
Requirements of the Position
- Stand, bend, stoop, and/or sit for long periods of time in one locations with minimum/no breaks
- Lift a minimum of 20 pounds
- Refrain from nourishment or rest room breaks for periods up to 6 hours
- Demonstrate sufficient visual ability to load a fine (10-0) suture onto needles and needle holders with/without corrective lenses and while wearing safety glasses
- Demonstrate sufficient peripheral vision to anticipate and function while in the sterile surgical environment
- Hear and understand muffled communication without visualization of the communicator’s mouth/lips and within 20 feet
- Hear activation/warning signals on equipment
- Detect odor sufficient to maintain environmental safety and patient needs
- Manipulate instruments, supplies, and equipment with speed, dexterity, and good eye-hand coordination
- Ambulate/move around without assistive devices
- Assist with and/or lift, move, position, and manipulate, with or without assistive devices, the patient who is unconscious
- Communicate and understand fluent English both verbally and in writing
- Be free of reportable communicable diseases and chemical abuse
- Demonstrate immunity to rubella, rubeola, tuberculosis, and hepatitis B, or be vaccinated against these diseases, or be willing to sign a waiver of release of liability with regard to these diseases
- Possess short and long term memory sufficient to perform tasks such as, but not limited to, mentally tracking surgical supplies and performing anticipation skills intraoperatively
- Make appropriate judgments and decisions
- Demonstrate the use of positive coping skills under stress
- Demonstrate calm and effective responses, especially in emergency situations
- Exhibit positive interpersonal skills in patient, staff, and faculty interactions
(The above is from Core Curriculum for Surgical Technology from AST)