JOB PURPOSE OR MISSION: Works under the direct supervision of a Registered Nurse. Performs a variety of technical duties in the Operating Room to assist the surgical team. Prepares patient skin for surgery in accordance with standards. Maintains aseptic techniques; actively monitors situations which could lead to breaches in aseptic technique. Provides comfort and support for pre-operative patients by demonstrating sensitivity to patient’s care and privacy. Transports patients to and from Operating Room suite. Positions patients according to type of surgery. Identifies and cares for biological specimens. Prepares the Operating Room by setting up tables, instruments and supplies according to type of case. Performs job for the age population served, as defined in the department’s scope of service.
PERFORMANCE CRITERIA
CRITERIA A: Everyday Excellence Values - Employee demonstrates Everyday Excellence values in the day-to-day performance of their job.
PERFORMANCE STANDARDS:
- Demonstrates courtesy and caring to each other, patients and their families, physicians, and the community.
- Takes initiative in living our Everyday Excellence values and vital signs.
- Takes initiative in identifying customer needs before the customer asks.
- Participates in teamwork willingly and with enthusiasm.
- Demonstrates respect for the dignity and privacy needs of customers through personal action and attention t the environment of care.
- Keeps customers informed, answers customer questions and anticipates information needs of customers.
CRITERIA B: Corporate Compliance - Employee demonstrates commitment to the Code of Conduct, Conflict of Interest Guidelines, and the GHS Corporate Compliance Guidelines.
PERFORMANCE STANDARDS
- Practices diligence in fulfilling the regulatory and legal requirements of the position and department.
- Maintains accurate and reliable patient/organizational records.
- Maintains professional relationships with appropriate officials; communicates honesty and completely; behaves in a fair and nondiscriminatory manner in all professional contacts.
CRITERIA C: Personal Achievement - Employee demonstrates initiative in achieving work goals and meeting personal objectives.
PERFORMANCE STANDARDS
- Uses accepted procedures and practices to complete assignments.
- Uses creative and proactive solutions to achieve objectives even when workload and demands are high.
- Adheres to high moral principles of honesty, loyalty, sincerity, and fairness.
- Upholds the ethical standards of the organization.
CRITERIA D: Performance Improvement - Employee actively participates in Performance Improvement activities and incorporates quality improvement standards in his/her job performance.
PERFORMANCE STANDARDS
- Optimizes talents, skills, and abilities in achieving excellence in meeting and exceeding customer expectations.
- Initiates or redesigns to continuously improve work processes.
- Contributes ideas and suggestions to improve approaches to work processes.
- Willingly participates in organization and/or department quality initiatives.
CRITERIA E: Cost Management - Employee demonstrates effective cost management practices.
PERFORMANCE STANDARDS
- Effectively manages time and resources
- Makes conscious effort to effectively utilize the resources of the organization — material, human, and financial.
- Consistently looks for and uses resource saving processes.
CRITERIA F: Patient & Employee Safety - Employee actively participates in and demonstrates effective patient and employee safety practices.
PERFORMANCE STANDARDS
- Employee effectively communicates, demonstrates, coordinates and emphasizes patient and employee safety.
- Employee proactively reports errors, potential errors, injuries or potential injuries.
- Employee demonstrates departmental specific patient and employee safety standards at all times.
- Employee demonstrates the use of proper safety techniques, equipment and devices and follows safety policies, procedures and plans.
JOB FUNCTIONS
ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS include, but are not limited to:
1. Prepares Operating Room with instruments and supplies needed for the appropriate type of surgery or diagnostic examination.
PERFORMANCE STANDARDS:
- Assembles appropriate supplies and equipment in a timely manner and according to physician need prior to procedures.
- Anticipates procedural steps and responds accordingly as observed by care team members.
- Maintains aseptic technique and actively monitors situations which could lead to breaches in aseptic technique.
- Scrubs in prescribed manner and wears sterile gown and gloves.
2. Assists physicians and nurses with various procedures.
PERFORMANCE STANDARDS:
- Organizes instruments/equipment in specific order and hands to surgeon in correct order and with correct technique.
- Assists in transferring patients to and from the operating table to stretcher
- Assists in skin preparation and draping of patients.
- Assists physician during surgical procedure.
- Follows departmental protocol for procedures.
- Demonstrates ability to assist with the circulator role.
- Demonstrates proficiency in preparing specimens for pathology.
- Demonstrates proficiency in performing aseptic skin preparation.
- Assists with postoperative dressings.
3. Assists in the provision of safe, positive surgical outcomes.
PERFORMANCE STANDARDS:
- Demonstrates proficiency in the performance of the sterile team member role.
- Responsible, with the circulator, for accurate surgical counts before and after surgery.
- Demonstrates accountability in maintaining the ethical and legal responsibilities of a surgical team member.
- Demonstrates the ability to remain calm under pressure and in emergent situations.
4. Maintains instruments and equipment in proper functioning order.
PERFORMANCE STANDARDS:
- Cleans and maintains department equipment as required by department standards.
- Assembles, uses and troubleshoots all job-related equipment according to manufacturer’s recommendation and/or guidelines.
- Tracks equipment utilization in daily care delivery and ensures appropriate patient charge.
- Assembles instruments and cleans instruments and equipment following surgery.
5. Performs all other duties as assigned.
EDUCATIONAL REQUIREMENTS
Licensed Practical Nurse, Nursing Student, Graduate of School of Nursing, Graduate of Surgical Technician School or equivalent experience preferred.
SPECIAL SKILL, LICENSE AND KNOWLEDGE REQUIREMENTS
Certification as a Surgical Technician preferred
HIPAA REQUIREMENTS:
Maintains knowledge of and adherence to all applicable HIPAA regulations appropriate to Job Position including but not limited to: Medical records without limitation both paper and electronic, patient demographics, lab and radiology results, films or cine, patient information related to surgery or appointment schedules, medical records related to quality data, patient related complaints, information related to patient location, patients’ religious beliefs and/or research information.
SAFETY REQUIREMENTS:
Maintains knowledge of and adherence to all applicable safety practices appropriate to Job Position including but not limited to: Incident reporting, handling of wastes, sharps and linen, PPE, exposure control plans, hand washing, environment of care, patient identification, transporting patients, transporting medications and blood, monitoring clinical alarms, and positioning of patients.
