Surgical Technologist

Join the Cleveland Clinic team, where you will work alongside passionate caregivers and provide patient-first healthcare. Cleveland Clinic is recognized as one of the top hospitals in the nation. At Cleveland Clinic, you will work alongside passionate and dedicated caregivers, receive endless support and appreciation, and build a rewarding career with one of the most respected healthcare organizations in the world.   

Surgical Technologists, sometimes called “scrub techs”, assist in surgical procedures under the supervision of surgeons and registered nurses and ensure quality patient care during the operative procedure and maintaining 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, assisting during the procedure, preparing sterile dressing and cleaning instruments for terminal sterilization. This is a great hands-on learning opportunity that will help you to advance your skill set and potentially move into other roles within the Operating Room. 

A PRN caregiver in this position works varying days from 6:30AM – 3:00PM. 

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.  

• Maintain the sterile field.  

• Review daily assignments and ascertain surgeon-specific preferences and anesthesia. 

• Identify and prioritize individual patient care needs taking into consideration age, physiological, cultural and physical status. 

• 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 report and/or correct any breaks.  

• 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.  

• Prepare/edit surgeon's preference lists. 

• Communicate pertinent information during procedure and during personnel changes, including status of surgical procedure. 

• 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.  

• Assist RN Circulator to ensure proper room utilization through decreased turnover time per CPT and scheduled procedural time review. 

• 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 (acceptable certifications for this route are 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:  

• Certified Surgical Technologist 

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