{"schemaVersion":"1.0","exportedAt":"2026-05-15T12:39:44.532Z","occupation":{"soc":"29-2055.00","title":"Surgical Technologists","group":"Healthcare Practitioners & Technical","sector":"62","jobZone":3,"jobZoneInferred":false},"framework":{"version":"v.26.05","description":"","contextCovered":"This framework covers the full perioperative practice environment of hospital-based Surgical Technologists, from basic sterile-field maintenance and instrument handling in general surgery to complex specialty cases, departmental leadership, and workforce development.","levels":{"emerging":{"label":"Emerging","statements":["Sterile field boundaries — recognize and maintain under direct supervision during routine surgical procedures in a hospital operating room.","Sponge, needle, and instrument counts — perform initial and closing counts by following established protocols with supervision from a senior scrub technologist.","Surgical hand scrub technique — execute step-by-step arm and hand scrubbing procedure according to department guidelines before entering the sterile field.","Sterile gowning and gloving — assist surgical team members in donning gloves, masks, and sterile clothing under the guidance of a circulating nurse.","Patient positioning and draping — help position patients on the operating table and apply sterile surgical drapes following standard exposure-prevention protocols.","Basic surgical instruments — identify common instruments by name and function during orientation rotations in general surgery cases.","Tissue specimen handling — collect, label, and transfer specimens to designated containers under direct instruction from the surgeon or charge nurse.","Equipment sterilization — wash and process reusable instruments using germicides and autoclaves in accordance with facility sterilization policies.","Surgical supply preparation — gather and arrange required supplies on the back table before a scheduled procedure using a surgeon preference card.","Medical software and documentation — enter basic case data into the operating room information system with oversight from an experienced team member."]},"developing":{"label":"Developing","statements":["Sterile field integrity — monitor and sustain a proper sterile field throughout varied surgical procedures with minimal prompting from the surgical team.","Instrument and sponge reconciliation — conduct accurate pre- and post-operative counts independently and communicate discrepancies to the circulating nurse in a timely manner.","Scrub team preparation — guide new team members through the scrubbing and gowning process, ensuring compliance with aseptic technique in the OR.","Intraoperative instrument passing — anticipate surgeon needs and hand instruments, retractors, and sutures efficiently during routine general and specialty cases.","Patient draping and positioning — set up and apply sterile drapes for multiple procedure types, adapting to patient anatomy and surgical access requirements.","Technical assistance coordination — provide reliable support to surgeons and anesthesiologists by managing instrument tables and responding promptly to verbal directions.","Specimen care and chain of custody — prepare, label, and document tissue specimens for laboratory analysis, maintaining proper chain of custody throughout.","Sterilization quality assurance — verify that sterilization cycles meet required standards and document results in the facility's sterilization tracking database.","Time management in the OR — organize back table setup and turnover tasks to meet scheduled case start times across multiple daily procedures.","Critical incident recognition — identify breaks in sterile technique or equipment anomalies and report them promptly to the appropriate team member during live cases."]},"proficient":{"label":"Proficient","statements":["Complex sterile field management — maintain and troubleshoot the sterile field autonomously during multi-team, high-acuity surgical cases including trauma and cardiovascular procedures.","Count discrepancy resolution — apply critical thinking to investigate and resolve sponge, needle, or instrument count discrepancies before wound closure under time pressure.","Full-scope scrub service — scrub independently on the full range of surgical specialties, from orthopedics to neurosurgery, adapting technique to each discipline's requirements.","Surgeon-level technical anticipation — predict instrument and supply needs throughout complex operative sequences, enabling uninterrupted surgical flow with minimal verbal communication.","Non-routine patient preparation — manage positioning and draping for unusual anatomical presentations, robotic-assisted setups, and specialized equipment configurations.","Intraoperative problem solving — evaluate and respond to unexpected equipment failures or supply shortfalls during live surgery, implementing contingency solutions without disrupting the operative field.","Specimen integrity assurance — oversee preparation, preservation, and hand-off of multiple concurrent tissue specimens, ensuring pathology requirements are met for all case types.","Sterilization program oversight — evaluate the efficacy of sterilization and disinfection processes across instrument categories, escalating concerns through proper safety channels.","OR technology proficiency — utilize medical software, electronic documentation platforms, and cloud-based case management tools to maintain accurate records across a full case load.","Active learning and specialty adaptation — independently study emerging surgical techniques and instrumentation to maintain competency as new procedures are adopted by the surgical service."]},"advanced":{"label":"Advanced","statements":["Sterile technique standards — establish and enforce evidence-based sterile field protocols across the surgical suite, reducing infection rates at the departmental level.","Competency education and training — design and deliver orientation curricula and skills assessments for new surgical technologists and student scrub technicians in the OR setting.","Surgical team coordination leadership — lead pre-operative briefings and coordinate cross-functional roles among surgeons, nurses, and anesthesiologists to optimize case efficiency and safety.","Policy development for count procedures — author and implement department-wide sponge, needle, and instrument count policies aligned with AORN guidelines and accreditation standards.","Mentorship and performance development — coach developing technologists through structured feedback, simulation exercises, and progressive case assignments across surgical specialties.","Material resource management — oversee surgical supply inventories, vendor relationships, and preference-card standardization to control costs while sustaining clinical readiness.","Quality improvement leadership — lead root-cause analyses of adverse events and near-misses, translating findings into sustained process improvements across the perioperative department.","Technology adoption and integration — evaluate and champion new surgical information systems, sterilization tracking platforms, and OR scheduling software for departmental implementation.","Cross-departmental collaboration — serve as the surgical technology liaison to pathology, central sterile processing, and infection control teams to ensure seamless perioperative workflows.","Strategic workforce planning — advise surgical services leadership on staffing models, scope-of-practice considerations, and professional development pathways for the surgical technology workforce."]}}},"sources":{"onet":"v30.2 (CC BY 4.0)","crosswalk":"https://skillscrosswalk.com","generator":"LER.me"},"attribution":"© EBSCOed"}