Job Summary:

The Surgical Technologist facilitates patient care by assisting physicians/nursing staff before, during and after surgical procedures by creating and maintaining, a sterile field and providing the instruments and supplies required by the surgeons in a sterile manner according to established plan for patient care with occasional guidance. The Surgical Technologist is able to perform competently most of the cases in a given service/shift.

Position Shift:

Day or Night Shift

Department/Unit Summary:

The Vanderbilt Surgery Center, (VSC) is a low acuity, offsite ambulatory outpatient surgery center. Our service line is orthopedics and we have four surgical suites.

Vanderbilt Surgery Center has a 29 member staff team which consists of Patient Service Representatives, RNs, STs, FAs, and Central Sterile Techs. Our team works together safely and efficiently and puts patient care first.

Typically staff work 10 to 12 hour shifts. More importantly all staff are dedicated and work until every surgery is complete and every patient is safely discharged home.

Discover Vanderbilt University Medical Center:

Located in Nashville, Tennessee, and operating at a global crossroads of teaching, discovery and patient care, VUMC is a community of individuals who come to work each day with the simple aim of changing the world. It is a place where your expertise will be valued, your knowledge expanded and your abilities challenged. It is a place where your diversity -- of culture, thinking, learning and leading -- is sought and celebrated. It is a place where employees know they are part of something that is bigger than themselves, take exceptional pride in their work and never settle for what was good enough yesterday. Vanderbilt's mission is to advance health and wellness through preeminent programs in patient care, education, and research.

VUMC Recent Accomplishments

Because we are committed to providing the best in patient care, education and research, we are proud of our recent accomplishments:

• US News & World Report: #1 Adult Hospital in Tennessee and metropolitan Nashville, named to the Best Hospitals Honor Roll of the top 20 adult hospitals, 10 nationally ranked adult specialty programs, with 3 specialties rated in the top 10 nationally, Monroe Carell Jr. Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt named as one of the Best Children's Hospital in the nation, with 10 out of 10 pediatric specialties nationally ranked.
• Healthcare's Most Wired: Among the nation's 100 "most-wired" hospitals and health systems for its efforts in innovative medical technology.
• Becker's Hospital Review: named as one of the "100 Great Hospitals in America", in the roster of 100 Hospitals and Health Systems with Great Oncology Programs and to its list of the 100 Hospitals with Great Heart Programs.
• The Leapfrog Group: One of only 10 children's hospitals in the to be named at Leapfrog Top Hospital.
• American Association for the Advancement of Science: The School of Medicine has 112 elected fellows
• Magnet Recognition Program: Received our third consecutive Magnet designations.
• National Academy of Medicine: 22 members, elected by their peers in recognition of outstanding achievement
• Human Rights Campaign Healthcare Equality Index: 6 ^th year in a row that Vanderbilt University Medical Center was a Leader in LGBTQ Healthcare Equality.

Key Responsibilities

• Facilitates patient care, by assisting the surgeon before, during and after surgical procedures.
• Plans, sets up, performs and cleans up the assigned surgical procedure as a circulator and as a scrub tech.
• Demonstrates knowledge of and the ability to apply the Principles of Asepsis in creating and maintaining the sterile field.
• Performs sharp, sponge and instrument counts according to policy.
• The responsibilities listed are a general overview of the position and additional duties may be assigned

JOB SUMMARY:
Facilitates patient care by assisting physicians/nursing staff before, during and after surgical procedures by creating and maintaining, a sterile field and providing the instruments and supplies required by the surgeons in a sterile manner according to established plan for patient care with occasional guidance. Is able to perform competently most of the cases in a given service/shift.


KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Facilitates patient care, by assisting the surgeon before, during and after surgical procedures.
• Plans, sets up, performs and cleans up the assigned surgical procedure as a circulator and as a scrub tech.
• Performs sharp, sponge and instrument counts according to policy.
• Demonstrates knowledge of and the ability to apply the Principles of Asepsis in creating and maintaining the sterile field.
• Performs sharp, sponge and instrument counts according to policy.
• The responsibilities listed are a general overview of the position and additional duties may be assigned.

TECHNICAL CAPABILITIES:

SURGICAL TECHNOLOGY (NOVICE): - Possesses sufficient fundamental proficiency to successfully demonstrate surgical technology in practical applications of moderate difficulty.

SURGICAL EQUIPMENT KNOWLEDGE (NOVICE): - Knowledge of the specific equipment and its performance criteria, capabilities and limitations. Able to use the equipment to accomplish basic tasks associated with the specific devices. May conduct remedial maintenance and preventive maintenance.

OPERATING ROOM CARE (NOVICE): - Possesses sufficient fundamental proficiency to successfully demonstrate operating room care in practical applications of moderate difficulty. Generally works under the direction of others while accomplishing assignments.

ENVIRONMENTAL STERILITY & SAFETY (FUNDAMENTAL AWARENESS): - Has limited experience, training, direct exposure, or past experience working with environmental sterility and safety.

PROCEDURES KNOWLEDGE (FUNDAMENTAL AWARENESS): - Has limited experience, training, direct exposure, or past experience working with procedures knowledge.

EQUIPMENT MAINTENANCE - (FUNDAMENTAL AWARENESS): - Has limited experience, training, direct exposure, or past experience conducting maintenance activities in area of assignments.

INVENTORY MANAGEMENT - (FUNDAMENTAL AWARENESS): - Has limited experience, training, direct exposure, or past experience working with Inventory Management. Understands Inventory Management concepts and principles. Familiar with Inventory Management tools, processes, procedures and policies.

CORE ACCOUNTABILITIES:

• Organizational Impact: Performs tasks that are typically routine that may impact team's performance with occasional guidance.
• Problem Solving/ Complexity of work: Utilizes some discretion and research to solve routine problems.
• Breadth of Knowledge: Applies knowledge of standards, established processes and procedure that apply to your own job.
• Team Interaction: Provides guidance to entry level co-workers.

CORE CAPABILITIES:

SUPPORTING COLLEAGUES (S2):

• - Develops Self and Others: Continuously improves own skills by identifying development opportunities.
• - Builds and Maintains Relationships : Seeks to understand colleagues priorities, working styles and develops relationships across areas.
• - Communicates Effectively: Openly shares information with others and communicates in a clear and courteous manner.

DELIVERING EXCELLENT SERVICES (S2):

• - Serves Others with Compassion: Invests time to understand the problems, needs of others and how to provide excellent service.
• - Solves Complex Problems: Seeks to understand issues, solves routine problems, and raises proper concerns tosupervisors in a timely manner.
• - Offers Meaningful Advice and Support: Listens carefully to understand the issues and provides accurate information and support.

ENSURING HIGH QUALITY (S2):

• - Performs Excellent Work: Checks work quality before delivery and asks relevant questions to meet quality standards.
• - Ensures Continuous Improvement: Shows eagerness to learn new knowledge, technologies, tools or systems and displays willingness to go above and beyond.
• - Fulfills Safety and Regulatory Requirements: Demonstrates basic knowledge of conditions that affect safety and reports unsafe conditions to the appropriate person or department.

MANAGING RESOURCES EFFECTIVELY (S2):

• - Demonstrates Accountability: Takes responsibility for completing assigned activities and thinks beyond standard approaches to provide high-quality work/service.
• - Stewards Organizational Resources: Displays understanding of how personal actions will impact departmental resources.
• - Makes Data Driven Decisions: Uses accurate information and good decision making to consistently achieve results on time and without error.

FOSTERING INNOVATION (S2):

• - Generates New Ideas: Willingly proposes/accepts ideas or initiatives that will impact day-to-day operations by offering suggestions to enhance them.
• - Applies Technology: Absorbs new technology quickly; understands when to utilize the appropriate tools and procedures to ensure proper course of action.
• - Adapts to Change: Embraces change by keeping an open mind to changing plans and incorporates change instructions into own area of work.