1. “Practice of surgical technology” means performing tasks in preparation for surgery and providing care in collaboration with a team of providers of health care and other persons to a patient before, during and after surgery. The term includes, without limitation:

(a) Working with a registered nurse to carry out a plan to care for the patient and prepare the operating room for surgery;

(b) Preparing and gathering sterile supplies, instruments and equipment necessary for a surgical procedure;

(c) Ensuring that surgical equipment is functioning properly and safely; and

(d) In the operating room under the direction of an appropriate provider of health care:

(1) Ensuring that the area in which the surgery is conducted remains sterile;

(2) Anticipating and responding to the needs of the surgeon and other members of the team during surgery;

(3) Passing supplies, instruments and equipment to other members of the team;

(4) Sponging or suctioning the operative site of the patient;

(5) Preparing and cutting materials for sutures;

(6) Transferring and irrigating with fluids;

(7) Transferring drugs to other members of the team;

(8) Handling specimens;

(9) Holding retractors and other instruments and equipment;

(10) Applying electrocautery to clamps on blood vessels cut during surgery;

(11) Connecting drains and catheters to suction or drainage apparatus;

(12) Applying skin staples and dressings to closed wounds;

(13) Counting sponges, needles and other supplies and instruments; and

(14) Removing instruments after the completion of surgery.

2. The term does not include administering a drug to a patient.

(Added to NRS by 2017, 330)