Under the general supervision of the Director of Surgical Services, is responsible for the delivery of safe, effective and quality patient/family centered care in Surgical Services.

Responsibilities:

Patient Advocacy:

• Protects the patient's rights, dignity, and privacy

• Establishes a compassionate environment by providing emotional, psychological, and spiritual support to patients, friends, and families

• Resolves patient problems and needs by utilizing multidisciplinary team strategies

• Utilize appropriate resources for non-English speaking patients, hearing and sight impaired individuals, and/or healthcare illiteracy

• Takes proactive steps to recognize and report suspected abuse to your supervisor including child, geriatric, sexual, and spousal abuse

Quality:

• Assures quality of care by adhering to therapeutic standards; measuring health outcomes against patient care goals and standards; making or recommending necessary adjustments

• Adheres to Infection Prevention standards, consistent in hand hygiene practice before and after each patient interaction. Holds team members to IP and hand hygiene standards

• Actively participates in departmental continuous survey readiness activities, departmental collateral duties, quality reviews and performance improvement projects

Clinical Competency:

• Demonstrates knowledge of various surgical procedures with the ability to anticipate the needs of the surgeon and to recognize the problems encountered by the surgeon

• Identifies the name and function of surgical equipment and instrumentation

• Applies knowledge of normal and pathological anatomy and physiology to individualize patient care

• Demonstrates the application of the principles of asepsis and disinfection in a knowledgeable manner in the care of supplies, instruments, and the environment

• Follows strict adherence to policies and regulations regarding maintenance of the sterile field

• Participates in the "time out" for every patient to ensure correct side, site and level prior to procedure

• Protects patient from injury caused by chemical, electrical, positioning, heat and/or extraneous objects

• Performs count procedure to protect patient from unintended retained foreign objects - Manages patient specimen according to hospital policy

• Manages patient specimen according to hospital policy

• Measures and passes medications, hemostatic agents and irrigation solutions utilized during the surgical procedure

• Prepares sterile dressings and/or immobilization devices

• Verify and check the surgeon's preference card for each procedure

• Identifies and acts appropriately to an OR emergency situation

• Cross trains to other duties as needed to promote flexibility, sustainability and teamwork within the Critical Access Hospital setting

Professionalism:

• Maintains professional and technical knowledge by attending educational workshops; reviewing professional publications; establishing personal networks; and/or participating in professional societies

• Demonstrates the accountability as a health care professional by recognizing each practitioner is individually responsible for his/her actions

Organizational Expectations:

• Attendance: Attendance is an essential job function; employee comes to work daily, on time, and completes scheduled shift

• HIPAA: facilitates to maintain patient confidentiality

• Internal communication: contributes to positive team performance and a culture of service excellence through effective communication, active listening, and respect

• Interpersonal relationships: maintains appropriate interpersonal relationships with staff, patients, and visitors at all times. Works as a team member with other departments.

• Safety: Practices workplace safety daily

Employee Engagement:

• Actively participates in all hospital Service Excellence initiatives and trainings

• Attends and participates in a minimum of 50% department staff meetings and signs off on review of 100% department staff meeting minutes

• Completes all required annual education on or before the due date

Knowledge Skills and Abilities: Individuals must possess these knowledge, skills, and abilities or be able to explain and demonstrate that they can perform the primary functions of the job, with or without a reasonable accommodation, using some combination of skills and abilities and possess the necessary physical requirements, with or without a reasonable accommodation, to safely perform the essential functions of the job.

• Minimal physical effort required with occasional light lifting to a maximum of 25 pounds; stooping; and pick, pinch, type, or otherwise work primarily with fingers

• Ability to effectively manage considerable mental stress

• Ability to express or exchange ideas by means of the spoken word

• Ability to receive detailed information through oral communication

• Ability to communicate effectively with co-workers and convey information in a clear, concise and accurate manner

• Familiarity with computer and other business machines

Qualifications:

Education: Graduate from an accredited surgical technology program. Certification preferred

Experience: Current clinical skills within scope of practice; effectively organize work and set priorities; Current infection control practice; Positive bedside manner; Applicable physio/social/spiritual knowledge related to patient care; practices safe work conditions; Works effectively within the healthcare team; Able to work irregular hours including call. Computer literate

License and Certification:

CST certification required within one year of hire

Currently registered with New Hampshire Board of Medical Technicians

BLS (Basic Life Support) certification