Summary

Provides technical specialty support in the care and preparation of patients undergoing complex and/or high-risk surgical procedures. Functions as a member of the surgical team in the operating room. Performs specialized technical support activities as appropriate to the position.

Duties and Responsibilities

1. Provides technical assistance to surgical staff in the preparation of patients for surgery and in the preparation of operating room facilities, equipment, instruments, and supplies.
2. Prepares instruments, sutures, sponges, and/or other surgical supplies as needed during procedures, as appropriate; assists as requested with routine surgical procedures.
3. Performs specialized surgical support activities and procedures, as appropriate to the nature of the surgery.
4. Performs cleaning and maintenance of the operating room between cases and at the end of the day; decontaminates, assembles, and sterilizes instruments, facilities, equipment, and supplies.
5. Carries out preventive maintenance and troubleshooting of complex and/or advanced surgical instruments and equipment.
6. Performs post-operative wound care procedures as appropriate, to include suture removal and application and/or changing of dressings.
7. Gathers pre-operative and post-operative patient data using various media, instruments, and/or equipment, as appropriate; maintains relevant databases.
8. May prepare surgical specimen forms for laboratory analysis, and assist in the maintenance and care of specimens.
9. Procures and maintains inventories of instruments, supplies, and equipment used in the operating room.
10. Follows established departmental policies, procedures, and objectives, continuous quality improvement objectives, and safety, environmental, and/or infection control standards.
11. Performs miscellaneous job-related duties as assigned.

Minimum Job Requirements

• High school diploma or GED; at least 7 years of experience directly related to the duties and responsibilities specified.
• Completed degree(s) from an accredited institution that are above the minimum education requirement may be substituted for experience on a year for year basis.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities Required

• Knowledge of supplies, equipment, and/or services ordering and inventory control.
• Ability to maintain quality, safety, and/or infection control standards.
• Knowledge of related accreditation and certification requirements.
• Ability to react calmly and effectively in emergency situations.
• Ability to prepare and preserve biological specimens for laboratory analysis.
• Knowledge of specialized surgical procedures, facilities, instruments, equipment, and terminology.
• Ability to understand and follow complex medical instructions and procedures.
• Knowledge of patient care requirements before and after surgery.
• Ability to set up, calibrate, and operate appropriate data gathering instrumentation, media, and/or systems.
• Knowledge of data management systems and processes.
• Knowledge of sterile procedures.
• Ability to perform routine post-operative procedures, such as suture removal and dressing application.
• Skill in the performance of specialized surgical support and related technical procedures as specified.
• Ability to analyze and resolve technical problems pertaining to medical equipment.

Conditions of Employment

• May be required to submit to annual TB and rubella screening.
• UNM will provide Hepatitis vaccination, candidate may decline vaccination through declination form or may provide record of vaccination from previous employer.
• Discipline-specific technical education/training is typically a requirement for positions in this job classification.
• Successful candidate must submit to post-offer, pre-employment physical examination and medical history check.

Working Conditions and Physical Effort

• Work is performed in an interior medical/clinical environment.
• Moderate physical activity. Requires handling of average-weight objects, standing and/or walking for extended periods of times during rush and busy hours of the semester.
• Work environment involves exposure to potentially dangerous materials and situations that require following extensive safety precautions and may include the use of protective equipment.

The University of New Mexico provides all training required by OSHA to ensure employee safety.

Revised Date: 06/04/2018