The Certified Surgical Technician (CST) serves as a member of the healthcare team and provides technical support to the surgeon, registered nurse, and anesthesiologist in the operating room.
Requirements
- Ensure proper supplies, equipment, and instruments are ready for use.
- Clean operating room between cases.
- Restock operating rooms as necessary to meet par levels.
- Assist other operating rooms for coverage.
- May operate sterilizer, lights, suction machine, and other designated equipment.
- Ensure patient, procedure, operative site, positioning and equipment correspond.
- Follow the center exposure control plans/blood borne and airborne pathogens.
- Report observed or suspected breaks in sterile technique and acts according to policy.
- Perform hand scrub according to policy and procedure.
- Arrange instruments and supplies for surgical procedure.
- Maintain integrity of instruments.
- Ensure proper counting of sponges, instruments, and sharps.
- Assist in gowning of other personnel and draping of patient.
- Anticipate surgeon’s needs.
- Pass instruments to surgeon and/or assistant as appropriate.
- Communicate needs to circulators to ensure efficient and uninterrupted progress of procedure.
- Prepare and preserve specimens.
- Verify name, strength, and dosage of medication with circulator; confirms, labels, and places on surgical field.
- Clean and disinfect all tables, counter surfaces, stands, and floor.
- May help transport patients and restock the operating room.