Surgical Technologists

Working Schedule

Surgical Technologists work full-time, with shifts that may start very early. If working in an ER, they may be assigned to night, weekend, or holiday shifts. 

Typical Duties

• Ensure instruments are kept sterile during medical operations
• Take inventory of all supplies and instruments used before and after surgery, to ensure nothing was left inside a patient
• Perform scrub cleaning on other team members’ hands and arms
• Assist others with putting on masks, gloves, and gowns so they don’t have to touch anything
• Prep patients for their operations. Assist with getting them onto the table and covering them up. Wash and disinfect incision sites
• As needed, give sterile instruments or supplies to surgeons or their assistants
• Ensure needed solutions and fluid supplies such as saline, blood, or plasma are on hand
• Assist with holding various instruments steady while the surgeon is operating
• Manage tissue specimens needed for lab analysis
• Clean and sterilize operating room equipment
• Anticipate needs during surgical procedures
• Aid with applying bandages to patients after surgery
• Keep all relevant medical supplies in stock. Reorder, as needed
• Review the daily schedule of surgeries and ensure all necessary instruments, supplies, and equipment will be on hand
• Organize and transfer appropriate instruments, supplies, and equipment to the operating room and arrange items according to the scheduled procedure 
• Keep an eye on equipment to ensure proper functioning. Adjust, as needed
• Take note of the patient vital signs 

Additional Responsibilities

• Train new technologists 
• Stay up-to-date on relevant industry changes
• Maintain physical and electronic records

Soft Skills

• Analytical
• Compliance-oriented
• Detail-oriented
• Diligent
• Independence
• Integrity 
• Methodical 
• Observant
• Organized
• Patient
• Safety conscious 
• Sound judgment 
• Stamina
• Strong communication skills

Technical Skills

• Biological waste handling
• Database query software
• Electronic medical records and patient tracking
• Familiarity with IV fluids such as saline, blood, plasma, and glucose
• Medical bandaging
• Medical instrument terminology and usage
• Medical sanitation and disinfection 
• Operating surgery-related medical equipment
• Patient vital signs 
• Personal protective equipment usage 
• Scrub procedures
• Supply ordering procedures and programs
• Surgery workflow communication programs

• Hospitals and surgical centers (including emergency rooms, intensive care units, and labor/delivery units)
• Outpatient care centers
• Private practices (including dental, vision, and plastic surgery)

Whether it’s open surgery or minimally invasive, surgical operations are inherently risky due to a myriad of factors. Among these is the risk of patient infection from hazardous germs. Patients are already in a compromised state when they’re laying on a table under anesthesia, so surgical teams must do everything possible to mitigate the risk by being organized and following stringent protocols. 

Surgical Technologists play a crucial role in this endeavor and must know and follow very methodical procedures to ensure patient safety. Surgical Technologists are at risk themselves, frequently exposed to chemicals, all manner of germs, and potentially hazardous biological materials such as blood or bodily fluids. 

Around the world, hospitals have been grappling with the problem of keeping areas free from germs and infectious diseases. Many have needed to strengthen their cleaning practices to avoid having patients exposed to healthcare-acquired infections, which can be fatal in some cases. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has stressed that healthcare institutions closely follow hygiene precautions to protect both patients and healthcare workers. A few trends on this front include the use of continuously active disinfection chemicals and materials. Complimenting these measures, hospitals are turning to innovative disinfectant delivery methods such as misting systems and ultraviolet technology. 

Surgical Technologists were most likely very tidy people who liked to keep things organized. They were probably patient and calm, able to focus on tasks with great attention to detail. They may have enjoyed being part of group activities in school because they work well on teams and are comfortable with juggling responsibilities.