The Surgical Technologist Extern - reports to the nurse manager. A Surgical Technician Extern gains supervised clinical experience in the operating room. This role helps bridge classroom learning with real‑world practice and prepares the extern for full certification and employment as a surgical technologist. Key Responsibilities: Pre‑operative Duties Prepare operating rooms with sterile instruments, equipment, and supplies Assist in setting up surgical trays and ensuring all tools are functioning Help position and prepare patients for surgery Maintain strict adherence to sterile technique and infection‑control protocols Intra‑operative Duties: Pass instruments and supplies to surgeons and assistants Anticipate the needs of the surgical team during procedures Handle specimens appropriately Monitor sterile field and report any breaks in sterility Assist with equipment operation under supervision Post‑operative Duties: Help with instrument cleaning, decontamination, and sterilization Restock supplies and prepare rooms for the next procedure Assist with patient transfer as needed Minimum Scheduling Requirements: The goal is enough exposure, repetition, and case variety for you to feel confident and safe in the operating room. This externship aims for ~400 hours of hands‑on OR time. A strong experience usually includes: At least 2–3 full shifts per week Minimum 12 hours per week and one buddy call weekend per schedule, matching real OR workflow. Consistent scheduling to build muscle memory and confidence. Additional Job Description Education: Must be a student of an accredited program of surgical technology who has completed two semesters, going into third clinical rotation or has completed a accredited program of surgical technology. Must obtain certification within 90 days of hire. If does not obtain certification, then can transfer to role within system for which they are qualified. If you like working with energetic enthusiastic individuals, you will enjoy your career with us! The Medical University of South Carolina is an Equal Opportunity Employer. MUSC does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion or belief, age, sex, national origin, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, protected veteran status, family or parental status, or any other status protected by state laws and/or federal regulations. All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply and will receive consideration for employment based upon applicable qualifications, merit and business need. Medical University of South Carolina participates in the federal E-Verify program to confirm the identity and employment authorization of all newly hired employees. For further information about the E-Verify program, please click here: http://www.uscis.gov/e-verify/employees Thank you for wanting to be part of the Medical University of South Carolina team. Whether you want to teach the next generation of health care leaders, innovate new business models, discover the next breakthrough or provide patient care, there's a role for you that fuels your passion and takes advantage of your skills. There are career opportunities available in academics, research, hospital medicine, physician practices and support services, from patient billing to IT. As an applicant, you can search jobs for all MUSC entities as well as search by category and location. MUSC attracts more than $250 million annually in research funding, making it the biggest magnet for biomedical, extramural research dollars of all institutions of higher learning in South Carolina. The Clinical and Translational Science Award (CTSA) Program aims to advance clinical and translational science to increase the speed at which new treatments become available to patients. MUSC Health, the clinical enterprise, operates a 750 bed medical center, which includes a nationally recognized Children’s Hospital, the Ashley River Tower (cardiovascular, digestive disease, and surgical oncology), Hollings Cancer Center (one of fewer than 70 elite National Cancer Institute designated centers), a Level I Trauma Center and the Institute of Psychiatry. In addition, there are more than 100 outreach clinics, hospital/health system affiliations, and telehealth sites. U.S. News & World Report placed us among the top one percent of all American hospitals, with 11 specialties in the top 50. The MUSC Medical Center is also one of only three Magnet® designated hospitals in South Carolina.
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Career Level
Intern
Education Level
No Education Listed