Surgical Technician

Essential Responsibilities

• The Certified Surgical Technician demonstrates proficiency by exhibiting the following skills, competencies, and behaviors.
• Leadership:
• Upholds Kaiser Permanentes Policies and Procedures, Principles of Responsibilities and applicable state, federal and local laws.
• Demonstrates a professional, supportive attitude.
• Identifies and supports new ideas.
• Utilizes effective communication strategies, including chain of command and issue escalation, which result in intended outcomes.
• Participates in problem identification and resolution in collaboration with the Registered Nurse.
• Prioritizes work assignments appropriately to ensure completion of patient care activities and notifies Registered Nurse if unable to complete assignments.
• Complies with regulatory requirements, policies, procedures, and standards of practice.
• Nursing Process:
• Correctly identifies patient and scheduled procedure.
• Performs patient care activities, within the scope of competency, considering age-related needs of the patient as assigned. Reports unusual findings to the Registered Nurse.
• Collects data and provides information in a timely manner to the registered Nurse which may assist within the revision of the plan of care.
• Discharge barriers are discussed with the Registered Nurse and intervention taken as directed.
• Clinical Outcomes:
• Applies standard precautions; keeps a safe environment for self and others.
• Observes patient/family conditions and reports to Registered Nurse sudden changes or unusual findings.
• Demonstrates competencies during the probationary period and ongoing by completion of departmental competency validation.
• Transports patients, equipment, supplies, and specimens throughout the medical center utilizing proper body mechanics.
• Participates in departmental performance improvement activities, i.e., planning, measuring/monitoring, assessing and improving.
• Assembles and ensures all equipment/supplies/instruments are appropriate, available, calibrated, and adjusted, in working order, sterilized per protocol and organized for upcoming procedure.
• Sets up and organizes room.
• Performs scrub role (e.g., anticipates surgeons needs, pass instruments, cut sutures, hold retractors, obtain/process tissue samples) according to standard.
• Assists physician within scope of competency.
• Assists with transfer, transport, and stabilization of patient within the scope of competency.
• Cleans instruments, containers, and equipment according to established guidelines and reassembles packs, prepares for sterilization and/or returns to Central Processing.
• Operates sterilization equipment.
• Operates equipment safely and reports defective equipment upon discovery.
• Cleans, lubricates, and performs preventive maintenance.
• Utilizes computer systems effectively and efficiently.
• Customer Service:
• Practices customer service standards as defined by the Service Area, Medical Center, and specific department.
• Anticipates the customers desires, takes proactive steps to meet those needs by listening and taking responsibility within scope to ensure issues are resolved.
• Assists members who are less than satisfied with their experience by listening and taking responsibility within their scope to ensure that the issue is resolved.
• Promptly answers call lights, alarms, and patient requests.
• Under the direction of the Registered Nurse, gives patients and their significant others the information needed within their scope of competency.
• Maintains and protects patient confidentiality.
• Assures a clean, orderly and functional work environment.
• Team Commitment:
• Viewed by others to be an effective team member who is flexible, cooperative, and willing to assist others.
• Confronts difficult or conflict situations constructively and seeks appropriate assistance.
• Takes accountability for own actions and accepts constructive criticism.
• Assists others unfamiliar to the department.
• Attends all mandatory meetings and inservices, a minimum of 50% of staff meetings, and actively participates in other departmental professional development (Requirement may vary for per diem staff).
• Participates with the assessment of current and future unit learning needs and development of annual educational plan.
• Keeps self-informed of activities on the unit and makes recommendation for change.
• Adheres to Regional Attendance Policy.
• Reports to assigned area promptly, being present and available for report at beginning of assigned shift.
• Minimizes personal phone call time.
• Supports a collaborative labor-management partnership environment.
• Fiscal Responsibility:
• Organizes work to minimize the use of overtime.
• Identifies and assists in systems improvement that need simplification or correction.
• Utilizes payroll and non- payroll resources to their maximum potential.
  

Experience

Basic Qualifications:

• Two (2) years within the last three years operating room scrubbing or equivalent military experience, including a variety of surgical procedures.
  

Education

• Graduate of approved surgical technologist or military equivalent program.
  

License, Certification, Registration

• Surgical Technologist Certificate from National Board of Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting OR National Center for Competency Testing Certificate - Technologist in Surgery from National Center for Competency Testing
• Basic L