PURPOSE OF JOB CLASS (NATURE OF WORK)
At UConn Health this class is accountable for assisting professional staff in intra-operative patient care and assisting in the care and maintenance of operating room equipment.
GUIDELINES FOR JOB CLASS USE
- This class is the basic working level of the surgical technologist series.
- This classification is established to provide a level for graduates of accredited surgical technologist programs to acquire the required experience to attain the Surgical Technologist 2 level.
SUPERVISION RECEIVED
Initially works under the close supervision of a Lead Surgical Technologist or Registered Nurse assigned to the operating room.
EXAMPLES OF DUTIES
- Assists doctors and nurses during operations by proper positioning of patient for surgery and handling of sterile instrumentation and equipment and application of dressings;
- Maintains aseptic technique and observes for "breaks in technique";
- Maintains, cares for and labels all surgical specimens while on surgical field and confirms identity of all specimens when transferring to Circulating Registered Nurse;
- Assists in application of sterile dressings, appliances, prostheses, casts and moving or transporting patient as necessary;
- Decontaminates all equipment, instruments, supplies and rooms according to hospital standards;
- Compiles and makes available all necessary supplies, equipment and instrumentation based on needs of patient and surgical team;
- Maintains, cares for and labels all surgical specimens;
- Observes and protects patient from injury or harm;
- Observes and reports safety hazards;
- Assists Circulating Registered Nurse with maintenance of correct sponge, needle and instrument counts to prevent retained surgical items;
- Observes safety electrosurgical practices;
- Follows established standards for medication safety on sterile field;
- Assists Circulating Registered Nurse and members of surgical team in emergency situations;
- Assists in preparation of operating room standards and accesses surgeons case procedure/preference cards;
- Assists in housekeeping duties and maintains cleanliness of department;
- May assist Obstetrician during caesarean sections;
- Performs related duties as required.
KNOWLEDGE, SKILL AND ABILITY
- Knowledge of
- operating room practices and safety standards;
- sterilization and aseptic techniques;
- operating room instruments and equipment;
- Interpersonal skills
- Ability to understand and carry out oral instructions;
- Manual dexterity.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS - GENERAL EXPERIENCE
Graduate of an accredited surgical technologist program.
SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS
Incumbents in this class must complete a minimum of ten (10) hours of continuing education annually. The continuing education shall be in areas related to the functions of central sterile processing and distribution or others as required.
WORKING CONDITIONS
- Incumbents in this class may be required to lift patients and stand for long periods; may be exposed to moderately disagreeable conditions.
- Incumbents will be required to wear surgical attire according to hospital policy.
APPOINTMENT
No permanent state employee may work in a per diem position.
JOB CLASS DESIGNATION
Classified/Non-Examined
OCCUPATIONAL GROUP
(25)-Patient and Inmate Care
BARGAINING UNIT
(10)-HEALTH NONPROF(NP-6)
EEO
(3)-Technician
SALARY INFORMATION
FK 16
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
As defined by Sec. 5-196 of the Connecticut General Statutes, a job class is a position or group of positions that share general characteristics and are categorized under a single title for administrative purposes. As such, a job class is not meant to be all-inclusive of every task and/or responsibility.
CANCELLATION CLAUSE
This replaces the existing specification for the class of Surgical Technologist 1 (40 Hour) in Salary Group FK 16 approved effective March 3, 2017. (Revised to modernize format and Add Acknowledgement section. Reviewed for content.) Final No. 23-318
EFFECTIVE DATE
12/13/2023
CLASS: 8609FK;
EST: 3/3/2017;
REV: 12/18/2023;