Operating Room Technician (Full-Time)

Overview:

Our team members are the heart of what makes us better. At Hackensack Meridian Health we help our patients live better, healthier lives — and we help one another to succeed. With a culture rooted in connection and collaboration, our employees are team members. Here, competitive benefits are just the beginning. It’s also about how we support one another and how we show up for our community. Together, we keep getting better - advancing our mission to transform healthcare and serve as a leader of positive change.

A Licensed Practical Nurse and/or Certified Operating Room Technician who assists in the nursing care and preparation of surgical patients. Functions as a member of the sterile team in donning gown and gloves, creating and maintaining a sterile field and issuing instruments to surgeons.

A day in the life of a Operating Room Technician at Hackensack Meridian Health includes:

• Prepares rooms with appropriate instruments, sutures, supplies and equipment necessary for each individual surgical procedure as outlined in the departmental policy and procedure manual; refers to the physician's preference book for special needs, equipment, or instruments of the surgeon performing the scheduled operation.
• Demonstrates competence in assisting the surgical team during operative procedures. Consistently passes instruments, sponges, sutures, and suction tubes to surgeon and surgical assistants, as requested, in such a manner that the surgeon need not to divert attention from the operating field. Remains alert during procedures and demonstrates an ability to handle unexpected situations with calm efficiency.
• Follows departmental procedures in: scrubbing, hand drying, gowning, gloving, and observing for contamination and /or breaks in aseptic technique. Demonstrates close attention to details of aseptic technique at all times.
• Follows aseptic technique when opening sterile supplies and setting-up procedures. Discards any contaminated supplies immediately, according to established written procedures.
• Demonstrates an awareness of legal responsibilities and the reason for complete accuracy when performing operating room counts (sponge, needle, instruments); knows proper procedure to follow in case of an incorrect count; reports discrepancies and /or corrections immediately.
• Follows written procedures in accounting for reporting the number of drains and/or packs and their location to the Circulating Nurse.
• Demonstrates competence in the care of specimens (bacteriological anaerobic and aerobic, frozen sections, pathological, E.E.A. testing, Calculli, Care of limb post-amputation), and in the accurate recording, labeling, and handling of specimens at all times.
• Adjusts lights and other equipment as directed by the surgeon or staff nurse: always follows orders carefully and completely; checks on a daily basis assigned O.R. equipment to ensure proper functioning; maintains an awareness of special maintenance procedures; promptly reports any inoperative equipment to the supervisor; inspects the department regularly for proper equipment functions.
• Keeps operative field in a neat, clean, dry and sterile condition; identifies and immediately reports any breaks in aseptic techniques by self and others; maintains a sterile set-up until the patient has left the operating rooms following operations, including disposal of used linens gloves, instruments, utensils, equipment and waste; cleans instrument tables at the end of each case according to established procedures; autoclaves waste, as necessary. Restocks supplies, as necessary.
• Follows established procedures in making up special sterile supplies such as: needles, catheters, Penrose drain, cotton balls, etc. sterilizes specific instruments as necessary according to proper sterilization procedures; demonstrates proper wrapping techniques of supplies for sterilization.
• Follows written procedures for gas and steam sterilization; knows responsibilities and the necessity for chemical and bacteriological monitoring.
• Ensures comfort and safety for patient; demonstrates an awareness of patient's fears and apprehension. Supports patients emotionally in the pre-and post-surgical phase. Communicates clearly and tactfully with patients.
• Assists in transportation of patient as required from bed to operating room. Demonstrates an awareness of patient safety and proper body mechanics.
• Gowns and gloves other scrubbed personnel, as requested, following strict aseptic procedures at all times.
• Assists in draping patients for surgical procedures; follows procedures outlined in the departmental manual. Assists in the preparation of patient operative areas according to the need; carefully follows established procedures under the direction of the Operating Room Staff Nurse.
• Attends O.R. Staff Meeting; attends all JCAHO required in-service education programs yearly; participates in hospital emergency and disaster procedures; knows personal role in case of a fire while on duty.
• Assists with the orientation of new personnel assigned to O.R.
• Respond within 30 minutes when on-call.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Education, Knowledge, Skills and Abilities Required:

• Satisfactory completion of an approved Operating Room Technician course and/or a graduate of an accredited school of Practical Nursing with current NJ licensure.
• Minimum of one year Operating Room experience.

Contacts:

• Regular contact with medical personnel and its visitors.

Working Conditions:

• Works indoors in well lighted and ventilated rooms.
• Possibility of cuts or minor burns from instruments and equipment.
• Some direct exposure to contagion and fumes from chemicals but risk is minimal when proper safety precautions are observed.
• Possibility of strains due to moving patients, equipment and instrumentation.

Physical Demands:

• Constant standing, walking, stooping, bending, stretching, lifting, pulling, pushing, turning and occasional sitting.
• Frequently lifts objects from 1-150 lbs., frequently carries objects weighing up to 50 lbs.
• Frequently lifts with assistance, objects greater than 150 lbs. and pushes objects up to 200 lbs.

Mental Demands:

• Manage time appropriately to meet patient and department needs.

Equipment Operated:

• Knowledge of function and ability to operate Fiber Optic Equipment: Lab chole, video, arthroscopy, laparoscopy, endoscopy. Drills; ortho, ortho-equipment general, autoclaves, washer sterilizers, microscopes ¿ENT, knowledge of laser.
• Knowledge of care and handling of instrumentation realizing that improper care and use are extremely costly.
• Ability to operate other work related equipment such as telephone, copier, fax machine etc.

If you feel the above description speaks directly to your strengths and capabilities, then please apply today!