Sterile Processing and Surgical Technician

Job Summary: 
Prepares operating room for surgery, using appropriate techniques.  Provides technical services and assists in operating room and other units as assigned. Scrubs in for surgical procedures and assists surgeon as needed. Provides indirect care to patients by providing properly sterilized and disinfected instruments and equipment. Performs decontamination, cleaning, assembling, packaging, sterilization, storage and distribution of reusable surgical instrumentation and equipment. Keeps accurate documentation on cleaning and sterilization processes.

Note:  This is a part-time position averaging 8-16 hours a week. 

Job Qualifications:
Experience:  Experience as a surgical technologist or sterile processing technician preferred but not required.
On-the-job training available.
Education:   High School Diploma or equivalents.
Required Certification/Registrations:  CPR

Physical Requirements:
Prolonged, extensive, or considerable standing/walking|
Occasionally lifts supplies/equipment/instruments
Considerable reaching, stooping, bending, kneeling, crouching
(This list is not exhaustive and may be supplemented as necessary.)

Working Conditions:
May be exposed to infections and contagious diseases
Regularly exposed to body fluids and wastes
Possible exposure to hazardous anesthetic agents and chemicals
Exposed to hazards from electrical/mechanical/power equipment
Possibility of cuts or minor burns from instruments
Exposed to unpleasant elements (accidents, injuries and illness)
Constant exposure to colder surgical environment

JOB DUTIES: (This list may not include all of the duties assigned.)
Maintains established departmental policies and procedures, objectives, continuous quality improvement, safety, environmental and infection control standards as requested.
Adheres to dress code including wearing identification while on duty.
Assists the surgical team during operative procedures.
Pulls needed supplies for each procedure, opens sterile supplies and sets up for procedures.
Cleans and prepares rooms between procedures and after terminal cleaning.
Drapes patients for surgical procedures and establishes the sterile field.
Operates, maintains and cares for equipment and supplies used for processing sterile and disinfected instruments. Documents maintenance and repairs.

Records sterilizer and disinfector test results, prepares and maintains department records, reports, and files
(Including quality assurance and improvement projects).
Assembles patient charts and keeps files orderly.
Performs aseptic surgical scrub and don’s PPE.
Assists circulating nurse with all surgical counts and preparation of operative specimens.
Assists surgeons as requested, passing instruments and supplies, holding retractors, instruments, suctioning, & donning sterile PPE.
Keeps the field sterile, neat, and organized.
Anticipates and prepares for additional instrumentation or supplies during procedure.
Draws up medications and solutions as directed by surgeon.
Have the ability to use and clean endoscopes and other OR equipment.
Maintains supply and linen inventory levels in OR, RR, Procedure Room, and SPD. Orders, restocks, labels, submits requisitions for supplies and checks for outdates.
Monitors biological and chemical indicators to ensure quality and consistency for decontamination of instruments.
Uses PPE when handling contaminated instruments and equipment and while in decontamination and sterilization areas working with instruments or chemicals.
Decontaminates and sterilizes instruments, medical supplies and equipment, and assembles,
wraps and sterilizes trays of instruments.
Verifies that equipment functions properly, requisitions for equipment repair, maintenance or replacement, and removes defective equipment. Report to Surgery/SPD manager.
Performs decontamination, cleaning, assembling, packaging, sterilization, storage and distribution of reusable surgical instrumentation and equipment for all departments, as needed.
Delivers instruments to appropriate departments once clean or sterile.
May work with patients obtaining vital signs and pre and post operative care if needed.
Reports to work on time and as scheduled, making attendance on surgery days a priority.
Performs surgical patient call-backs and other patient calls as needed, manages returned patient surveys.

(This list may not include all of the duties assigned.)