Certified Surgical Technologist (CST), OR Surgery

Posted: 10/13/2024

Healthcare

The Certified Surgical Technologist (CST) at Decatur Memorial Hospital functions as a member of surgical team, maintains sterile environment for surgical patients of all ages, ensures availability of case-specific supplies and equipment, and passes instruments and supplies.

Required Skills

Ensures sterile environment and applies sterile and safe techniques.
Assists in preparation and draping of the patient.
Assists with operating room setup.
Wears lead aprons during radiological surgical procedure. Always wears eye protection and personal protection equipment/uses hands free zone.
Reports unsafe conditions.
Disassembles and decontaminates instruments/supplies.
Performs as a scrub nurse or assistant, anticipating surgeon’s needs throughout.
Plans for procedures by reviewing case cart and resource map.
Sets up and passes instruments, sutures and supplies during surgical procedures.
Identifies specimens with the surgeon and the circulating nurse, places in appropriate container that is properly labeled. Transports specimen to appropriate lab pickup area.
Transports surgery patients as needed.
Utilizes supplies and equipment in cost-effective manner.
Maintains adequate supplies/par levels for assigned specialty items (i.e. mesh, staplers, special suture, and ortho systems).
Updates resource maps on an ongoing basis.
Collaborates with RN for correct sponge, needle, and instrument count.
Achieves goals identified at previous annual or 90 day evaluation.
Maintains proficiency in specialties and flexibility in all other areas.
Attends meetings and in-services to further self-growth.
Completes required Computer Based Learnings (CBL’S) on NetLearning
Seeks information from literature and resource persons for all specialties.
Maintains requirements for certification.
Assists in instructing staff, students, and new employees.
Adheres to departmental/DMH policies.
Performs other duties as assigned.
Regular attendance and punctuality.
Unscheduled hours and weekly stay-lates.
Participation in 24-hour call rotation.

Required Experience

Education Requirements:

Graduate of a recognized Surgical Technologist program, or in the last semester of an approved program is required.
National certification and CPR certification are required within 6 months of graduation from recognized program, or within 6 months start date of employment. If the employee allows certification to lapse they must re-certify within 3 months from the expiration date or employment can be suspended or terminated.

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required.

Knowledge of relevant equipment, policies, procedures, and strategies to promote effective local, state, or national security operations for the protection of people, data, property, and institutions.
Will complete additional training or demonstrate competency in skills for all age groups and populations served. Additional training to demonstrate competency will be required for specialty areas/equipment.
Knowledge of anatomical structures and application skills in tissue handling, retracting, clamping, cutting, suturing, and exposure retracting in either the assistant or scrub role.
Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Monitors the effectiveness and accuracy of surgical equipment and devices for optimum performance.
The ability to maintain sustained hand and/or arm position while moving the opposite hand and/or arm.
The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
The ability to make precisely coordinated movements of the fingers of one or both hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble very small objects.

General Skill Requirements:

In addition to the Essential Functions and Qualifications listed above, to perform the job successfully an individual must also possess the following General Skill Requirements.

Adaptability – Adapts to changes in the work environment; Manages competing demands; Accepts criticism and feedback; Changes approach or method to best fit the situation; ability to work with frustrating situations; work under pressure and on an irregular schedule such as unscheduled hours and flexing work schedule to accommodate the needs of the department; unanticipated changes in work pace; Works with numerous distractions.
Attendance and Punctuality – Schedules time off in advance; Begins working on time; Keeps absences within guidelines; Ensures work responsibilities are covered when absent; Arrives at meetings and appointments on time.
Communications – Expresses ideas and thoughts verbally; Expresses ideas and thoughts in written form; Exhibits good listening and comprehension; Keeps others adequately informed; Selects and uses appropriate communication methods.
Cooperation – Establishes and maintains effective relations; Exhibits tact and consideration; Displays positive outlook and pleasant manner; Offers assistance and support to co-workers; Works cooperatively in group situations; Works actively to resolve conflicts.
Job Knowledge – Competent in required job skills and knowledge; Exhibits ability to learn and apply new skills; Keeps abreast of current developments; Requires minimal supervision; Displays understanding of how job relates to others; Uses resources effectively.
Judgment – displays willingness to make decisions; Exhibits sound and accurate judgment; Supports and explains reasoning for decisions; Includes appropriate people in decision-making process; Makes timely decisions; ability to work with and maintain confidential information.
Problem solving – Identifies problems in a timely manner; Gathers and analyzes information skillfully; Develops alternative solutions; Resolves problems in early stages; Works well in group problem solving situations.
Quality – Demonstrates accuracy and thoroughness; Displays commitment to excellence; Looks for ways to improve and promote quality; Applies feedback to improve performance; Monitors own work to ensure quality.
Quantity – Meets productivity standards-remains productive between procedures; Completes work in timely manner; Strives to increase productivity; Works quickly; Achieves established goals.
Concentration – Maintains attention to detail over extended period of time; continually aware of variations in changing situations.
Supervision – ability to perform work independently or with minimal supervision; ability to assign and/or review work; train and/or evaluate other employees.

Environmental Factors:

This position is performed within an environment of frequent exposure to uncomfortable temperature levels, and/or potentially injurious elements or conditions and hazardous chemicals.

Physical Demands:

The physical demands described are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.

While performing the duties of this job the employee is regularly required to walk, stand for long periods of time, bend and reach. The employee is regularly required to assist in lifting and supporting patients/equipment (possibly 300 lbs. or more).
The employee will frequently be required to lift weight of 5 to 50 pounds.
The employee will frequently be required to use step stools to gain height for satisfactory performance.
While performing the duties of this job the employee is regularly required to possess visual/auditory acuity to meet visual/auditory demands of the job.

Mental Demands:

High degree of mental stress.