Surgical Technician - Labor & Delivery

This unit is comprised of L&D and a separate L&D triage area.  We have 24 hour perinatologists, neonatologists, and anesthesiologists (dedicated to OB) along with obstetric physicians and 2 groups of midwives.  We are a high risk antepartum and intrapartum unit including 16 LDR beds, 8 antepartum outpatient beds, 4 NST Bays and 3  pre-op and post-op beds.  We have 3 dedicated L&D OR’s for scheduled C-Sections and unscheduled cases such as cerclage placement or removal.  We also do emergent cases such as a laboring patient who needs a C-Section for arrest of dilation or descent or fetal intolerance of labor, hysterectomy or D&C for hemorrhage.  Our nurses are unique in that they are trained to be the pre-op nurse, intraoperative nurse (circulator), and PACU nurse for all OR cases, along with the nurse for the newborn after delivery.  We care for triage patients; ante-partum patients (both outpatient and inpatient if high risk or unstable); intrapartum, and preop and postop patients.  Our triage nurses see pregnant women over 20 weeks of gestation for obstetrical concerns. They also take care of patients with scheduled procedures such as non-stress tests and versions.  We currently do over 5,500 deliveries a year.  We currently have 14 nurses certified in Inpatient Obstetrics through NCC.  Several nurses also have a subspecialty certification in electronic fetal monitoring.   All nurses in L&D are certified in NRP and ACLS.

SUMMARY:         

Performs preoperative procedures such as selection and placement of surgical instruments, supplies and equipment.  Scrubs and assists surgical team in donning of gowns and gloves.  Provides instruments, sutures and other sterile supplies during operative procedures. Drapes patient for surgical procedure.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS :

Monitors all high risk and complicated cases and institute appropriate actions.

Prepares rooms with appropriate instruments, sutures, supplies, and equipment.

Assists in identifying, collecting, and caring for specimens.

Assists in maintaining correct count of instruments, sutures, and sponges.

Monitors and restocks supplies.

Orients, instructs and trains assigned personnel.

Opens sterile supplies and sets up for procedures.

Decontaminates instruments, supplies and equipment according to established policies and procedures; handles and stores instruments, equipment and supplies appropriately.

Communicates and interfaces with team members, patients, and medical staff to ensure high quality patient care.

Transports patients to and from Operating room suite; position patients according to type of surgery.

Performs biological and chemical monitoring in accordance with quality assurance standards.

Adheres to TMC organizational and department-specific safety, confidentiality, values, policies and standards.

Performs related duties as assigned.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

EDUCATION:  High school diploma or GED.

EXPERIENCE:  None required. One (1) year of surgical assistance experience preferred.

LICENSURE OR CERTIFICATION: Basic Life Support (BLS) certificate required.   Additional certifications may be required per department.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES: 

• Knowledge of surgical assist procedures and best practices.
• Skill in the sterilization and set up for different surgical procedures.
• Ability to read and interpret documents such as safety rules, operating and maintenance instructions, and procedure manuals.
• Ability to complete routine reports and correspondence.
• Ability to listen and accurately interpret others’ communication or instructions to take appropriate action.
• Ability to speak effectively before groups of customers or employees of organization.
• Ability to calculate figures and compute rate, ratio, and percent and to draw and interpret bar graphs and apply basic algebraic concepts. 
• Ability to apply common sense understanding to carry out detailed but uninvolved written or oral instructions.
• Ability to deal with problems involving a few concrete variables in standardized situations.