Surgical Technologist I - Urology Clinic-OR/Lithotripsy

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's Urology Clinic (OR/Lithotripsy)  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.

Position Summary:
Surgical Technologist staff may work in one or both of the Perioperative settings (Main Operating Room, Ambulatory Surgery Center or procedural clinic) or in Central Sterilizing Services. 

In the Perioperative setting, Surg Techs work under the direction of Staff Nurses and assist with surgical procedures, the provision of therapeutic, preventive and emergency patient care duties; and the preparation, operation and maintenance of routine and complex equipment, instruments and supplies and implants.

In Central Sterilizing Services, Surg Techs work under the supervision of CSS management.  They complete all aspects of sterile processing including decontamination, supply and instrument preparation, packaging, sterilization, sterile storage, distribution of sterile medical devices, inventory, stocking, and distribution of medical supplies.

Duties to Include:

·         Communicates and interacts with patients, visitors, and other health care professionals in an effective manner and maintains positive, cooperative relationships.

·         Demonstrates understanding of principles of medical and surgical asepsis.

·         Recognizes and communicates breaks in aseptic technique.

·         Prepares surgical area for patient care.

·         Assists with the provision of patient care with regard to the patient's condition and age.

·         Assists with documentation according to department/division standard under the direction of the Registered Nurse.

·         Demonstrates competency in performance of delegated technical functions and clinical activities, in accordance with institutional policies.

·         Provides for proper care and handling of equipment, instruments, supplies and implants (E/I/S/I).

·         Precepts staff and/or healthcare students to scrubbing duties and central sterilization techniques.

·         Performs computer functions within scope of role as defined by the individual unit.

·         Implements measures to prevent potential patient problems/complications and reports unusual incidents.

·         Maintains patient privacy and confidentiality.

·         Practices standard precautions in infection control in accordance with institutional policy.

·         Follows changes in patient care protocol based on research findings.

·         Decontaminates, cleans, sorts, inspects, disassembles and reassembles complex surgical instrumentation.  Operates equipment utilized to clean, disinfect and sterilize surgical instrumentation, including all manner of patient care equipment including endoscopes.

·         Accesses reference materials via computer systems, follows guides and instructions to assemble high volumes of complex instrument and implant trays. Inspects and evaluates instruments for function and cleanliness. Confirms all quality assurance mechanisms are in place. Labels, seals and documents all items processed. 

·         Performs all aspects of sterilization, packaging inspection, equipment operation, safety procedures, proper documentation, and prioritization.  Sterilizes items per manufacturer’s instructions, verifies correct parameters used for all instruments.

·         Assembles case carts in accordance with patient/surgeon procedure specific cards within appropriate time frame and documents missing items.   Performs duties in a high stress environment, responds to emergencies and urgent add-on cases.  Receives and responds to a high volume of phone calls to provide additional items as needed.  Maintains a high level of customer service.

·         Performs regular biological monitoring of sterilizers to ensure sterilizer efficacy.  Conducts challenge tests on sterilization and decontamination equipment.  Performs preventative maintenance functions on all equipment.

Percent of Time: 100%25
Schedule: Monday - Friday 10 hour shifts 4 days a week, no weekends, no holidays
Location: Roy J Carver Pavilion (RCP)
Merit Pay Plan:  https://hr.uiowa.edu/pay/pay-plans/merit-pay-plan
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.  (Completion of an in-service training program for surgical technologists is acceptable).

Desired Qualifications: 

• Ability to utilize existing resources and learning to achieve or exceed desired outcomes of current and future organizational goals/needs. 
• Ability to demonstrate ethical behavior in situations while producing results.
• Ability to meet or exceed customer service needs and expectations and provide excellent service in a direct or indirect manner. 
• Ability to effectively transmit and interpret information through appropriate communication with internal and external customers.
• Professional job-related experience fostering or promoting a welcoming and respectful work/academic environment where people of all backgrounds and perspectives feel welcomed and appreciated; or demonstrated the ability to do so.

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 Nicole Olmstead at nicole-olmstead@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.