Surgical Technologist II - Main Operating Room

Qualified candidates may be eligible for a sign-on incentive of up to $5,000. Current UI employees are not eligible.

University of Iowa Health Care—recognized as one of the best hospitals in the United States—is Iowa's only comprehensive academic medical center and a regional referral center. Each day more than 12,000 employees, students, and volunteers work together to provide safe, quality health care and excellent service for our patients. Simply stated, our mission is: Changing Medicine. Changing Lives. ®

University of Iowa Health Care Department of Perioperative Services is seeking a Surgical a Surgical Technologist II to assists with surgical procedures, provision of therapeutic, preventive, and emergency patient care duties. Prepares, operates, and maintains routine and complex equipment, instruments, supplies and implants. All duties are done under the direction of a registered professional nurse. 

Available Units Include:

Team 1:  Cardiothoracic
Team 2: Neurosurgery/ Ortho Trauma 
Team 4: Gynecology/Urology/Transplant
Team 5: Otolaryngology, Oral Surgery
Team 6: General Surgery 

Duties to Include:

• Prepares surgical area for patient care and anticipates the needs of the surgical team
• Serves as primary preceptor for Surgical Technology students, Summer 10 Nursing Interns or new staff
• Serves on shared governance committee, POD committee or EBP workgroup
• Applies knowledge related to emergency situations and surgical procedures in the operating room
• Understands the principles of medical and surgical asepsis; recognizes and communicates breaks in aseptic technique
• Provides for proper care and handling of equipment, instruments, supplies and implants (E/I/S/I)
• Understand the various surgical equipment and advanced surgical instrumentation in order to anticipate needs during surgery to improve the overall flow of the surgical procedure
• Competent in performance of delegated technical functions and clinical activities, in accordance with institutional policies
• Facilitate patient care with regard to the patient's condition and age
• High level of collaboration with peers in making decisions related to surgical patient care with responsibility over maintaining the sterile field and reporting incidence to surgeon
• Participates in collaborative review of pertinent patient information for accuracy of procedure and associated factors influencing preparedness for procedure
• Assist to revise or update care plans and develop new care plans for new procedures or surgeons
• Organize and review instrument trays and supply shelves
• Organize and maintain trial or specialty equipment, supplies, or instrument items
• Displays critical thinking skills and anticipates the needs of the patient and surgeon
• Takes preventative action on potential patient problems/complications and reports unusual incidents
• Provides documentation according to department/division standard in conjunction with the Registered Nurse
• Performs computer functions within scope of role as defined by the individual unit or units supported
• Precepts new staff and/or student technologists to scrubbing duties
• Mentors new employees and other surgical team members
• Practices standard precautions in infection control in accordance with institutional policy
• Follows changes in patient care protocol based on research findings
• Participates in and contributes to unit staff meetings and in-service programs
• Participates in perioperative initiatives or shared governance committees
• Performs other special projects and tasks as assigned
• Ensures daily unit documentation/tasks are completed such as case reviews for procedure, implants and supplies
• Communicates with surgeons regarding implants, instruments or supplies for future cases
• Organize/Revise specialty carts, care plans or service line information
•  Organize and provide specialty in-services

Percent of Time: 80-100%25
Schedule: Rotating 8,10-, and 12-hour shifts with occasional weekends, additional on-call shifts, and holiday rotation. 
Location: John Colloton Pavillion (JCP)
Merit Pay Plan:  https://hr.uiowa.edu/pay/pay-plans/merit-pay-plan
Pay Differentials: Shift differentials for evening and night.
Benefits Highlights: Fringe benefit package including paid vacation; sick leave; health, dental, life and disability insurance options; and generous employer contributions into retirement plans. Relocation Assistant available to qualified applicants. https://hr.uiowa.edu/benefits

Required Qualifications:

• Satisfactory completion of a vocational or military course in surgical technology, or certification as a surgical technologist (NBSTSA and NCCT).
• Two years’ experience as a Surgical Technologist 

Desired Qualifications:

• Preferred candidates will have direct patient care experience in an operating room. Experience working in a health care environment. Able to scrub surgical procedures. Strong written communication skills.

Please attach a resume as part of the application process.  Job openings are posted for a minimum of 10 calendar days. This job may be removed from posting and filled any time after the minimum posting period has ended. For questions or additional information, please contact Faby Orozco at fabiola-orozco@uiowa.edu

Successful candidates will be required to self-disclose any conviction history and will be subject to a criminal background check and credential/education verification. Up to 5 professional references will be requested at a later step in the recruitment process.