Surgical Tech II - Surgery - Full Time 12 Hours Evening Shift (Non-Exempt) (Union)

University of Southern California; Los Angeles (CA); On-site; USD 49,000 - 84,000; Full time

Job summary

Keck Hospital of USC, part of Keck Medicine of USC, seeks an experienced Surgical Tech II to support the operating room team. You will assist with scrubbing, passing instruments, preparing sterile setups, and ensuring aseptic technique throughout procedures.

Ideal candidates have a high school diploma, completion of a CAHEAHP-accredited program, and 1 year of experience or internship in a surgical setting, with CST certification and BLS.

Qualifications

• High School or equivalent required.
• Completion of a CAAHEP-accredited Surgical Technician Program required.
• 1 year experience as a Surgical Technician or as a Surgical Technician intern required.
• Surgical Technician intern experience must be paid and completed at Keck Medicine of USC.
• Active practice as a Surgical Technician within the six months prior to application required.
• Organizational/time management skills required.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills required.
• Surgical Technologist CST certification from CAAHEP or ABHES required.
• Basic Life Support (BLS) Healthcare Provider certification required.
• Fire Life Safety Training (LA City) required or must be obtained within 30 days of hire.

Responsibilities

• Adheres to safety standards and policies related to surgical procedures and sterile processing.
• Applies aseptic technique and corrects breaks in aseptic technique.
• Assists the surgical team during operative procedures and anticipates needs.
• Maintains communication with the circulating nurse and surgical team about patient status and progress.
• Prepares and inventories sterile setup for operations.
• Ensures proper instrument handling and assists with instrument passing.
• Cleans and maintains instruments and surgical equipment according to guidelines.
• Transports patients, equipment, supplies, and specimens as needed.
• Prepares OR by setting up tables, instruments, and supplies for each case.
• Mentors or leads other surgical technicians when needed.

Skills

Verbal communication

Written communication

Time management

Organization

Education

High School or equivalent

CAAHEP-accredited Surgical Technician Program

Tools

CST Certification (CAAHEP/ABHES)

BLS Healthcare Provider

Job description

Under general guidance of the Registered Nurse, the Surgical Tech II applies, demonstrates, and possesses proficient/advance knowledge, competencies, and skills of surgical and aseptic techniques and practices; assists the surgical team and performs a variety of tasks in an operating room; prepares, sterilizes, and cleans up surgical equipment and instruments; and is responsible for the care and safety of patients who come under his/her care. The Surgical Tech II is generally assigned a triad of surgical/operative procedures and exercises critical thinking and independent judgement

Essential Duties

• Adheres to all safety standards and policies (such as surgical, specimen collection, sterile processing, Title 22, JCAHO) as they relate while performing all responsibilities.
• Applies principles of aseptic technique and initiates prompt corrective action when breaks in aseptic technique occur.
• Remains attentive throughout the operative procedure, anticipating the needs of the surgical team, and responds appropriately during emergency intraoperative crises.
• Maintains ongoing communication with the circulating nurse and other members of the surgical team regarding changes in patient status or the progress of surgery.
• Arranges and inventories sterile set-up for operation.
• Facilitates the smooth flow of the surgical intervention (i.e., prepares for the procedure with updated preference cards, knowledge of instruments and equipment).
• Performs scrub role (such as anticipating surgical team’s needs, passing of instruments, cutting sutures, etc.) according to standards.
• Prepares, cleans, and maintains instruments, equipment, and all surgical related items in accordance to established guidelines.
• Transports patients, equipment, supplies, and specimens.
• Prepares operating room (OR) by setting up tables, instruments, and supplies in according to type of case/operative procedure.
• Performs the preceptor role in the training of students.
• Participates in decision-marking activities related to evaluating and acquiring surgical equipment, instruments, and supplies.
• Recommends, implements, and participates process improvement projects on an ongoing basis.
• May mentor and/or lead other surgical technician
• May assist in performing circulating skills and task.
• Performs all duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• Req High School or equivalent
• Req Specialized/technical training Completion of a CAAHEP accredited Surgical Technician Program is required.
• Req 1 year One-year experience as a Surgical Technician or as a Surgical Technician intern required.
• *Surgical Technician intern experience must be paid and completed at Keck Medicine of USC.
• Req Active practice as a Surgical Technician within the six (6) months prior to application
• Req Organization/time management skills.
• Req Demonstrates excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Req Surgical Technologist - CST Valid Surgical Tech certification (CST) from accreditation organizations CAAHEP or ABHES
• Req Basic Life Support (BLS) Healthcare Provider from American Heart Association
• Req Fire Life Safety Training (LA City) If no card upon hire, one must be obtained within 30 days of hire and maintained by renewal before expiration date. (Required within LA City only)

Keck Hospital of USC, a 343-bed acute care hospital, provides exceptional and innovative care for complex medical and surgical conditions across a wide range of specialties.

The hospital’s world-renowned physicians deliver compassionate, customized, patient-centered care and treat the most acutely ill patients with highly innovative techniques and treatment plans.

As a leading academic medical center, hundreds of clinical trials are currently taking place at Keck Hospital and its affiliated research institutions, giving patients access to novel and promising therapies that are generally not available elsewhere.

Every day at Keck Hospital, physicians, nurses and staff go beyond the science of exceptional medicine to bring patients breakthroughs in the art of caring.

Join this world-class team providing highly specialized care, up-to-the-minute research, and innovative clinical trials.

Keck Medicine of USC is the University of Southern California’s medical enterprise, one of only two university-based medical systems in the Los Angeles area.

Keck Medicine combines academic excellence, world-class research and state-of-the-art facilities to provide highly specialized care for some of the most acute patients in the country.

Our internationally renowned physicians and scientists provide world-class patient care at Keck Hospital of USC, USC Norris Cancer Hospital, USC Verdugo Hills Hospital, USC Arcadia Hospital and more than 100 unique clinics in Los Angeles, Orange, Kern, Tulare and Ventura counties.

Keck Medical Center of USC, which includes Keck Hospital and USC Norris Cancer Hospital, is among the top 50 hospitals in the country in 8 specialties, as well as the top three hospitals in metro Los Angeles and top 10 hospitals in California, according to U.S. News & World Report’s 2024-25 Best Hospitals rankings.

The hourly rate range for this position is $35.88 - $61.00.

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