Surgical Technician (Certified)

Avera Health; Yankton (SD); On-site; USD 35,128 - 52,348; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Sign-on bonus up to $15,000

Student Loan Repayment Program

Job summary

Avera Health is seeking a Surgical Technologist at Avera Sacred Heart Hospital in Yankton, South Dakota. In this role, you will be responsible for providing high-quality professional care in surgical settings. Duties include assisting surgeons, maintaining sterile environments, and ensuring effective patient safety.

The ideal applicant will hold a Technical Certificate in Surgical Technology and certification as a Surgical Tech. The position offers a competitive pay range of $25.50 to $38.00 per hour, commensurate with experience, and potential eligibility for a sign-on bonus.

Qualifications

• Ability to work varying hours, understanding and following safety protocols.
• Communicate effectively with surgical teams and patients.
• Perform essential job functions with visual acuity and hearing.

Responsibilities

• Assist the surgeon during surgical procedures.
• Ensure a clean operating room and sterilize instruments.
• Verify patient and surgical details before procedures.

Skills

Infection control techniques

Aseptic technique

Equipment sterilization

Education

Technical Certificate from an accredited Surgical Technologist Program

Certified Surgical Tech (CST)

Tech in Surgery (TS-C)

Job description

Location

Avera Sacred Heart Hospital

Worker Type

Regular

Work Shift

Primarily days with night, weekend and holiday on‑call involvement (United States of America)

Pay Range

$25.50 - $38.00 (actual pay rate depends on experience)

Position Highlights

Hours: Varied Shifts, 72 hours/2 weeks; On Call/weekend/holiday rotation

May be eligible for $15,000 sign‑on bonus!

Student Loan Repayment Program: extra payment of $167 (up to $10,000) from Avera each month to help pay down your principal balance faster.

You Belong at Avera

Be part of a multidisciplinary team built with compassion and the goal of moving health forward for you and our patients. Work where you matter.

Brief Overview

Accountable for providing high quality professional care to patients and families under the supervision of the Surgery Leader and/or Surgeon within the surgical suites and other clinical areas within their scope of practice.

What you will do

• Assist the surgeon within scope of competency and standards of practice.
• Utilize techniques of infection control/universal precautions. Wash and sterilize equipment and keep a clean operating room.
• Rotate in SPD area cleaning & sterilizing instruments for OR, floors, ER, & clinics.
• Update preference cards to ensure all team members can perform procedures as per surgeon requests.
• Comply with regulatory requirements, policies, procedures, and standards of practice.
• Verify patient identity. Verify operative procedure, operative site, surgeon, and consent.
• Apply and monitor the principles of aseptic technique throughout the intraoperative period.
• Perform sponge, needle, and instrument counts according to policy procedure.
• Participate in the evaluation of new supplies, equipment, and/or instruments.
• Place equipment and supplies in operating room and arrange instruments according to instructions.

Essential Qualifications

The individual must be able to work the hours specified, perform each essential job function satisfactorily, including having visual acuity adequate to perform position duties, and the ability to communicate effectively with others, hear, understand and distinguish speech and other sounds. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential job functions, as long as the accommodations do not cause undue hardship to the employer.

Required Education, License/Certification, or Work Experience

• Technical Certificate graduate from an accredited Surgical Technologist Program
• Certified Surgical Tech (CST) – National Board of Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting (NBSTSA) upon hire
• Tech in Surgery (TS-C) – National Center for Competency Testing (NCCT) upon hire

Preferred Education, License/Certification, or Work Experience

• 1–3 years surgical experience

Expectations and Standards

• Commitment to the daily application of Avera’s mission, vision, core values, and social principles to serve patients, their families, and our community.
• Promote Avera’s values of compassion, hospitality, and stewardship.
• Uphold Avera’s standards of Communication, Attitude, Responsiveness, and Engagement (CARE) with enthusiasm and sincerity.
• Maintain confidentiality.
• Work effectively in a team environment, coordinating workflow with other team members and ensuring a productive and efficient environment.
• Comply with safety principles, laws, regulations, and standards associated with, but not limited to, CMS, The Joint Commission, DHHS, and OSHA if applicable.

Benefits You Need & Then Some

• PTO available day 1 for eligible hires.
• Up to 5% employer matching contribution for retirement.
• Career development guided by hands‑on training and mentorship.

Avera is an Equal Opportunity Employer – qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, veteran status, or other categories protected by law. If you are an individual with a disability and would like to request an accommodation for help with your online application, please call 1‑605‑504‑4444 or email [e-mail].