Entry Level Sterile Processing Jobs in California

Kern Medical has been a community cornerstone since its founding in 1867. Today, we are an acute care teaching center with 222 beds, offering the only advanced trauma care between Fresno and Los Angeles. Kern Medical cares for 15,500 inpatients and 125,000 clinic patients a year.

• Per Diem employees supplement department staffing needs, with no guarantee of minimum hours.
• Per Diem minimum scheduling expectation is four (4) shifts per four-week schedule.

Position: Surgical Technologist I - Per Diem

Compensation:

The estimated pay for this position is $26.9564 to $36.2271. This reflects only a portion of the total compensation package for this position. Additional compensation may be available for this role through differentials, incentives, and bonuses.

Distinguishing Characteristics:

The Surgical Technologist I is an entry level professional.  Incumbents are expected to have a general understanding of procedures being performed and anticipate the needs of the Surgical Team. 

Essential Functions:

Preoperative Duties:

• Identifies patient, verifies surgery to be performed with consent forms, and assists in the transport of patient to procedural suite when requested;
• Assists with transferring patient to the operating room table;
• Assists with positioning the patient, using appropriate equipment and anatomical principles to avoid patient injury;
• Gathers, checks and opens supplies and equipment needed for the surgical/invasive procedure;

• Performs the surgical scrub, and donning gown and gloves with sterile technique;

• Performs initial instrument, sharps and sponge counts with the RN according to the Kern Medical policy and procedure;

• Assists with draping the patient and establishing the sterile field;

• Participates in the surgical site and patient verification during the Time-Out Universal Protocol;

• Secures tubing, cords and other sterile accessories.
• Assists with surgical patient preparedness;

 Intraoperative/Post-Procedure Duties:

• Prepares and anticipates additional instrumentation, equipment and supply requirements throughout the procedure;

• Labels, measures, passes medications, hemostatic agents and irrigation solutions utilized during the procedure;

• Holds retractors or instruments as directed by the surgical team;

• Sponges or suctions the operative site as requested;

• Cuts suture material as directed by the surgical team;

• Coordinates the camera or changes out robotic arms/instruments during endoscopic surgery as directed by the surgical team;

• Maintains highest standard of sterile technique;

• Performs additional counts as requested or necessary;

• Prepares sterile dressings and/or immobilization devices;

• Prepares and passes off specimen(s) according to the Kern Medical policy and procedure;

• Cleans and prepares instruments for terminal sterilization and transport according to the departmental guidelines;

• Participates in debriefing and quality improvement practices to ensure quality patient care.

• Performs instrumentation counts prior to each procedure (when applicable)
• Maintain active participation in all phases of the Time-Out Universal Protocol according to Kern Medical policy and procedure;
• Secures dressings after incision closure;
• Ensure all required instrumentation is returned to the Processing Department according to departmental protocol;
• Follows all federal, state and departmental safety procedures

Additional Duties:

• Assists other members of the team with turnover cleaning of the surgical or procedural suite;

• Assists in patient monitoring to ensure the comfort of the patient and provides verbal and tactile reassurance to the patient (when applicable);
• Assists in maintaining normothermia;
• Keeps accurate records throughout the procedure;
• Helps transport the patient to the post anesthesia care unit.
• Demonstrates clinical knowledge and skill in the care of the newborn, infant, toddler, child, adolescent, adult and geriatric patient population.
• Performs other related duties within skill set when assigned.

Employment Standards:

High School Diploma/GED required

Graduation from an accredited Surgical Technology Training Program

Appointees not possessing the American Heart Association Responder or Provider Basic Life Support (BLS) card at time of hire must successfully complete appropriate training and qualify for the RQI Responder certification within 60 days of employment. As a continued condition of employment, employee must maintain RQI Responder certification and competency.

Strong working knowledge of aseptic technique.

Demonstrate the necessary knowledge and ability to ensure quality patient care during the operative procedure and is constantly vigil for the maintenance of the sterile field.

Maintain a high level of surgical conscience in professional behavior demonstrating understanding and application of principles of surgical technology and legal, ethical, and moral responsibilities to patients and team members.

Supplemental:

Dependent upon assignment, applicants may be required to pass an extensive background investigation, and be fingerprinted.  Disqualification for felony, misdemeanor, and traffic offenses will be assessed on a case-by-case basis.

All Kern County employees are designated “Disaster Service Workers” through state and local laws (CA Government Code Sec. 3100-3109 and Ordinance Code Title 2 - Administration, Ch. 2.66 Emergency Services.) As Disaster Service Workers, all county employees are expected to remain at work, or to report for work as soon as practicable following a significant emergency or disaster.

If position responsibilities require driving a personal vehicle, then possession of a current valid California Driver’s License and adherence to the Kern County Hospital Authority Vehicle Use and Driving Standard Policy (ENG-EC-119) is required.

If position responsibilities require driving a vehicle owned, leased or rented by Kern Medical, then possession of a current valid California Driver’s license, a signed authorization for Release of Drivers Record Information and adherence to the Kern County Hospital Authority Vehicle Use and Driving Standard Policy (ENG-EC-119) is required.