Surgical Technologist - Neuro Surgery

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About Duke University Hospital

Pursue your passion for caring with Duke University Hospital in Durham, North Carolina, which is consistently ranked among the best in the United States and is the number one hospital in North Carolina, according to U.S. News and World Report for 2023-2024. Duke University Hospital is the largest of Duke Health's three hospitals and features 1048 patient beds, 65 operating rooms, as well as comprehensive diagnostic and therapeutic facilities, including a regional emergency/trauma center, an endo-surgery center, and more.

**10K Commitment Bonus for Newly Hired Team Members and Relocation Assistance Available**

The Neurosurgery Operating Room at Duke University Hospital is a highly specialized unit focused on providing comprehensive surgical care for patients with disorders affecting the brain, spine, and peripheral nervous system. The unit is equipped with the latest neurosurgical technology, including intraoperative imaging, intraoperative MRI suites (iMRI), stereotactic systems, and advanced neuronavigational tools to ensure precision and safety during complex surgeries.

Common Procedures and Surgeries

• Craniotomy (for tumor resection, Laser Interstitial Thermal Therapy (LiTT), aneurysm clipping, or hematoma evacuation)
• Spinal Fusion (Cervical, Thoracic, Lumbar)
• Laminectomy (for spinal stenosis)
• Microdiscectomy (for herniated discs)
• Endoscopic Pituitary Tumor Removal
• Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) (for Parkinson’s disease and other movement disorders)
• Ventriculoperitoneal (VP) Shunt Placement (for hydrocephalus)
• Aneurysm Clipping or Coiling
• Arteriovenous Malformation (AVM) Resection
• Chiari Malformation Decompression
• Spinal Tumor Resection
• Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) Surgery (Decompression and fracture repair)
• Peripheral Nerve Surgeries (e.g., brachial plexus repair, carpal tunnel release, nerve grafts)
• Epilepsy Surgery (including lobectomy and hemispherectomy)
• Trigeminal Neuralgia Surgery (Microvascular decompression)

The unit is staffed by a dedicated multidisciplinary team, including neurosurgeons, anesthesiologists, perioperative nurses, surgical technologists, and neuro-monitoring specialists. Each team member plays a critical role in maintaining the highest standards of patient safety and surgical outcomes. The unit’s commitment to innovation and precise surgical interventions is enhanced by the use of minimally invasive techniques and robotic-assisted surgery when appropriate.
 

General Description of this Role
Surgical Technologists (ST) are allied health professionals who assist in the preparation and care of surgical patients ranging from infancy to geriatrics under the general direction of a professional nurse. The ST possesses expertise in the theory and application of sterile aseptic technique and combines the knowledge of human anatomy, surgical procedures, and implementation tools and technologies to facilitate a surgeon’s performance of invasive therapeutic and diagnostic procedures. The ST who has a dual function in the operating room and the ambulatory setting demonstrates competency in the care of surgical patients preoperatively and postoperatively in the ambulatory surgical clinic setting.

Work Performed

Level I - New graduate with up to 18 months of full-time equivalent experience.

• Perform all responsibilities in a manner that demonstrates Service Excellence towards patients, physicians, peers and other departments.
• Assume responsibility for upholding the policies and procedures of the department and organization.
• Demonstrates eagerness to learn, takes direction, adapts to changes within unit, demonstrates consistent progress toward Level II.
• Establishes and maintains sterile field and assures team maintains sterile environment.
• Demonstrate and practice a good understanding of sterile technique.
• Has a basic knowledge of instrumentations.
• Prepare Operating Room with appropriate instrumentation, equipment and supplies.
• Demonstrates correct and safe instrumentation passing and performs sponge, needle and instrument counts in a safe and accurate manner.
• Maintain technical skills to serve a patient population comprised of infancy to geriatric clients.
• Take calls and rotate shifts as required under the direction of a registered nurse.
• For Surgical Technologists with a dual role in an ambulatory environment, additional responsibilities may include: prepare patients for examinations and procedures in the surgical clinic setting; assist the physician during patient examination and procedures in the clinic; collect and label laboratory specimens for processing; reinforce postoperative instructions under direction of physician or RN; assist with incoming and outgoing patient calls under supervision of physician or RN; remove sutures/staples, change sterile and non-sterile dressings, following DUHS policies and procedures, under direction of RN or physician; perform other clinical functions as delegated and supervised by the RN or physician; schedule and post surgical cases; coordinate complex scheduling of cases which require additional surgical support; update and file patient medical records.
• Must advance to level II within 18 months.
• Perform other duties and responsibilities as required. 

Level II - Perform all the duties and responsibilities of Level I, plus the following:

• Assist with the teaching of newly hired technologists and student technologists.
• Serve as a role model to new employees and other staff members.
• Establish and maintain sterile field and assure team maintains sterile environment independently.
• Anticipate the needs of the surgical team.
• Apply basic knowledge of instrumentations to several cases.
• Demonstrate appropriate and correct case preparation.
• Competent at unit level.
• Corrects deficiencies at the case level.
• Communicate effectively with patients, staff members and physicians.
• Adherence to standards including but not limited to unit and hospital policies and procedures, regulatory standards, and patient safety goals.
• Assume responsibility for self and ensures that the policies, procedures and safety practices of the Operating Room and Hospital are reinforced.
• Perform other duties and responsibilities as required.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Ability to adapt to changes within unit.
• Ability to work effectively and efficiently under pressure in a stressful environment, and often without relief.
• Ability to demonstrate knowledge of anatomy relating to the surgical procedure and the instrumentation required in order to effectively anticipate the needs of the surgeon.
• Ability to set priorities and respond appropriately to actual and/or potential life threatening situations.

Minimum Qualifications

Education

• Graduate of an accredited Surgical Technology program or maintains an accredited Surgical Technologist certification (NCCT or NBSTSA).
• Or, provides evidence of the successful completion of an appropriate training program for Surgical Technology in the United States Military.

Experience

• Level I- Entry level position for new graduates of Surgical Technology program or Surgical Technologists with 0 to 18 months experience.
• Level II- Requires 6 to 12 months of full-time equivalent Surgical Technology or relevant military experience.

Degrees, Licensures, Certifications

• Level I- N/A
• Level II- N/A

Duke is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer committed to providing employment opportunity without regard to an individual's age, color, disability, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, national origin, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, or veteran status.

Duke aspires to create a community built on collaboration, innovation, creativity, and belonging. Our collective success depends on the robust exchange of ideas—an exchange that is best when the rich diversity of our perspectives, backgrounds, and experiences flourishes. To achieve this exchange, it is essential that all members of the community feel secure and welcome, that the contributions of all individuals are respected, and that all voices are heard. All members of our community have a responsibility to uphold these values.

Essential Physical Job Functions: Certain jobs at Duke University and Duke University Health System may include essentialjob functions that require specific physical and/or mental abilities. Additional information and provision for requests for reasonable accommodation will be provided by each hiring department.