DARLENA MERKES

• Exercised leadership capabilities by successfully motivating and
• inspiring others.
• Worked flexible hours.
• Developed strong organizational and communication skills through coursework and volunteer activities.
• Paid attention to detail while completing assignments.
• Prepared instruments for terminal sterilization and reset surgical suites for next procedure.
• Out patient cardiac and vascular proceedures

• Anticipated surgeons needs and handed instruments and supplies to surgeons during procedures.
• Prepared instruments for terminal sterilization and reset surgical suites for next procedure.
• Created safe operating environments for invasive and non-invasive procedures.
• Created unobstructive operative fields by using retractors, sponges, and suction and irrigating equipment.
• Private scrub plastic surgery

• Created safe operating environments for invasive and non-invasive procedures.
• Gathered and set up equipment, tools, and supplies and arrange instruments according to surgeons' preferences or instruction.
• Anticipated surgeons needs and handed instruments and supplies to surgeons during procedures.
• Maintained sterile fields by following aseptic techniques and adhering to infection control protocols.
• Maintained safe working environments by adhering to safety protocols and reporting hazards.
• General, Ortho, GYN, Plastic, Pain management, Cardiac

• Delivered exemplary assistance and support to surgeons during general, gynecological, orthopedic, neurological and plastic surgery procedures.
• Maintained high infection control standards.
• Created and maintained unobstructed operative fields using diverse range of tools.
• Liaised between [Type] department and operating room teams to assure availability of requisite instruments and equipment.
• Setup operating and surgery rooms by preparing equipment and supplies for upcoming procedures.
• High volume level II trauma center

Labor and delivery technician responsible for set up and maintaining delivery rooms assisting with births.

Assisted with C-sections and other needed surgical procedures.

*Travel position contract cancelled by Kaiser because of over staffing.

Surgical technician out patient facility, general surgery, ENT, podiatry, Short term assignment.

Surgical technician working day shift travel position, cases done heavy orthopedics, general surgery, ortho spine, plastics, and pain managment

• Gathered and set up equipment, tools and supplies and arrange instruments according to surgeons' preferences or instruction.
• Anticipated surgeons needs and handed instruments and supplies to surgeons during procedures.
• Performed and documented pre-surgery and post-surgery sponge, instrument, and needle count.
• Arranged supplies and instrumentation to meet needs of individual surgeons and enhance team efficiency.
• Quickly responded to emergency situations during procedures with life-saving aid.
• Orthopedic
• General Surgery
• Bariatric Surgery
• Plastic Surgery
• Podiatry
• Urology
• Ophthalmology

Surgical technician at a busy plastic surgery center. Assisted surgeons with a variety of cosmetic and reconstructive procedures

• Created and maintained unobstructed operative fields using diverse range of tools, including retractors, sponges and suctioning and irrigation equipment.
• Created operative fields by using retractors, sponges, and suction and irrigating equipment.
• Sterilized instruments and equipment for specific procedures and arranged for surgeons.
• Handled numerous sanitization tasks for surgical sites by cleaning and sterilizing, maintaining supply inventories and organizing items effectively.
• Maintained documentation of post-operative instrument reconciliations and protocols for quality care.
• Sterilized instruments and disposed of medical supplies and waste following OSHA guidelines.
• Sterilized instruments and equipment based on needs for specific procedures.
• Created safe operating environments for invasive and non-invasive procedures.
• Prepared instruments for terminal sterilization and reset surgical suites for next procedure.
• Arranged instruments according to surgeons' preferences.
• Maintained high infection control standards.
• Breast augmentation
• Breast reconstruction
• Facelift surgery
• Liposuction
• Eye procedures

Work per diem for a surgical staffing company (Medely) at a busy out patient surgery center.

• Performed and documented pre-surgery and post-surgery sponge, instrument, and needle count.
• Anticipated surgeons needs and handed instruments and supplies to surgeons during procedures.
• Created safe operating environments for invasive and non-invasive procedures.
• Created unobstructive operative fields by using retractors, sponges, and suction and irrigating equipment.
• Gathered and set up equipment, tools and supplies and arrange instruments according to surgeons' preferences or instruction.
• Arranged supplies and instrumentation to meet needs of individual surgeons and enhance team efficiency.
• Gowned and gloved staff to help team prepare for surgeries.
• General surgery
• Orthopedic surgery
• Podiatry
• Urology
• Pain management
• Plastic surgery

Surgical technician at a busy out patient surgery center

• Provided scrubbing surgical assistance and support to surgeons during general, gynecology, pain management, endoscopy , orthopedic, and plastic surgery procedures.
• Gathered and set up equipment, tools and supplies and arrange instruments according to surgeons' preferences or instruction.
• Introduced new staff members to training protocols regarding operating room procedures, infection control, safety standards and overall facility policies.
• Conducted initial and terminal sponge, instrument and needle counts.
• Created safe operating environments for invasive and non-invasive procedures.
• Kept accurate counts of needle, instrument and sponge inventories.
• Delivered exemplary assistance and support to surgeons during general, gynecological, orthopedic, neurological and plastic surgery procedures.
• General surgery
• ENT
• Orthopedics
• Edoscopy
• GYN
• Podiatry
• Pain management

Special procedures technician at a children's hospital. Assisting with endoscopies, ENT procedures. Processing endoscopes for sterilization. Maintained endoscopy cart for travel.

• Managed operating room setup by cleaning and sterilizing instruments and surfaces, maintaining supply inventories and organizing surgical tools.
• Worked with vendors for speedy procurement of services and equipment.
• Sterilized instruments and equipment for specific procedures and arranged for surgeons.
• Introduced new staff members to training protocols regarding operating room procedures, infection control, safety standards and overall facility policies.
• Sterilized instruments and disposed of medical supplies and waste following OSHA guidelines.
• Trained staff on operating room policies and procedures, infection control standards and safety protocols.

Travel surgical technician (Cross Country Travel Corp)

Worked at a university medical center out patient surgery center

performed in patient and out patient procedures.

• Provided scrubbing surgical assistance and support to surgeons during general, gynecology, genitourinary, orthopedic, neurosurgery and plastic surgery procedures.
• Gathered and set up equipment, tools and supplies and arrange instruments according to surgeons' preferences or instruction.
• Introduced new staff members to training protocols regarding operating room procedures, infection control, safety standards and overall facility policies.
• Conducted initial and terminal sponge, instrument and needle counts.
• Created safe operating environments for invasive and non-invasive procedures.
• Arranged instruments according to surgeons' preferences.
• Maintained high infection control standards.
• Cleaned, restocked and set up surgical suites.