at appropriate intervals

Influenza- documentation of current seasonal flu vaccine (mandatory from November 1st through March 31st each year)

Measles, Mumps, and Rubella - Lab evidence of immunity (titer) to Measles, Mumps, and Rubella or 2 doses of MMR Vaccination

Varicella (chickenpox) - Lab evidence of immunity (titer) to Varicella or 2 doses of Varicella Vaccine

Tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis (Tdap) - documented proof of immunization

• Tuberculosis Screening - Documentation of a two-step TB skin test within the past year OR lab verification of a negative TB Gold or T-Spot tuberculin test within the past 6 months
• Vaccine records or evidence of immunity are required prior to 1st day of scheduled work