When a patient has surgery, an Operating Room (OR) technician prepares the room for surgery and assists during the procedure. Scrubs, surgical room technicians, and surgical technologists are all terms used to describe people who work in this field. The OR technician is heavily relied upon by doctors and nurses to ensure that the patient’s surgery goes smoothly.
When a patient is scheduled for surgery, the operating room technician must prepare the patient and perform tasks such as checking their chart for identification and allergies, or assisting the nurse with catheter or intravenous drip placement. To prepare patients, the operating room technician may have to shave and sterilize them. Before taking the patient to the surgery room, the technician will collect their jewelry, glasses, and other personal items after they have been prepared for surgery.
The OR technician double-checks that the room has everything the doctor, nurse, and anesthesiologist will need during surgery, including instruments, equipment, and medicine, before the procedure begins. All of the equipment and the room are sterilized by the technician. The technician assists the surgeon and his team during surgery by providing supplies, tools, and gloves. The technician also aids in the patient’s care by monitoring vital signs on monitors.
The operating room technician must clean and sterilize the room after the surgery. A technician’s most important job is to count and account for all of the sponges and instruments used during the procedure. This is done to ensure that nothing, such as a sponge, is accidentally left in the patient’s body and causes complications. The operating technician will then clean and store the instruments until the next surgery. Aside from these duties, the technician will clean the patient after surgery and wheel them back to their room.
The technician’s other responsibilities include collecting lab specimens and discarding used needles. Depending on the facility, operating room technicians may be responsible for maintaining inventory of items used by patients, such as blankets and sheets, and requesting new supplies as needed. Other departments are supported by OR technicians, who may also troubleshoot other hospital equipment as needed.
Operating room technicians with at least a high school diploma and certification in operating room technology are hired by the majority of hospitals. The majority of technicians also have surgical technician or surgical assistant experience, as well as cardiopulmonary resuscitation certification (CPR). Individuals in this field typically work long shifts, must perform in high-stress, fast-paced environments, and must be able to coordinate their actions with a surgical team.