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How to Write a Surgical Technician Job Description Sample

Surgical Technicians, or Surgical Technologists, prepare operating rooms, organize equipment and assist the operating Surgeon during a medical procedure. They usually collaborate with Surgeons to ensure that a medical procedure goes according to plan.

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What does a Surgical Technician do?

Surgical Technicians usually work together with Surgeons, Nurses and Anesthesiologists during medical procedures. They prepare patients, equipment and rooms for any pending and upcoming surgeries. They also lend a hand during medical procedures as members of the operating team. During surgeries, they work under the direction of the surgeon to make sure that the surgical team has everything they need for the procedure to go smoothly. They primarily work in hospitals but works anywhere that conducts surgeries, such as an outpatient medical facility.

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Surgical Technician Job Description Examples:

Surgical Technician duties and responsibilities

A good Surgical Technician provides technical assistance to other medical professionals like Surgeons, Nurses and Anesthesiologists during surgeries. Some of the duties and responsibilities that a Surgical Technician is usually tasked with include:

  • Helping to monitor and position patients during surgery
  • Preparing and maintaining a sterile operating room
  • Ensuring all instruments and supplies are available before any surgery
  • Preparing the patient’s skin for surgery
  • Providing the patient with pre-operative care
  • Passing sterilized surgical instruments such as forceps and scalpels to Surgeons
  • Correctly labelling samples obtained during surgical procedures and sending them for analysis

Surgical Technician skills and qualifications

Because of their job responsibilities, Surgical Technicians possess a wide variety of skills and qualifications. They are keen, attentive to detail and friendly, as they are often taking care of patients who are entering surgery and want to make them feel comfortable. Some skills a Surgical Technician needs to possess include:

  • Certifications in First Aid and CPR
  • Knowledge of sterile and aseptic techniques
  • Knowledge of surgical instruments and how to use them
  • Computer literacy
  • Communication skills
  • Empathy
  • Attention to detail
  • Outstanding organization skills
  • Excellent time management skills

Along with these skills, becoming a Surgical Technician you might require applicants to earn certifications. Some of these might include:

  • CPR certification
  • First-aid certification
  • Basic life support certification

Surgical Technician experience requirements

The ideal candidate for a surgical technician job has a minimum of 3 years of experience working as a surgical technician in a hospital or outpatient operating room. This shows their familiarity with the fast-paced work environment where they will continue to develop their skills.

Surgical Technician education and training requirements

The ideal Surgical Technician candidate will have completed a surgical technician certification at an accredited institution. These programs can take between 1-2 years and might require passing exams to show competence in the subject areas. Alternatively, they may have completed an operating room technician certification, which offers similar skills and training. A CPR certification is also crucial for candidates as some technicians may need to provide CPR to patients during surgical situations.

A Surgical Technician job candidate needs to take extensive training in sterilizing and organizing surgical instruments. They also need basic training in patient preparation, including sterilizing the incision region.

Surgical Technician Salary expectations

According to Indeed Salaries, the average salary of a Surgical Technician in Canada is $54,583 per year. This varies depending on location, experience and the hiring company.

Job description samples for similar positions

If this Surgical Technician job description sample wasn’t what you were looking for, samples for related jobs include:

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Surgical Technician job description FAQs

What is the difference between a Surgical Technician and a Surgical Technologist?

While Surgical Technologists and Surgical Technicians often have similar duties, technologists usually have advanced education qualifications, unlike technicians. Some organizations will employ a technician who recently got their high school diploma and train them on the job.

To work as a surgical technologist, candidates will have to start with a degree from an accredited institution. In some organizations, Surgical Technicians report to Surgical Technologists.

What are the working hours for Surgical Technicians?

The average shift for Surgical Technicians is usually eight hours. However, if an emergency occurs, they may need to work longer hours or work on the weekends and holidays. A Surgical Technician’s job requires them to stand for long periods in an operating room. If a patient’s medical procedure takes longer than expected, the technician might end up working an extended shift.

How long does it take to become a Certified Surgical Technician?

It takes a period of about two years to complete a Surgical Technician program from an accredited institution. An associate degree prepares a candidate to navigate the operating room properly and teaches them how to handle the patients and equipment. After a candidate earns an associate degree, they can get the relevant certification. While certifications aren’t necessarily a requirement when applying for surgical technical jobs, you might notice candidates with the certifications over applicants without certification.

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