Surgical Technologist I - Operating Room

Qualified candidates may be eligible for a sign-on incentive of up to $5,000. Current UI employees are not eligible.

University of Iowa Health Care—recognized as one of the best hospitals in the United States—is Iowa's only comprehensive academic medical center and a regional referral center. Each day more than 12,000 employees, students, and volunteers work together to provide safe, quality health care and excellent service for our patients. Simply stated, our mission is: Changing Medicine. Changing Lives. ®

University of Iowa Health Care Department of Perioperative Services is seeking a Surgical Technologist to assists with surgical procedures; provision of therapeutic, preventive and emergency patient care duties; and preparation, operation and maintenance of routine and complex equipment, instruments and supplies. All duties are done under the direction of a registered professional nurse.

Available Units Include:

Team 1:  Cardiothoracic, Peripheral Vascular, and Transplant (Heart and Lung)
Team 2: Neurosurgery 
Team 3: Urology/Transplant
Team 4: Gynecology
Team 5: Otolaryngology, Oral Surgery
Team 6: General Surgery, Plastics, Burn 

Duties to Include:

• Prepare surgical area for patient care and anticipate the needs of the surgical team
• Apply knowledge related to emergency situations and surgical procedures in the operating room
• Demonstrate understanding of principles of medical and surgical asepsis; recognize and communicate breaks in aseptic technique
• Provide for proper care and handling of equipment, instruments, supplies and implants (E/I/S/I)
• Demonstrate knowledge of various surgical equipment and advanced surgical instrumentation.
• Demonstrate competency in performance of delegated technical functions and clinical activities, in accordance with institutional policies
• Assist with the provision of patient care with regard to the patient's condition and age.
• Exhibit high level of collaboration with peers in making decisions related to surgical patient care
• Demonstrate critical thinking skills in relations to anticipating the needs of the patient and surgeon
• Implement measures to prevent potential patient problems/complications and reports unusual incidents
• Assist with documentation according to department/division standard under the direction of the Registered Nurse
• Perform computer functions within scope of role as defined by the individual unit
• Serve as primary preceptor to orient new staff and/or student technologists to scrubbing duties
• Serve as a mentor and positive role model to new employees and other surgical team members
• Practice standard precautions in infection control in accordance with institutional policy
• Follow changes in patient care protocol based on research findings
• Participate in and contribute to unit staff meetings and in-service programs
• May participate in perioperative initiatives or shared governance committees
• Perform other special projects and tasks as assigned

Percent of Time: 100%
Schedule: Rotating 8,10-, and 12-hour shifts with occasional weekends, additional on-call shifts, and holiday rotation.
Location: John Colloton Pavillion (JCP)
Merit Pay Plan:  https://hr.uiowa.edu/pay/pay-plans/merit-pay-plan
Pay Differentials: Shift differentials for evening and night.
Benefits Highlights: Fringe benefit package including paid vacation; sick leave; health, dental, life and disability insurance options; and generous employer contributions into retirement plans. Relocation Assistant available to qualified applicants. https://hr.uiowa.edu/benefits

Required Qualifications:

• Satisfactory completion of a vocational or military course in surgical technology, or certification as a surgical technologist.

Desired Qualifications:

• Preferred candidates will have direct patient care experience in an operating room. Experience working in a health care environment. Able to scrub surgical procedures. Strong written communication skills.

Please attach a resume as part of the application process.  Job openings are posted for a minimum of 10 calendar days. This job may be removed from posting and filled any time after the minimum posting period has ended. For questions or additional information, please contact Faby Orozco at fabiola-orozco@uiowa.edu

Successful candidates will be required to self-disclose any conviction history and will be subject to a criminal background check and credential/education verification. Up to 5 professional references will be requested at a later step in the recruitment process.