Hospital - Surgical Tech Senior

UT Health San Antonio•San Antonio, TX

6d•Onsite

About The Position

Under limited supervision, the Senior Surgical Technologist works under the supervision of a registered nurse and medical staff to facilitate the safe and effective conduct of invasive and minimally invasive surgical procedures. The role helps maintain a safe operating-room environment, ensure equipment functions properly, and support procedures under conditions that maximize patient safety. Shifts listed are 10:30 a.m.–7 p.m. and 2:30 p.m.–11 p.m.; four 10-hour shifts are available. A technical-school education in Surgical Technology is required. The position may require the ability to maintain the security and integrity of UT San Antonio and its infrastructure per Texas EO-GA-48.

Requirements

Technical school education in Surgical Technology.
Ability to follow infection-control policies and procedures.
Knowledge of decontamination, packaging, and sterilization of instruments and supplies.
Ability to be accountable for the patient-care environment, including reporting malfunctioning equipment and addressing instrumentation maintenance and patient-safety matters.
Knowledge of how to perform assigned patient-care tasks under the direction and supervision of a designated Registered Nurse, and procedural tasks under the direction of the surgeon.
Ability to assess and anticipate supplies needed for scheduled and emergency procedures, individual patient comfort and safety measures, and the surgeon's needs; pass instruments, sponges, and sutures to expedite procedures.
Knowledge of preparing the operating room for specific procedures, including disinfecting furniture and equipment with assistance from other personnel.
Ability to use proper sterile technique and open and arrange the sterile field according to accepted protocols for routine and special procedures.
Knowledge of efficient use of equipment and supplies, charging for supplies, and ensuring replacement of medical and surgical supplies.
Ability to check, restock, and inventory supplies daily and periodically, rotate dated items, and reorder supplies as assigned or needed.
Ability to help clear the operating room between procedures, including proper disposal of contaminated linen and waste, cleaning instruments when necessary, and disinfecting equipment.
Ability to participate in counts with the circulating nurse to ensure counts are correct.
Ability to serve as a preceptor and mentor by fostering a teaching environment.

Nice To Haves

Completion of preceptor education and leader approval makes the position eligible for preceptor premium pay.

Responsibilities

Collaborate with the Registered Nurse to continuously update the nursing plan of care and recommend interventions to meet patient goals.
Evaluate and recommend updates to surgeon preference cards and notify appropriate personnel of needed changes.
Label drugs on the field; prepare labels and verify specimens according to protocol and surgeon preferences.
Document sterilization procedures appropriately.
Sign or verify initials on the instrument count sheet and sign the preference list when case setup is complete.
Precept new staff and students, sharing procedural knowledge to enhance learning.
Participate in peer review as requested.
Coordinate treatments and procedures to facilitate cost-effective patient care.
Provide input for new policies, procedures, meeting minutes, and memos.
Contribute to developing and revising standards and policies as needs are identified; use information from monitors and research to influence practice changes.
Maintain working knowledge of emergency protocols and ensure surgical setups are ready to manage emergency procedures.
Perform other duties as assigned.

Benefits

Free UT SELECT medical insurance for employees, with family coverage available through payroll deduction.
Free group term life insurance and basic accidental death and dismemberment insurance, with options to purchase additional coverage.
Three dental plan options through Delta Dental Insurance Company.
Two vision plan options through Superior Vision Services.
Disability insurance enrollment option.
Flexible spending accounts for qualifying dependent-care and out-of-pocket healthcare expenses.
Eligibility for the Teacher Retirement System or Optional Retirement Plan, plus voluntary retirement programs.
Front-loaded paid time off of 128 to 208 hours per fiscal year, based on years of service; prorated in the first year based on hire date.
Extended Illness Bank accrual of 8 hours per month.
Paid family leave of up to 240 hours after six months of consecutive employment.
12 set paid holidays each year.
Discounts on services, tickets, and gym membership.