PRN Operating Room - Surgical Technologist

About Us

At Children's Health, we value the role each team member plays in helping us deliver on our mission of making life better for children. We take pride in providing rich and rewarding career opportunities that enable team members to reach their highest potential.

Since 2009, we have held the ANCC Magnet® designation for nursing excellence. We are nationally ranked in all 10 pediatric specialties by U.S. News & World Report, serve as the primary pediatric teaching facility for University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center and are recognized for quality care in every specialty.

For ten consecutive years, Children's Health has been recognized as one of the 150 top places to work in health care by Becker's Hospital Review. This esteemed list features healthcare systems which offer professional development, growth, excellent benefits and promotion of diversity above and beyond other organizations.

About the Position

• In the Operating Room: This position handles the instruments, supplies and equipment necessary during the surgical procedure.
  
  He/she has an understanding of the procedure being performed and anticipates the needs of the surgeon. He/she has the necessary knowledge and ability to ensure quality patient care during the operative procedure and is constantly on vigil for maintenance of the sterile field. This position can provide the above described services for both basic surgeries and complex surgeries.
  
  In Sterile Processing Department: Responsible for maintaining the cleanliness, sterilization, and functioning of equipment and instrumentation used in patient care. Has a working knowledge and skills developed through formal training or considerable work experience.
  
  Works within established procedures with a moderate degree of supervision. Identifies the problem and all relevant issues in straightforward situations, assesses each using standard procedures and makes sound decisions.

Responsibilities:

• Provide proficient skills for surgical services by demonstrating proficiency in the delivery of skills in all of basic services. This includes, but is not limited to:
  
  General Surgery, Otolaryngology, Plastic Surgery, Urology, basic Orthopedic Surgery, and Ophthalmic Surgery. Skills include preparing the operating room for surgical procedures by ensuring that surgical equipment is functioning properly and safely and preparing the sterile field for the surgical procedure by securing sterile supplies, instruments, and equipment based on the surgeons preference cards. This also includes those supplies that could possibly be used based on the patients condition, size and surgical procedure. Actively participates in The Universal protocol standards to include pre-procedure verification, review of surgical preference cards, set up of surgical field according to case planned, and all instrumentation and supplies are available and ready when the patient arrives in the operating room.

• Scrubs, gowns, and gloves using sterile technique. Sets up sterile field with instruments, supplies and equipment.
  
  Helps in draping the sterile field. Passing supplies, equipment or instruments. Sponging or suctioning an operative site.
  
  Preparing and cutting suture material. Transferring and pouring irrigation fluids. Labeling intraoperative medications according to policy and transferring those medications within the sterile field.
  
  Handling specimens. Holding retractors and other instruments. Applying electro cautery to clamps on bleeders.
  
  Connecting drains to suction apparatus. Applying dressings to closed wounds. Assisting in counting sponges, needles, supplies, and instruments with the registered nurse circulator.
  
  Maintains the highest standard of sterile technique during the surgical procedure. This includes monitoring situation which could lead to breaches in aseptic technique. Participates in the surgical time out to include proper review of the surgical

• consent, proper identification of the patient, and in understanding and acknowledgement of the patient allergies as they relate to the potential medications to be given in the surgical field.

• Cleaning and preparing instruments for terminal sterilization on completion of the surgery. Assisting the surgical team with cleaning of the operating room on completion of the surgery for the next scheduled procedure.

• Leads team participating and expectation in the cleaning and preparing instruments for terminal sterilization on completion of the surgery. Assisting the surgical team with cleaning of the operating room on completion of the surgery for the next scheduled procedure. Floats to the Sterile Processing Department monthly to inspect and teach specialty instrumentation.

• Demonstrates proficiency in professional practice.
  
  Communicates effectively, handles conflict in a professional manner.
  
  Continuously evaluates the outcomes of patient care, team needs, and professional practice. Works to improve clinical practice and the outcome of patient care through achieving unit based goals.
  
  Is a preceptor of peers in the clinical setting in both basic and complex services.
  
  Motivates others to incorporate clinical standards into daily practice. Is a resource for external customer needs. This may include vendors and other outside resources. Collaborates with others to maintain equipment supplies and instrumentation for service lines.

• Research and quality improvement. Incorporates clinical research into clinical practice.
  
  Remains current with changes in clinical standards of care and evidence based practice. Actively participates in unit based quality improvement activities. Leads unit based quality improvement activities. Manages sterilizer guidelines for the department and in rotation with other surgical technologist specialized without direction

• In Sterile Processing Department: Performs sterilization process duties independently; operates and troubleshoots sterilization equipment; Responsible for decontamination and cleaning of all equipment and instrumentation; ensures cleanliness and sterility of all instruments; Evaluates functioning of equipment; reports malfunction of equipment and instrumentation and follows through to ensure appropriate repairs are complete and maintenance performed; Accurately assembles instrument sets based on established count sheets; effectively uses materials and supplies to assemble instrument sets and minimize waste; appropriately prepares and packages single instrument items; differentiates items that require steam versus gas sterilization; performs messenger duties as department needs require; stores, delivers, and manages sterile supplies using aseptic techniques; Demonstrates proficiency in professional practice.
  
  Communicates effectively, handles conflict in a professional manner.
  
  Continuously evaluates the outcomes of patient care, team needs, and professional practice. Works to improve clinical practice and the outcome of patient care through achieving unit based goals.
  
  Is a preceptor of peers in the clinical setting; Maintains awareness and makes appropriate recommendations of possible process modifications that would enhance department efficiency; Performs role of lead tech on the floor during shift. Will assign duties to staff appropriately to maintain consistent workflow. Will help staff troubleshoot instrument, set or equipment issues in order to provide optimal service to our customers.
  
  Will lead the shift report to include all relevant information that all staff will need to know for the next shift and next day; perform check off of initial competencies for new staff on-boarding to Sterile Processing. Will also perform annual check off of skill competencies for all staff on an annual basis; Research and quality improvement. Incorporates clinical research into clinical practice.
  
  Remains current with changes in clinical standards of care and evidence based practice. Actively participates in unit based quality improvement activities.

Work Experience

• At least 2 years of experience as a Surgical Technologist

Education

• High school diploma or equivalent required; additional training beyond high school Required

License and Certifications

• Current Surgical Technologist Certification issued by an approved organization. (Certification is not required if the employee has completed an appropriate training program for surgical technology in the United States Armed Forces or was employed as a surgical technologist prior to September 9, 2009. Required

• If assigned to Sterile Processing & Distribution must obtain Central Sterile Processing certification 180 Days Required

• Current Healthcare Provider CPR/BLS certification. American Heart Association Healthcare Provider CPR certification Required

Benefits:

Children's Health offers opportunities for learning and career development; competitive pay; and a comprehensive benefits program. We promote a diverse and inclusive workplace.

Our team members have a voice in their work through surveys, pulses and town halls. And we honor and celebrate our staff with year-round employee appreciation events.

We invite you to learn more about Children's Health.