Employment Status:Full Time (72-80 Hours Per Pay Period)Job Category:NursingJOB SUMMARY:The Surgical Technician Lead is a clinical professional who is supervised by the Registered Nurse and contributes his/her services in providing patient care and education to the patient and family in accordance to AORN and AST standards as well as the established Policies, and Procedures of Valley Presbyterian Hospital.He/she assists the entire surgical team before, during, and after surgery and provides expert support, assistance, and maintenance of preference cards, instruments, supplies and equipment.Act as a role model, verbally and behaviorally demonstrating skill, enthusiasm, positive problem solving, commitment and loyalty to the profession and the organization.
Participate in positive problem solving by providing suggestions and possible solutions to identified concerns/problems in the work place.EXPERIENCE/QUALIFICATIONS:Minimum of recent five (5) years acute hospital experience as a Surgical TechKnowledgeof and proficient with electronic systems for preference card data entryEDUCATION:High School Graduate or equivalent.Graduate of an approved and accredited Surgical Technology ProgramLICENSURES/CERTIFICATION:Current Surgical Technologist Certification (CST)Must successfully complete and maintain BLS certificationMust successfully complete and maintain LA County Fire Card certification at the time of hire or within the first 30 days of employmentDUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES ( These are the essential job functions for this position.
The essential functions of this job include, but may not be limited to those listed in this job description.
Employees hired for this position must be able to perform the essential function of this job without imposing significant risk of substantial harm to the health or safety of themselves or others) :Ability to scrub in the OR setting and to assist in the surgical preparation.Actively support departmental initiatives to improve efficienciesAssist with on time starts and room turn over by participating in gathering and opening all necessary supplies and equipment and between case room cleaning.Consistently maintains and monitors aseptic technique.Demonstrates knowledge of cost containment by decreasing waste and increasing efficiencies by streamling instrument trays and supplies.Elicits input from team to form a collaborative practiceHas well developed communication processes to share knowledge of changes, updates, etc with entire staffIdentifies and prepares appropriate instrumentation, supplies and equipment based on identified surgical procedures.Maintain service preference cards and streamline instrument trays for the assigned services.Maintains and updates preference cards continuously to reflect current practices.Monitors department for regulatory compliance at all timesMonitors supplies to ensure availability, deletes obsolete items and participate in Value Analysis Meeting, as needed.Monitors the department for and demonstrates knowledge/understanding of electrical safety: Checks all electrical equipment for proper working condition; plugs and power cords for fraying/damage; knowledge of red outletfunction/location; appropriate use of extension cords, removes damaged or non-functioning equipment immediately and contacts BioMed; and ensures all clinical alarms are audible and not disabled.Must demonstrate knowledge/understanding of Infection Control; Sterile technique, Sterilization parameters, Hand washing; use ofPersonal Protective Equipment (PPE) and proper decontamination process of equipment prior to and after useMust demonstrate knowledge/understanding of Surgical EnvironmentMust demonstrate technical competence, professional clinical judgment, communication skills and sensitivity for the surgical patient and family.Must maintain patient privacy, HIPPA, at all times.Performance reflects role modeling and leading by example.Reports needed equipment maintenance and repairs; remove and tag the equipment with pertinent information.Strict adherence to AORN and AST Standards to include Aseptic Technique, and Infection Control practices.Suggestions, initiates and participates in PI/QI processes to enhance efficiencies and patient safetyTrains new and existing staff according to AORN and AST standards.Utilizes the LEAN principles for daily workWork collaboratively with peers, leadership team and surgeons.
The following job accountabilities are not unique to this particular job but are common to all jobs at VPH:Complies with VPH policies and procedures on customer satisfaction and service excellence.Demonstrates professionalism and cultural sensitivity in coordinating activities and communicating with all customers, peers, and the community at large.Conducts self in a professional, respectful and courteous manner during all interactions.Works effectively and collaboratively with others toward common goals.Communicates accurately, honestly, supportively and in a timely manner with department and interdepartmental team members.Demonstrates effective business writing and oral communication skills, handwriting is clear and legible.Participates in operational aspects of the department, and maintains/participates in performance improvement activities within the department.Participates in all departmental specific training, Environment of Care (injury/illness prevention, fire/life safety, hazardous materials, emergency preparedness, utilities management, medical equipment management, safety and security management), infection control (standard precautions, TB Exposure Control Plan, Bloodborne Pathogen Exposure Control Plan).Demonstrates knowledge of and follows safety practices.Understands the importance of safety, including patient safety in the work place.Maintains a safe environment for self and others.Actively participates in the Patient Safety Program, including event reporting.Identifies sentinel events/near misses and responds per defined organization processes.Participates in education activities and process implementation.Demonstrates advocacy for the patient/customer and appropriately acknowledges patients, customers and visitors.
The above statements reflect the essential functions considered necessary to describe the principle content of the job.
They are not intended to be a complete statement of all work requirements or duties that may be inherent in the job.
WORK ENVIRONMENT:Primarily an inside building/office environment, well lighted and ventilated, which may consist of multiple treatment and/or work sites.Fast and continuous work pace with variable workload.Frequent contact with staff and public under a variety of circumstances.Requires ability to communicate clearly (in English) verbally and in writing for effective communication with other staff members, physicians, vendors, community members, patients and patient families, employees and applicants of all socio-economic levels from a diverse cultural and ethnic population.Subject to many interruptions from multiple calls and inquiries and potentially emotional situations involving accidents, injuries, illness and/or death.Handles emergency/crisis situations in accordance with Hospital policy.Answers phones or pages; may carry a beeper/pager, and/or use a two-way radio.Occasional travel may be required.Potential risk of exposure to hazards from chemicals (toxic and non-toxic), flammable materials, gas or electrical or radiant energy or equipment with/without moving parts.PHYSICAL DEMANDS: Continuous 66 to 100% of timeFrequent 33 to 65% of timeOccasional 0 to 32% of time Patient CareContinuous standing/walking and occasional/intermittent sitting.Continuous use of bilateral upper extremities in fine motor activities requiring fingering, grasping, and forward reaching between waist and shoulder level to handle/operate medical equipment/devices.Frequent reaching above shoulder level and overhead.Frequent forward bending, twisting, squatting and kneeling; occasional climbing.Occasional repositioning and transferring patients weighing up to 200 pounds between bed, chair, and gurney.Occasional lifting and carrying equipment weighing up to 25 pounds.Occasional/intermittent pushing of gurneys, wheelchairs, bed and other medical equipment over tiled and carpeted surfaces.Continuous use of near vision to read medical equipment such as monitoring devices and reading documents and computer screens; hearing and verbal communication to interact with patients, co-workers, and other customers.
Clerical/Administrative Patient CareFrequent sitting and standing/walking with frequent position change.Continuous use of bilateral upper extremities in fine motor activities requiring fingering, grasping, and forward reaching between waist and chest level.Occasional/intermittent reaching at or above shoulder level.Occasional/intermittent bending, squatting, kneeling, pushing/pulling, twisting, and climbing.Occasional/intermittent lifting and carrying objects/equipment weighing up to 25 pounds.Continuous use of near vision, hearing and verbal communication skills in handling telephone calls, interacting with customers and co-workers and performing job duties.
Clerical/Administrative Non-Patient CareFrequent/continuous sitting with occasional, intermittent standing/walking.Continuous use of bilateral upper extremities in fine motor activities requiring fingering, grasping, and forward reaching between waist and chest level.Occasional/intermittent reaching at or above shoulder level.Occasional/intermittent bending, squatting, kneeling, pushing/pulling, twisting and climbing.Occasional/intermittent lifting and carrying objects/equipment weighing up to 25 pounds.Continuous use of near vision, hearing and verbal communication skills in handling telephone calls, interacting with customers and co-workers and performing job duties.
PATIENT POPULATION SERVED (if applicable, this position is responsible for age-related physiological, emotional and cognitive needs of the following age groups of patients) :Newborn, Pediatric, Adolescent, Adult, Geriatric