SURGICAL TECHNOLOGIST II at H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center – Tampa, Florida

Position Highlights:

Under the direction of a Registered Nurse, the Surgical Technologist II establishes and maintains the sterile field for surgical procedures. Facilitates procedures, anticipating and responding to the needs of the surgeon and other surgical team members and has the necessary knowledge and ability to ensure quality patient care; is responsible for assisting with support services in the delivery of care to operative patients, including transportation, independent inventory management, environmental cleanliness and direct assistance to patients, visitors and staff. This role includes assignments in other ancillary roles within Perioperative Services.

Minimum Experience Required:

• Graduate of an approved Surgical Technologist program.
• 2- 5 years relevant clinical experience as a Surgical Technologist in an OR environment required with 1 year of service at Moffitt.
• CST certification required upon hire and maintained through employment.
• CST Certification must be through either National Center for Competency testing (NCCT) or National Board of Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting (NBSTSA).

Responsibilities:

Preoperative Case Management

• Assist RN circulator with preparing the operating room, including but limited to gathering and opening necessary equipment, instruments and supplies.
• Performing surgical scrub and donning sterile gown and gloves.
• Establish and organize the sterile filed.
• Prepare and label irrigation fluids.
• Prepare and label medication on sterile field.
• Perform initial sponge, sharps and instrument count.
• Assist sterile team members with donning surgical attire, draping and sterile setup.
• Participate in procedure safe surgical checklist prior to procedure start.

Interoperative Case Management

• Demonstrates competence and clinical skills to care for specific patient groups: infants, adolescents, adults and geriatric.
• Remains attentive, accessing and anticipating the needs of the patient/team to provide necessary items in order of need to include, but not limited to, instruments, supplies and equipment.
• Works with surgeon and circulator to accurately label and manage disposition of specimens.
• Prepares and handles tissue implants and prostheses for implantation.
• Complies with infection control standards; monitors the sterile field to prevent breaks in sterility.
• Prevents retained surgical items, performs closing and final counts with RN circulator to account for all items introduced to the sterile field.
• Performs point of use cleaning and care of surgical instruments.
• Prepares and assists with wound management/dressing for closure.

Post Procedure Management

• Maintains sterile field until anesthesia provider states disassembly is safe or patient is transported from the operating room.
• Assess and prepares instrumentation for return to sterile processing; applies enzymatic spray.
• Removes and separates sharps; performs safety count with RN circulator.
• Participates in room turnover; removes all used items from room prior to cleaning and preparation for next patient.

Professional Practice

• Maintains certification requirement.
• Adheres to policies and work rules introduced during department orientation including but not limited to policy and procedures for dress and appearance, attendance, safety, confidentiality, fire safety, emergency, plans and procedures.
• Performs as preceptor for new hires, Perioperative nurse interns and surgical technology students performing in the scrub role.
• Complete annual mandatory education and unit-based competencies as required.
• Participates in yearly review of self and contributes to peer reviews formally and informally as indicated.
• Identifies measurable goals for professional/personal growth. Meets goals identified at prior evaluation.

Leadership

• Participates in the assessment of self and others learning needs.
• Utilizes principles of teaching and learning in the education of others.
• Participates in the orientation of new staff/students by collaborating with the CNS/Patient Care Coordinator to individualize orientation. Recognizes individual learning needs.
• Actively in the process of obtaining membership in 2 “Expert Teams.”
• Actively participates in unit educational presentations.
• Develops/participates in one annual presentation/In-service.
• Actively participates in unit committees.
• Actively supports Service Line Specialist and team initiatives.