Houston Methodist

Nonprofit academic medical center with hospitals

Senior Surgical Technologist - CV

Clinical Support & Patient AdministrationPosted on Nov 10

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 or Instructor certification is required.
A current CST certification from NBSTSA, TS-C certification from NCCT, or CSA certification from NCCSA is required unless the employee qualifies under the stated grandfather clause for individuals employed in surgical technology before September 1, 2009.
Complete 30 continuing education units every two years, as specified under SB1239, Section 259.002.
Demonstrate the skills and competencies necessary to safely perform the assigned job, as determined through ongoing skills, competency assessments, and performance evaluations.
Demonstrate sufficient proficiency in speaking, reading, and writing English to perform essential job functions, particularly those affecting patient or employee safety and security.
Communicate effectively with patients, physicians, family members, and coworkers in a manner consistent with customer service and positive language principles.
Demonstrate understanding of medical terminology.
Exercise independence and sound judgment in interactions 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, and 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

Carry out delegated tasks associated with safe and efficient operating-room support functions and related procedures, working independently and exercising sound judgment.
Report observations and patient problems to the licensed nurse or surgeon.
Perform the duties and responsibilities of a Surgical Technologist and provide mentoring and guidance to Surgical Technologist positions, helping train and orient others.
Perform assigned non-nursing functions and general patient care and department upkeep as delegated by licensed personnel.
Promote a positive work environment and assist the interprofessional healthcare 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 follow-up and structured feedback with examples; serve as the department preceptor for new surgical technologists and train and orient them.
Facilitate teamwork by anticipating assistance needs and responding positively to requests, and use 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 updates to surgeon preference cards within the applicable service line.
Anticipate surgeon and nursing staff needs by passing instruments and supplies during procedures and competently provide surgical technologist assistance across procedures including orthopedics, gynecology, general surgery, ENT, ophthalmology, urology, cardiovascular, spine, neurology, oral/maxillofacial, and minimally invasive procedures.
Assist the circulating registered nurse with sponge, instrument, needle, and other surgical counts.
Model behaviors and skills through peer-to-peer accountability to improve patient satisfaction.
Maintain sterile technique before and after procedures; prepare sterile dressings and immobilization devices; clean and prepare instruments for terminal sterilization after procedures; and assist the team 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 debriefing 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 healthcare team.
Use surgical supplies efficiently, minimize opening supplies until their use is confirmed, and recommend cost containment during cases.
Manage time independently and effectively, 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 expertise in job competencies, focus on continual development, and complete and update the My Development Plan on an ongoing basis.

This position is a full-time day shift role working three, 12-hour shifts per week from 6:00am-6:30pm rotating during varied weekdays, plus call.

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 Willowbrook Hospital is a Magnet-recognized, not-for-profit, faith-based hospital that serves the growing Northwest Houston community. We are committed to providing quality, cost-effective health care in a compassionate environment for a full range of services, including emergency care, cardiology, orthopedics and sports medicine, comprehensive women’s services, neurology and neurosurgery, oncology, and primary and general medicine.


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

Recently Posted Jobs

Explore more opportunities at Houston Methodist

See more jobs