The Certified Surgical Technologist is responsible for handling sterile instruments, supplies, and equipment necessary during surgical procedures and Endoscopy. The Surgical Technologist has an understanding of the procedure being performed and anticipates the needs of the surgeon. The Surgical Technologist has the knowledge and ability to ensure quality patient care during operative procedures and Endoscopy and is vigilant in the maintenance of the sterile field.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

Preoperative Responsibilities

• Donning proper surgical attire and personal protective gear (PPE)
• Reviews, gathers and opens supplies and equipment needed for the surgical procedure
• Assists in positioning patients using appropriate positioning supplies and equipment
• Performs proper hand hygiene to scrub into the sterile field
• Sets up sterile back table and mayo stand with instruments, supplies, equipment and medications/solutions needed for the procedure
• Checks equipment prior to the start of the case to assure it is working properly
• Assists team members with gowning and gloving
• Assists with draping the patient and establishes the sterile field

Intraoperative Responsibilities

• Participates in the Universal Protocol including Sign-In, Time-out and Debrief
• Counts instrumentation, sharps, sponges, and soft goods per the department policy
• Prepares and anticipates additional instrumentation, equipment, and supplies for usage during the surgical procedure
• Appropriately passes instruments and supplies to surgeon during surgical procedure 
• Labels medications, hemostatic agents and irrigation solutions used during the surgical procedure
• Holds retractors or instruments as directed by the surgeon
• Coordinates the camera or changes out robotic arms/instruments during endoscopic surgery as directed by the surgeon
• Maintains the highest standard of sterile technique during the procedure
• Prepares sterile dressings and/or immobilization devices
• Prepares and passes off specimens as appropriate per department policy

Postoperative Responsibilities

• Cleans and prepares instruments for sterilization
• Assists in cleaning room and turn over

Additional Responsibilities

• Performs the duties of the CSR technician when assigned to that role
• Wears personal protective equipment (PPE) and follow standard precautions during decontamination process
• Adheres to department Sterilization policies and procedures for disinfection and/or sterilization of instruments
• Accurately documents and maintains regulatory requirements for sterilization, high-level disinfection, and biological monitoring
• Inspects, disassembles, sorts, cleans and processes reusable instrumentation per manufacturer’s instructions for use
• Selects and prepares packaging materials and method of sterilization of reusable instrumentation by manufacturer’s guidelines
• Set priorities based on the schedule for instrument turnover and re-sterilization
• Performs the duties of the Endoscopy Technician when assigned to that role
• Assist RN and MD as appropriate with equipment and patient care needs
• Assist Endoscopy provides polypectomies, biopsies, dilation, submucosal resections, and injections
• Retrieve specimens and work with circulating RN per Department Specimen Retrieval policy
• Follows Standard Precautions using personal protective equipment
• Set-up room and equipment including endoscope and supplies for GI procedures
• Adherent to reprocessing guidelines from manual cleaning to high-level disinfection for all endoscopes
• Assist with room disinfection and turnover
• Assist with cleaning and repositioning the patient as directed by Circulating RN
• Stock supplies and ensure equipment is available and operable

* While this job description is intended to be an accurate reflection of the job requirements, management reserves the right to modify, add or remove duties from particular jobs and to assign other duties as necessary.

Education & Licensure: 

• Graduate of a Surgical Technologist Program (eligible for certification)
• Must be certified within six months of hire
• Current BLS Certification

Experience:

• Prior hospital experience preferred but not required

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities: 

• Demonstrated ability to work independently with little direction and manage multiple demands and priorities
• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment
• Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to work effectively with diverse people

Physical Requirements

• Prolonged periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computer
• Prolonged periods of standing, bending, and reaching
• Must be able to lift up to 50 pounds at times

St. Croix Health has been a healing force in the St. Croix Valley for over 103 years. We are a purpose-driven organization with a dedicated team committed to serving our patients and communities throughout the St. Croix Valley. This commitment is rooted in our mission, vision and values. 

Mission: To deliver care driven by excellence, guided by heart, and grounded in community.

Vision: To be a trusted partner in providing healthcare that is personal and accessible to all, by adapting to meet the needs of our communities, and support lifelong well-being.

Values: Integrity. Respect. Compassion. Collaboration

Here at St. Croix Health, we offer our employees with a robust benefits package that includes:

• Health, vision and dental insurance
• 403b retirement program with employer match
• Paid time off
• Short-term disability, long-term disability and life insurance options
• Education reimbursement
• Employee assistance program (EAP)
• Wellbeing incentive program
• Free parking

St. Croix Health is a not-for-profit healthcare system located in St. Croix Falls, WI dedicated to helping people live healthier, happier, and longer lives. St. Croix Health offers the services of 80+ providers and 20 specialties with five community clinics in Minnesota and Wisconsin all supported by a critical access hospital on the main campus in St. Croix Falls, just an hour northeast of Minneapolis/St. Paul. Nestled in the bluffs of the St. Croix River Valley, St. Croix Falls is the ideal place to work, live and play.