Surgical Technician

RWJ New Brunswick; Highland Park (NJ); On-site; USD 47,000 - 58,000; Full time

Job summary

RWJBarnabas Health is seeking a Surgical Technician for the New Jersey operating room. The role involves scrubbing for procedures, maintaining sterile fields, and supporting perioperative teams to deliver safe, efficient care. A CST credential and BLS are required, with a high school diploma or GED.

Qualifications

• Successful completion of a Surgical Technology / Surgical Technician program.
• Surgical Technician certification is required (CST or equivalent).
• Current Basic Life Support (BLS) certification is required.
• High School Diploma or GED within one year of hire.

Responsibilities

• Sterile Field Integrity: Applies aseptic technique and maintains a sterile field.
• Operating Room Preparation: Ensures ORs, instruments, and supplies are ready.
• Surgical Assistance: Assists team during procedures with instruments and equipment.
• Surgical Counts & Specimen Handling: Maintains accurate counts and proper specimen handling.
• Patient Safety & Regulatory Compliance: Adheres to policies to ensure safe patient care.
• Team Collaboration & Room Turnover: Partners with perioperative team; expedites turnover between cases.
• General Nursing Support: Supports department nursing tasks and patient care needs.
• Professional Communication: Maintains professional communication with team and patients.

Education

Surgical Technology / Surgical Technician program

Certified Surgical Technologist (CST) certification

Basic Life Support (BLS) certification

High School Diploma or GED

Job description

Job Title: Surgical Technician

Location: Main Hospital - New Brunswick

Department Name: Labor & Delivery

Req #: 0000243457

Status: Hourly

Shift: Night

Pay Range: $34.10 - $42.02 per hour

Pay Transparency:The above reflects the anticipated hourly wage range for this position if hired to work in New Jersey.The compensation offered to the candidate selected for the position will depend on several factors, including the candidate‘s educational background, skills and professional experience.

Surgical Technician – RWJBarnabas Health

Position OverviewAtRWJBarnabas Health, Surgical Technicians become part of a highly collaborative perioperative team where precision, teamwork, and patient-centered care support exceptional surgical outcomes. In this role, you will perform the scrub role and functions for surgical procedures, assisting in nursing care activities and institutional services under the direction of a graduate professional nurse.This position offers opportunities for professional growth, advanced clinical experience, and a culture committed to safety, innovation, and continuous improvement. As a Surgical Technician, you will play an essential role in preparing the operating room, supporting surgeons and perioperative nurses during procedures, and helping ensure every patient receives safe, efficient, and high-quality surgical care. Joining RWJBarnabas Health means joining a community where every Surgical Technician is encouraged to grow, contribute, and make a meaningful impact.

Essential Functions & Responsibilities

Clinical Expertise & Sterile Field Maintenance

Sterile Field Integrity:

Demonstrates clinical expertise by applying knowledge and technical skills to all surgical procedures, including consistent application of aseptic technique and maintenance of a sterile field.

Operating Room Preparation

Prepares operating rooms by ensuring surgical instruments, equipment, and sterile supplies are organized, available, and ready for scheduled procedures.

Anticipating Surgical Needs

Anticipates the surgeon’s instrumentation and equipment needs during procedures while responding efficiently to changes in surgical conditions.

Surgical Assistance

Assists the surgical team during routine and complex procedures by handling instruments, supplies, and equipment with precision and attention to detail.

Instrument & Equipment Care

Demonstrates proper handling of OR instruments and equipment with thorough follow-through on repairs, losses, and maintenance.

Patient Safety & Regulatory Compliance

Policy Adherence:

Consistently adheres to hospital and regulatory agency policies and procedures to ensure safe, quality patient care.

Surgical Counts & Specimen Handling

Ensures the thorough and safe handling of surgical specimens, as well as accurate and thorough counting of instruments, sponges, and needles.

Safety Protocols

Supports a safe operating room environment by following established risk reduction practices, including fire prevention protocols and safety procedures related to laser and electrosurgical equipment.

Physiologic Monitoring

Monitors the surgical environment to help ensure patients‘ physiologic responses remain appropriate throughout the perioperative experience.

Age-Specific Care

Applies knowledge of growth and development over the life span to provide care appropriate to the age of the patients served (Infant, Pediatric, Adolescent, Adult, and Geriatric). Assesses data reflective of each patient’s status and interprets information needed to identify age-specific health care requirements.

Team Collaboration & Department Operations

Perioperative Collaboration:

Collaborates closely with surgeons, anesthesia providers, registered nurses, and other members of the perioperative team to deliver coordinated, patient-centered care.

Room Turnover

Expedites professional preparation, organization, and turnover of the operating room to promote efficient workflow and readiness between procedures.

General Nursing Support

Assists in general nursing activities of the department to meet and improve the physical, psychological, and spiritual needs of surgical patients, including all problem-solving and performance improvement activities.

Professional Communication

Participates as an active team member through professional oral communications, positive interpersonal relationships, and excellent guest relations.

Professional Development

Maintains current clinical skill and knowledge of trends in surgery by attending in-service programs, continuing education, expanding clinical skills, participating in staff meetings, reading professional journals/articles, and reviewing hospital/department communications. Participates in departmental education, orientation, competency validation, and quality improvement initiatives.

This Role Might Be For You If:

You thrive in a fast-paced surgical environment where organization and attention to detail are essential.You remain calm, adaptable, and focused during complex or changing surgical procedures.Strong teamwork and communication skills help you collaborate effectively with surgeons, nurses, anesthesia providers, and other perioperative professionals.You anticipate the needs of the surgical team and take pride in supporting efficient, high-quality surgical care.Patient safety, sterile technique, and quality outcomes guide your daily work.You value accountability, professionalism, and continuous learning in your clinical practice.You enjoy contributing to a collaborative culture focused on delivering exceptional patient care.

Qualifications & Requirements

Required Education & Credentials

Program Completion

Successful completion of a nationally or regionally accredited Surgical Technology / Surgical Technician program.

Certification

Surgical Technician certification is required. Candidates must hold and maintain a Certified Surgical Technologist (CST) credential through the National Board of Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting (NBSTSA) or another nationally recognized credentialing organization.

Life Support

Current Basic Life Support (BLS) certification through the American Heart Association (AHA) is required.

High School Diploma/GED

High School Diploma or GED equivalent is required within one (1) year of hire.

Note on Education Condition:

Candidates who do not possess a High School Diploma or GED equivalent will be provided the opportunity to enroll in a GED/HSEA program at the time of hire as a condition of employment. A hired candidate will be allowed one (1) year from the date of hire to successfully complete the GED program and obtain their HSEA.

Competency

Successful completion of departmental orientation and competency requirements.

Preferred Experience

Previous surgical technician experience in an operating room (OR) setting is preferred.