Houston Methodist

Nonprofit academic medical center with hospitals

Senior Surgical Technologist - CST

Clinical Support & Patient AdministrationConfirmed live in the last 24 hours

Full-timeHouston, TX, USANo salary listed

About the Job

Requirements

A high school diploma or equivalent education is required.
Successful completion of an accredited Surgical Technology program or military training equivalency is required.
Two years of experience as a Surgical Technologist is required.
AHA Basic Life Support certification or instructor status is required.
Certification as CST from NBSTSA, TS-C from NCCT, or CSA from NCCSA is required, unless the employee qualifies for the grandfather clause for individuals employed as surgical technologists in a health care facility before September 1, 2009. The cited statute requires 30 continuing education units every two years.
Demonstrate the skills and competencies necessary to safely perform assigned duties, as assessed through ongoing skills and performance evaluations.
Have sufficient English speaking, reading, and writing proficiency to perform essential job functions, especially those affecting patient or employee safety and security.
Communicate effectively with patients, physicians, family members, and coworkers in a customer-service-focused manner using positive language principles.
Demonstrate understanding of medical terminology.
Exercise independent judgment when interacting with physicians, the interprofessional care team, patients, and families.
Demonstrate proficient knowledge and appropriate use of hospital databases such as EPIC, including accessing information within the department and hospital system.
Demonstrate strong knowledge of procedure software.
Demonstrate proficient knowledge of instrument sets, individual surgical instruments, surgical supplies, and their use.
Demonstrate competency in decontamination and use of autoclave equipment.
Demonstrate expertise and serve as a clinical resource in at least one surgical specialty service line.

Responsibilities

Promote a positive work environment and assist the interprofessional health care team in achieving department results through open, professional communication, active listening, teaching, and role modeling.
Teach others critical thinking by explaining the rationale for decisions and providing structured feedback with examples; serve as the department preceptor for new surgical technologists and train and orient them.
Facilitate teamwork by anticipating assistance needs, responding to requests, and using peer-to-peer accountability to improve employee engagement.
Prepare the operating room, equipment, and supplies for the next patient; anticipate instrumentation, equipment, and supply needs before the surgeon scrubs; and maintain and accurately communicate surgeon preference-card updates within the applicable service line.
Anticipate the needs of the surgeon and nursing staff by passing instruments and supplies, and perform surgical technologist duties during procedures including orthopedic, gynecologic, general, ENT, ophthalmic, urologic, cardiovascular, spine, neurologic, oral and maxillofacial, and minimally invasive procedures.
Assist the circulating registered nurse with sponge, instrument, needle, and other surgical counts.
Role-model behaviors and skills and use peer accountability to improve patient satisfaction.
Maintain sterile technique before and after procedures; prepare sterile dressings or immobilization devices; clean and prepare instruments for terminal sterilization after procedures; and assist with terminal room cleaning.
Assist with implementing and teaching department safety initiatives and standards of practice; solve problems and manage multiple priorities with minimal supervision.
Participate in debriefings and quality-improvement practices; initiate corrective actions and improvement activities toward department and hospital quality and safety targets; report near misses; and collaborate with the interprofessional health care team.
Use surgical supplies efficiently, avoid opening supplies until their use is confirmed, and recommend cost-containment measures during cases.
Manage time independently, minimize incidental overtime, prioritize daily tasks, use time between heavy workloads efficiently, and assist other team members.
Identify and present opportunities for innovation, efficiency, and improvement through department projects and shared governance activities; may co-chair a unit-based Shared Governance Council.
Serve as a surgical technology resource on other hospital committees; participate in a department or hospital committee or subcommittee and facilitate its goals.
Seek opportunities to enhance knowledge and competencies, and complete and update the My Development Plan on an ongoing basis.

At Houston Methodist, the Sr Surgical Technologist position requires proficient knowledge and skills necessary to carry out delegated tasks associated with the safe and efficient operating room support functions and related procedures. This position works independently, exercising sound judgment, and reports observations and patient problems to the licensed nurse or surgeon. In addition to performing the duties and responsibilities of a Surgical Technologist, the Sr Surgical Technologist position provides mentoring and guidance for Surgical Technologist positions, utilizing skills and knowledge, helping to train and orient others. This position is responsible for assigned non-nursing functions and practices relationship-centered care in concert with Houston Methodist values. Other duties for the Sr Surgical Technologist position will include general patient care and department upkeep as delegated by licensed personnel.

FLSA STATUS
Non-exempt

QUALIFICATIONS

EDUCATION

High School diploma or equivalent education (examples include: GED, verification of homeschool equivalency, partial or full completion of post-secondary education, etc.)
Successful completion of an accredited Surgical Technology program or military training equivalency

EXPERIENCE

Two years as a Surgical Technologist

LICENSES AND CERTIFICATIONS
Required

BLS - Basic Life Support or Instructor (AHA) - American Heart Association and
Must have a certification (CST from NBSTSA, TS-C from NCCT, or CSA from NCCSA) or meet the grandfather clause (Bill 643): The bill includes an extensive grandfather clause exempting all individuals employed to practice surgical technology in a health care facility before Sept. 1, 2009. The clarification notes that legislation does not state employed "on" Sept. 1, 2009, but rather "before that date. A surgical technologist who was employed before Sept. 1, 2009, may remain employed as a surgical technologist without meeting the certification requirement. SB1239, Sec 259.002: 30 CEUs shall be completed every two years

SKILLS AND ABILITIES

Demonstrates the skills and competencies necessary to safely perform the assigned job, determined through ongoing skills, competency assessments, and performance evaluations
Sufficient proficiency in speaking, reading, and writing the English language necessary to perform the essential functions of this job, especially with regard to activities impacting patient or employee safety or security
Ability to effectively communicate with patients, physicians, family members and co-workers in a manner consistent with a customer service focus and application of positive language principles
Demonstrates understanding of medical terminology
Demonstrates independence and exercises sound judgment in interactions with physicians, interprofessional care team and patients and their families
Demonstrates proficient knowledge and appropriate use of hospital database such as EPIC. Ability to access information both in the department and within the hospital system
Strong knowledge in use of procedure software
Demonstrates proficient knowledge of instruments sets, the use of the individual surgical instruments, surgical supplies and the use of the supplies
Demonstrates competency in decontamination and use of autoclave equipment
Demonstrate expertise and serves as a clinical resource in a minimum of one or more surgical specialty service lines

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

PEOPLE ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

Promotes a positive work environment that actively assists interprofessional health care team to achieve optimal department results. Facilitates open, professional (verbal, nonverbal, written) communication which includes active listening and teaching to achieve mutual understanding, role modeling by example.
Teaches others to critically think by verbally expressing rationale for decisions and follows up, providing structured feedback with examples. Serves as the department preceptor for new surgical technologists, utilizing skills and knowledge to train and orient others.
Facilitates teamwork by anticipating the need for assistance and responding positively to requests for assistance. Uses peer-to-peer accountability towards improvement of department score for employee engagement.

SERVICE ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

Prepares the operating room, equipment and supplies for the next patient. Anticipates additional instrumentation, equipment and supplies for usage during the procedure before surgeon scrubs. Maintains and accurately communicates updates for surgeon preference cards within the applicable service line.
Anticipates the needs of the surgeon and nursing staff by passing instruments and supplies for surgical procedures, performing competently the role of the surgical technologist in the provision of surgical assistance during a variety of surgical procedures including but not limited to: orthopedics, gynecology, general, ENT, ophthalmology, urology, CV, spine, neurology, oral/maxillofacial, and minimally invasive procedures.
Assists the circulating RN with sponge, instrument, needle, and other surgical counts.
Role models behaviors and skills, through peer-to-peer accountability, towards improving department score for patient satisfaction.

QUALITY/SAFETY ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

Maintains highest standard of sterile technique during pre and post procedures. Prepares sterile dressings and/or immobilization devices. Cleans and prepares instruments for terminal sterilization, following surgical procedure. Assists other members of the team with terminal cleaning of the room.
Assists with implementation and teaching of department-based safety initiatives and standards of practice. Problem-solves and manages multiple ongoing priorities with minimal supervision.
Participates in debriefing and quality improvement practices to ensure quality patient care. Initiates corrective actions and improvement activities towards improving department and hospital quality and safety targets, reporting near misses, and collaborating with the interprofessional healthcare team.

FINANCE ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

Maintains efficient use of surgical supplies and minimizes opening of supplies until confirmation that will be used during surgery. Makes recommendations for cost containment during cases.
Self-motivated to independently manage time effectively, minimizing incidental overtime, and prioritize daily tasks. Utilizes time between heavy workloads efficiently and helps other team members.

GROWTH/INNOVATION ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

Identifies and presents areas for innovation, efficiency and improvement for department projects and shared governance activities. May co-chair a unit-based Shared Governance Council.
Acts as resource in surgical technology for the department on other hospital committees. Participates in one department or hospital committee or subcommittee and facilitates the accomplishment of the goals of the committee or subcommittee.
Proactively seeks opportunities to enhance knowledge and learning towards expertise in competencies with a focus on continual development. Completes and updates the My Development Plan (MDP) on an ongoing basis.

SUPPLEMENTAL REQUIREMENTS

WORK ATTIRE

Uniform: No
Scrubs: Yes
Business professional: No
Other (department approved): No

ON-CALL*

*Note that employees may be required to be on-call during emergencies (ie. Disaster, Severe Weather Events, etc) regardless of selection below.

On Call* Yes

TRAVEL**

**Travel specifications may vary by department**

May require travel within the Houston Metropolitan area No
May require travel outside Houston Metropolitan area No

Work Shift:

1 - Day (United States of America)



Job Category:

Non-clinical

Houston Methodist Hospital is recognized by U.S. News & World Report as the No. 1 hospital in Texas and one of America’s “Best Hospitals.” As a full-service, acute-care hospital located in the Texas Medical Center and the flagship hospital of Houston Methodist, it has evolved into one of the nation’s largest nonprofit teaching hospitals and a leader in innovative medical research with a comprehensive residency program. Two of Houston Methodist’s primary academic affiliates are among the nation’s leading health care organizations: Weill Cornell Medicine and New York-Presbyterian Hospital. Houston Methodist also has affiliations with Texas A&M University and the University of Houston. Houston Methodist Hospital offers unparalleled care for thousands of patients from around the world.


Houston Methodist is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

About the Company

Houston Methodist

Nonprofit academic medical center with hospitals

Houston Methodist is a nonprofit academic medical center and hospital system in the Houston area. It delivers fee-for-service care through eight hospitals, focusing on cancer, heart and vascular care, transplantation, neurosciences, orthopedics, and digestive disorders, and treats thousands of international patients. The system combines patient care with research, education, and philanthropy through the Houston Methodist Hospital Foundation, with its flagship at the Texas Medical Center and partnerships with Weill Cornell Medicine, Texas A&M, and Rice University that support programs like EnMed and a broad clinical trials network via the Houston Methodist Research Institute. Its goal is to improve patient outcomes by providing high-quality medical care while expanding research, education, and collaborative clinical programs.

Company size: 10,001+
Company stage: Not listed
Total funding: Not listed
Headquarters: Houston, TX
Founded: 2008

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