Picture this: In a busy operating room, a skilled professional methodically arranges surgical instruments, ensuring every tool is sterile and precisely placed before a critical procedure begins.
Think about preparing for an important event where every detail must be perfect – that’s what surgical technologists do, except for the stakes involved in saving lives. They are the behind-the-scenes experts who maintain the sterile field and anticipate the surgeon’s needs before they’re even expressed.
Surgical technologists serve as vital members of surgical teams in hospitals, outpatient centers, and specialty clinics.
Total employment: 112,800 (2023)
Common Names for Surgical Technologists
- Certified Surgical Technician
- Certified Surgical Technologist
- Operating Room Surgical Technician
- Operating Room Technician
- Operating Room Technologist
- Surgical Scrub Technician,
- Surgical Scrub Technologist
- Surgical Technician
- Surgical Technologist
What Surgical Technologists Do
Surgical technologists play a crucial role in the operating room, assisting during surgeries and ensuring everything runs smoothly. Core responsibilities include:
- Sterile Field Management: Establishes and maintains the sterile field during surgical procedures, ensuring patient safety and preventing infections through proper sterilization techniques.
- Surgical Equipment Preparation: Prepares all necessary instruments, supplies, and equipment before surgery, verifying functionality and sterility to enable smooth surgical workflow.
- Operative Support: Assists surgeons by passing instruments, holding retractors, and managing specimens during procedures, contributing to efficient surgical operations.
- Safety Protocol Implementation: Enforces safety measures and counting procedures for surgical instruments, sponges, and materials to prevent retained surgical items.
- Room Turnover Management: Prepares and restores the operating room between cases, ensuring cleanliness and readiness for subsequent procedures while maintaining efficiency.
- Documentation: Records surgical supplies used, equipment status, and procedure notes according to facility protocols, supporting accurate medical records and inventory management.
- Patient Positioning: Assists in properly positioning and preparing patients for surgery, helping prevent complications and ensuring optimal surgical access.
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