The Certified Surgical Technician works collaboratively with the surgical team, while advocating for patient safety, and maintaining the sterile field. He or she organizes and prepares all instruments for surgical procedures, and is in charge of maintaining and running the surgical back table. The CST anticipates surgeon needs,  ensures they have what they need for their cases ahead of time, sets up rooms, and always adheres to AST standards and procedures. Light call schedule (after training is complete) for emergent cases only and no trauma call at a small critical access hospital with two OR’s and one endoscopy suite. 

Technical

• Demonstrates competence in care of specimens and accurately handles specimens at all times.
• Carries out medical/surgical asepsis during treatments/procedures and follows aseptic technique when opening sterile supplies and setting up procedures.
• Cleans and prepares rooms in a timely manner, prior to procedures, and after the last case.
• Follows department procedure for steam sterilization, and is responsible for chemical and biological monitoring, as appropriate.
• Ensures all anticipated instruments, sutures, supplies and equipment for each individual surgical procedure is available at time of procedure.
• Collaborates with other members of the nursing team, in order to maintain equipment and supplies for surgical procedures.
• Checks all equipment/instruments needed, prior to each procedure to ensure proper functioning.
• Consults with other staff members with general questions, and when unfamiliar with equipment or procedure.
• Accurately completes operating room counts (instruments, sponges, needles); follows proper procedure in the event of an incorrect count; reports all discrepancies to Circulating RN and surgeon, and/or correct immediately.
• Sets up, scrubs and prepares for procedures at lest 15 minutes prior to scheduled time, unless otherwise directed by the Circulating RN.
• Maintains an orderly and sterile instrument table for the purpose of efficiency; follows department standard setup.
• Holds responsibility for the care of instruments/equipment during intra-operative phase.
• Complies with call schedule following department and organization procedures and protocol.

Patient Care

• Interacts professionally with patient and family, providing patients with explanations and verbal reassurance as necessary and appropriate.
• Notifies appropriate licensed personnel when patient complains of pain.
• Adopts procedures for treatments to meet individual need.
• Assists in positioning, prepping and draping of patients for surgical procedures.
•  Able to Scrub basic cases with little to no supervision. 

• Graduate from Accredited Surgical Tech Program
• Minimum 1 year experience, with a preference for General and orthopedic surgery experience. 

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