Obstetrics Technician I- Full time- Shift

Kern Medical has been a community cornerstone since its founding in 1867. Today, we are an acute care teaching center with 222 beds, offering the only advanced trauma care between Fresno and Los Angeles. Kern Medical offers a range of primary, specialty, and multi-specialty services including high-risk pregnancy care, inpatient psychiatric services integrated with county mental health programs, and a growing network of outpatient clinics providing personalized patient-centered wellness care.  Kern Medical cares for 15,500 inpatients and 125,000 clinic patients a year.

Career Opportunities within Kern Medical include many benefits such as: 

• New Hire Premium: 6% of base rate of pay, matched up to 6% if contributed to Deferred Compensation Plan.
• Shift Differential Pay: P.M. shift (7:00 PM - 7:30 AM) = 7.5% of base pay.
• A Comprehensive Benefits Package: includes Holidays, Paid Time Off, Retirement, Medical, Dental, Vision and Life Insurance.

Position: Obstetrical Technician I

Compensation

The estimated pay for this position is $25.6833 to $31.5872. The rates shown include a 6% premium pay (base= $-$ plus 6%). This reflects only a portion of the total compensation package for this position. Additional compensation may be available for this role through differentials, incentives, and bonuses. In addition, this position may be eligible for participation and company contributions into the Kern County Employees’ Retirement Plan.

Distinguishing Characteristics:

The Obstetrical Technician I is an entry level professional. Incumbents are expected to have a general understanding of procedures being performed and anticipate the needs
of the Surgical Team, as well as performing other related duties for which they are competent to perform. The Obstetrical Technician I will be competent in all surgeries related to the Obstetrical field. Incumbents follow clearly established procedures to assist licensed, professional nursing and medical staff in an in-patient setting; including performing general clerical functions and caring for patient's personal needs, safety, and comfort.

Essential Functions:

Preoperative Duties:
• Identifies patient, verifies surgery to be performed with consent forms, and
assists in the transport of patient to procedural suite when requested;

• Assists with transferring patient to the operating room table;

• Assists with positioning the patient, using appropriate equipment and anatomical principles to avoid patient injury;

• Gathers, checks and opens supplies and equipment needed for the surgical/invasive procedure;

• Performs the surgical scrub, and donning gown and gloves with sterile technique;

• Performs initial instrument, sharps and sponge counts with the RN according to the Kern Medical policy and procedure;

• Assists with draping the patient and establishing the sterile field;

• Participates in the surgical site and patient verification during the Time-Out Universal Protocol;

• Secures tubing, cords and other sterile accessories;

• Assists with surgical patient preparedness;

• Assists other members of the team with turnover cleaning of the surgical or procedural suite.

Intraoperative/Post-Procedure Duties:
• Prepares and anticipates additional instrumentation, equipment and supply requirements throughout the procedure;

• Hands medications placed on sterile field by Registered Nurse to physician, labels and measures hemostatic agents and irrigation solutions utilized during the procedure;

• Holds retractors or instruments as directed by the surgical team;

• Serves as a scrub assistant during operative procedures when required;

• Sponges or suctions the operative site as requested;

• Cuts suture material as directed by the surgical team;

• Maintains sterile technique;

• Performs additional counts as requested or necessary;

• Prepares sterile dressings and/or immobilization devices;

• Prepares and passes off specimen(s) according to the Kern Medical policy and procedure;

• Cleans and prepares instruments for terminal sterilization and transport according to the departmental guidelines;

• Participates in debriefing and quality improvement practices to ensure quality patient care;

• Performs all counts according to hospital standards prior to each procedure;

• Maintain active participation in all phases of the Time-Out Universal Protocol according to Kern Medical policy and procedure;

• Secures dressings after incision closure;

• Helps transport the patient to the post anesthesia care unit;

• Ensure all required instrumentation is returned to the Processing Department according to departmental protocol;

• Follows all federal, state and departmental safety procedures.

Additional Duties:

• Prepares delivery room, surgical equipment, and patients for obstetrical delivery;

• Assists in positioning instruments, surgical supplies and other equipment in delivery room;

• Assists in patient monitoring to ensure the comfort of the patient and provides verbal and tactile reassurance to the patient (when applicable);

• Assists in maintaining normothermia;

• Keeps accurate records throughout the procedure;

• Demonstrates clinical knowledge and skill in the care of the population served;

• Assists with patient observation and care; checks and records vital signs and pain levels; collects specimens; measures and records intake and output of food and fluids; and records results;

• Passes and observes food trays; assists or feeds patients;

• Assists patients with personal hygiene and grooming;

• Answers call signals; makes beds; cleans and cares for equipment;

• Adheres to isolation precautions/practices, medical asepsis and infection control; observes oxygen precautions;

• Transports patients as needed for admission, discharge, and procedures; transports specimens to the lab;

• Performs general clerical duties; operates a variety of office equipment;

• Assists with admitting, transferring and discharging patients by inputting data into the Electronic Medical Record, schedules appointments and follows up on authorizations;

• Answers telephones and provides basic information to patients and/or other interested parties;

• Coordinates the delivery of equipment and/or other services for patients following discharge;

• Performs other related duties as required.

Employment Standards:

• High School Diploma, G.E.D. required;

• Graduation from an accredited Surgical Technology Training Program.

• Incumbents designated as an Obstetrical Technician I at the time of the January 2017 job specification revision may be grandfathered without Graduation from an accredited Surgical Technology Training Program;

Appointees not possessing the American Heart Association Responder or Provider Basic Life Support (BLS) card at time of hire must successfully complete appropriate training and qualify for the RQI Responder certification within 60 days of employment. As a continued condition of employment, employee must maintain RQI Responder certification and competency.
• Employees must maintain all health requirements designated by Kern Medical Center;

• Depending on assignment incumbents may be required to possess and maintain specific certificates of competency as a condition of employment;

• Knowledge of obstetrical techniques, methods and apparatus;

• Knowledge of positioning patients for procedures;

• Ability to think and work effectively under stress and in emergencies;

• Strong working knowledge of aseptic technique;

• Demonstrate the necessary knowledge and ability to ensure quality patient care during the operative procedure and is constantly vigil for the maintenance of the sterile field;

• Maintain a high level of surgical conscience in professional behavior;

• Demonstrating understanding and application of principles of surgical technology and legal, ethical, and morale responsibilities to patients and team members.

Physical Requirements:

Physical requirements for this classification require incumbents to stand, bend, squat, kneel, push and pull intermittently throughout the majority of the work day. Incumbents must be able to frequently lift and carry, partially carry, or fully support a patient while transferring to and from a bed, wheelchair, or gurney, or while walking.

Knowledge of:
Non-professional nursing care and techniques; medical terminology and metric measurement.

Ability to:
Perform non-professional nursing care; read and record medical terminology and metric measurement, maintain medical records, follow oral and written instructions; and maintain effective relations with medical staff and the public; stand, bend, squat, kneel, push, and pull throughout the majority of the work day; lift, carry, partially carry, or fully support patients while transferring to and from a bed, wheelchair, or gurney, or while walking.

Supplemental:
Dependent upon assignment, applicants may be required to pass an extensive background investigation, and be fingerprinted. Disqualification for felony, misdemeanor, and traffic offenses will be assessed on a case-by-case basis.

All Kern Medical employees are designated “Disaster Service Workers” through state and local laws (CA Government Code Sec. 3100-3109 and Ordinance Code Title 2-Administration, Ch. 2.66 Emergency Services.) As Disaster Service Workers, all county employees are expected to remain at work, or to report to work as soon as practicable following a significant emergency or disaster.

If position responsibilities require driving a personal vehicle, then possession of a current valid California Driver’s License and adherence to the Kern County Hospital Authority Vehicle Use and Driving Standard Policy (ENG-EC-119) is required.

If position responsibilities require driving a vehicle owned, leased or rented by Kern Medical, then possession of a current valid California Driver’s license, a signed authorization for Release of Drivers Record Information and adherence to the Kern County Hospital Authority Vehicle Use and Driving Standard Policy (ENG-EC-119) is required.

Salary : $26 - $32