Surgical Technologist

Surgical Technologist

Join Cleveland Clinic's Martin South Hospital where research and surgery are advanced, technology is leading-edge, patient care is world-class, and caregivers are family. This 100-bed hospital provides top-quality patient care to the communities in and around Martin County. Here, you will work alongside passionate physicians, nurses, and other caregivers in a family-oriented, supportive environment.

Surgical Technologists assist in surgical procedures under the supervision of surgeons and registered nurses, ensure quality patient care during the operative procedure and maintain a sterile field. Surgical Technologists perform a variety of functions, such as checking supplies and equipment, setting up sterile tables, performing appropriate counts, draping the sterile field, passing instruments to the surgeon and assistant during the procedure, preparing sterile dressing and cleaning instruments for terminal sterilization. This opportunity will provide you with plenty of hands-on experience and the ability to move into other roles such as becoming an OR Nurse.

A caregiver in this position works days from 6:30AM – 5:00PM, with on-call and rotating weekend and holiday requirements.

A caregiver who excels in this role will:

• Provide quality, individualized patient care in the perioperative, intraoperative and postoperative phases.
• Follow guidelines for perioperative practices as established by AORN.
• Review daily assignment and ascertain surgeon-specific preferences and anesthesia.
• Identify and prioritize individual patient care needs.
• Plan care based on contemplated procedure, standards of practice, admission assessment and MD preferences.
• Assemble, check and open sterile packs, sutures and more.
• Practice and assist others in maintaining aseptic technique and electrical and environmental safety in department.
• Comply with required standards for patient positioning, skin preparation, counting and side-site verification.
• Remain with the sterile setup to assure maintenance of the sterile field.
• Assist with draping the sterile field.
• Report and/or correct any break in sterile technique.
• Prepare and edit surgeon's preference lists to assure quality care of the surgical patient.
• Communicate pertinent information during procedure and during personnel changes.
• Assure that equipment and supplies are utilized at appropriate levels and returned to their proper location after use.
• Collect specimens as directed by the surgeon and identify the origin of each specimen to the RN Circulator.
• Assist surgeons and assistants with retraction and suction as directed.
• Assure that all biohazard material is handled and disposed of properly using universal precautions.
• Keep accurate counts of all sutures, sharps, soft goods and instruments.
• Assure that all instrumentation is returned to decontamination with proper documentation count sheets.

Minimum qualifications for the ideal future caregiver include:

• Graduate of a Surgical Technology Program accredited through the CAAHEP or ABHES
• OR completion of a military surgical technology program
• OR certification as a Surgical Technologist (TS-C through the National Center for Competency Training or CST through the National Board of Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting)
• Basic Life Support (BLS) certification through the American Heart Association (AHA) or American Red Cross

Preferred qualifications for the ideal future caregiver include:

• Two years of experience in a multi-disciplined OR in an acute care hospital setting

Physical Requirements:

• Workload is heavy and requires constant lifting, moving of patients, equipment, instrument trays, and supplies.
• Able to lift items up to 50 pounds without assistance and greater than 50 pounds with assistance.
• Stooping, pushing and pulling required when moving patients or equipment into position for surgery.
• Ability to work at a fast pace and to prioritize multiple assignments/projects and respond to numerous requests; ability to resolve conflicts among staff and to work collaboratively with department director, physicians and other members of the Healthcare team; ability to ensure operational efficiency; ability to problem solve and make decisions; ability to exercise self-control and tolerate stress when dealing with multiple requests and/or conflicting demands from multiple customers.
• Needs minimal sustained direction in assessing work load, directing staff and carrying out departmental and professional responsibilities; self-starting and self-motivating; working hours may exceed eight (8) hours per day and is based on what is needed to accomplish completion of the daily surgical schedule.

Personal Protective Equipment:

• Follows Standard Precautions using personal protective equipment as required for procedures.

The policy of Cleveland Clinic Health System and its system hospitals (Cleveland Clinic Health System) is to provide equal opportunity to all of our caregivers and applicants for employment in our drug free environment. All offers of employment are followed by testing for controlled substances.

Cleveland Clinic Health System administers an influenza prevention program. You will be required to comply with this program, which will include obtaining an influenza vaccination on an annual basis or obtaining an approved exemption.

Decisions concerning employment, transfers and promotions are made upon the basis of the best qualified candidate without regard to color, race, religion, national origin, age, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, ancestry, status as a disabled or Vietnam era veteran or any other characteristic protected by law. Information provided on this application may be shared with any Cleveland Clinic Health System facility.

Cleveland Clinic is pleased to be an equal employment opportunity employer.