STFA - Surgical Technician First Assist - Adult Surgery

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The core purpose of the Department of Surgery is to improve the surgical care of patients in Oklahoma. This is accomplished by providing state of the art care to our patients, providing the finest quality surgical education to our fellows, residents, and students, improving the skills and knowledge of our surgical colleagues through continuing education programs, and expanding surgical knowledge through our clinical and basic science research programs. We have open positions in multiple services lines including Cardiovascular, Transplant, Ortho, Neuro, Robotics, Women's and General Surgery.

Location: University of Oklahoma Medical Center

Shift: Full-Time, Multiple Shifts within all Surgical Service Lines

General Description: Practices in collaboration with and under the direction of the surgeon during the intra-operative phase of the peri-operative experience. The Surgical Technician (ST) First Assistant does not concurrently function as a surgical technician.

Essential Functions/Duties:

• Assists in the positioning, skin preparation, and draping of the patient. Provides hemostasis, wound exposure, handles tissues appropriately to reduce the potential for injury, sutures tissue, closes all wound layers, and applies dressings to the wound under the direction of the surgeon.
• Uses surgical instruments and equipment skillfully in ways consistent with their design and purpose.
• Collaborates with the surgeon and the health care team in performing a safe operation with optimal outcomes for the patient.
• Places urinary catheters
• Assists in placement and suturing of surgical drains, laparoscopic procedures with camera and instrumentation, and endoscopic procedures.
• Scubs in and sets up instruments and supplies prior to procedure
• Prepares sterile field by obtaining, opening, arranging instruments and supplies anticipated for the procedure
• Cleans operating room areas and disposes of sharps from the sterile field according to the policy
• Utilizes physician preference cards to assist in preparing the operating room for the surgical procedure
• Assists in maintaining and updating preference cards
• Maintains an adequate supply of instruments and supplies to meet the patients changing needs
• After the surgical procedure, the First Assist works in conjunction with the operating team to safely transport the patient from the operating room table to the recovery area and to prepare the operating room for the next procedure by removing/exchanging dirty/used equipment, instruments, and supplies.
• Prepares for surgical procedures in conjunction with the surgeon by reviewing imaging studies, preparing/reviewing surgical procedure videos to optimize surgical outcomes prior to surgical procedure
• Works with service line coordinators to maintain instrument sets by working with Central Sterile processing and to ensure supplies and devices are available the day of surgery

Minimum Qualifications:

Education: Graduation from an STFA program, which meets the AORN recommended education standards for STFA programs.

Experience: None

License(s)/Certification(s)/Registration(s) Required: Certified Surgical First Assist required.Current Basic Life Support issued by the American Heart Association required upon hire.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

Ability to apply principles of asepsis and infection control, knowledge of surgical anatomy, physiology, patho-physiology, and operative technique related to the operative procedures in which the STFA assists. Ability to perform effectively in stressful and emergency situations. Ability to recognize safety hazards and initiate preventative and corrective action. Ability to perform effectively and harmoniously as a member of the operative team. Ability to demonstrate skills and behavior unique to the ST First Assistant (as defined). Meets requirements of statutes, regulations, and institutional policies relevant to ST First Assistant, and successful completion of the STFA program that meets the AORN Recommended Education Standards for ST First Assistant Programs. Effectively reads, writes and speaks fluent English. Good communication skills, both orally and written, computer skills needed, ability to work with others as a team to ensure quality patient care. Strong problem solving skills.

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