Surgical Technologist, Operating Rooms, Days

With over 150 years of caring for our community and each other in the Washington DC area, Howard University Hospital has a world-renowned reputation for high-quality, patient-centric care. Howard University Hospital is the nation’s only teaching hospital located on the campus of a Historically Black University and has created a superior learning environment, with groundbreaking research and positive patient outcomes.

Howard University Hospital seeks to hire a full-time Surgical Technologist who will embrace our rich and historic tradition of excellence. If you want to make a difference in someone’s life every day, consider a position with a team of professionals who are doing just that, making a difference.

This position is full-time with THREE 12-hour days from 6:30a-7:00p, on-call and weekend rotations required.

The Surgical Technologist:

• Reviews preference card and ensure that all supplies, instruments, equipment, positioning aids, and other items identified are available and in the room for scheduled surgical procedure.
• Responsible for preoperative duties as follows: Donning Operation Room attire and personal protective equipment (PPE); gathering, checking, and opening supplies, instruments, and equipment needed for the surgical procedure in a timely manner; performing the surgical scrub and donning gown and gloves; setting up the sterile back table and Mayo stand with instruments, supplies, equipment, and labels medications/solutions needed for the procedure; performing initial instrument, sharps and sponge counts with the circulator; assisting the team members with gowning and gloving; assisting with draping the patient and establishing the sterile field; participating in the surgical site and patient verification during the time out procedure; securing tubing, cords and other sterile accessories; maintaining aseptic techniques and monitoring sterile field.
• Monitors room for traffic control, proper attire, and safety violations throughout the procedure.
• Collaborates with SPD to maintain instruments in good condition/working order through appropriate handling and identification/notification of repairs needed.
• Responsible for Intraoperative duties as follows: preparing and anticipating additional instrumentation, equipment, and supplies for usage during the procedure; measuring and passing medications, hemostatic agents, and irrigation solutions utilized during the surgical procedure; holding retractors or instruments as directed by the surgeon; performing intra-operative sponge and needle counts according to policy and procedure; applying electrocautery to clamps or forceps on bleeders as directed by the surgeon; assists in basic.
• Follows lockout/tag-out procedures for malfunctioning equipment and reports to the charge nurse/Nurse Manager or designee.
• Participates in maintaining the environment of care by being observant of the environment and appropriately identifying and reporting unsafe conditions to management or designee.
• Performs transport duties as needed to facilitate proper transport of patient throughout perioperative stay.

Key required competencies include:

• Knowledge of anatomy and physiology, medical terminology, microbiology, and pharmacology for optimal surgical patient care.
• Expertise in theory and application of sterile and aseptic techniques.
• Ability to combine knowledge of human anatomy, surgical procedures, and implementation tools and technologies to facilitate a surgeon's performance of invasive therapeutic and diagnostic procedures.
• Ability to problem-solve in procedures.
• Ability to maintain strict confidentiality of patient information.
• Ability to operate surgical equipment and devices needed for surgical procedures.
• Ability to follow verbal and written instructions and adhere to hospital and departmental policies and procedures.
• Basic computer application skills.
• High attention to detail with exceptional organizational skills.

The qualified candidates will possess:

• Graduate of Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP).
• Six (6) months of Surgical Technology experience or have performed a minimum of 80 surgical procedures in the role of first scrub as a Surgical Technology student.
• Must be able to obtain Surgical Technologist certification within six (6) months of employment.
• BLS Certification through the American Heart Association is required.

At Howard University Hospital our job is to care for you. We do this by offering:

• Work-life balance
• Recognition and rewards for professional expertise
• Competitive, comprehensive benefit plans offered (including health, disability, vacation, sick leave, and 403B retirement plan)

COVID-19 Vaccination

Howard University Hospital requires all external applicants to be fully vaccinated for COVID-19 before commencing employment. External Applicants may be required to furnish proof of vaccination and, if offered, may elect to be vaccinated at a designated Howard University Hospital location.

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