Summary
Operating Room Technician (Surgical) provides health care support to Womack Army Medical Center, Fort Bragg, NC. The contract OR tech works with healthcare providers, professionals and non‑contract personnel.
Responsibilities
- Transport patients from hospital units to the operating room, ensuring safe transportation.
- Screen patients before transport to confirm pre‑operative medications, removal of jewelry, dentures, prosthetic devices, and verify chart and identification band completeness.
- Comfort patients fearful of surgery.
- Position and drape patients for specific procedures and secure them as required.
- Follow pre‑operative nursing care plans, including shaving the operative site if needed.
- Select, assemble, and organize required supplies, equipment, and instruments per operative work sheets, physician preference cards, or consultation with physicians/charge nurses.
- Hand instruments to the surgeon during the procedure, anticipating their needs.
- Maintain alertness for complications such as hemorrhage, shock, and cardiac arrest, and supply instruments, drugs, and supplies to correct conditions.
- Take sponge, instrument, and sharp counts; measure blood and fluid loss; assist with dressing application.
- Actively engage in tissue manipulation with proper instruments, following surgeon direction, to facilitate successful procedure completion.
- Obtain sterile supplies, sutures, dressings, lines, etc.; open instrument sets, pour solutions, set up and adjust equipment such as electric coagulators, bone saws, operating microscopes, air power drills, defibrillators, and resuscitators; establish suction connections and adjust operating lights.
- Assist anesthetist during induction and throughout the surgical procedure.
- Obtain supplies needed during surgery such as blood, drugs, solutions, instruments; prepare and label laboratory specimens; record specimen info in intraoperative nursing records.
- Maintain aseptic technique throughout surgical preparation and assistance.
- Clean the operating room after surgery: remove and dispose of soiled or contaminated materials, change linens, wash, disassemble, sterilize, and reassemble instruments; mop and disinfect all equipment; perform first‑echelon maintenance on operating equipment.
- Perform daily equipment tests to ensure effectiveness and sterilization parameters are met.
- Other duties as assigned.
Qualifications
- Graduate from a Surgical Technology program accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP), Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (ABHES), or complete a formal training program provided by a U.S. Armed Forces branch for surgical technicians.
- Certified as a Surgical Technologist (CST) by the National Board of Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting (NCCT) or possess a Military Occupational Specialty (MOS) certification as a surgical technician or OR tech.
- Current Basic Life Support (BLS) certification from the American Heart Association, American Red Cross, or an approved certifying body.
- Minimum one (1) year of experience as a certified surgical technologist within the past two years.
- Certification from an accredited OR Tech training program.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
- Experience working in a surgical setting.
- Familiarity with electronic health record (EHR) systems.
- Advanced knowledge of surgical instruments and techniques.
- Strong problem‑solving skills.
- Ability to work flexible hours, including nights and weekends.
Physical Demands
- Must be able to sit, talk, or hear repeatedly; use arms, wrists, hands, and fingers; occasionally walk, stand, climb, balance, stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl.
- Must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds.
- Specific visual abilities required include close vision.