Certified Surgical Technologist
Minneapolis, MN
Care Career
5x8 hrs, Days
Referral Bonus

Travel Certified Surgical Technologist (CST) — Neuro Surgery | Minnesota

Contract Details

• Position: Certified Surgical Technologist (CST) — Neuro Surgery
• Location: Minnesota — Facility and city to be confirmed
• Specialty: Neurosurgery / Spine Surgery
• Contract Duration: 13 Weeks
• Shift: Days, 5×8-hour shifts
• Shift Options: 7:00 AM–3:30 PM or 9:30 AM–6:00 PM
• Scheduled Hours: 40 hours per week
• Weekend Requirement: Only 1 weekend shift per contract
• On-Call: None
• Floating: May be required within surgical specialties based on competency and facility needs
• Local Candidates: Not accepted within a 100-mile radius
• First-Time Travelers: Accepted
• Start Date: 12/07/26

Requirements

Required Qualifications

• Minimum 2 years of Surgical Technologist experience.
• Recent experience assisting with neurosurgical and spinal procedures.
• Current Basic Life Support (BLS) certification.
• Ability to maintain sterile technique and support complex surgical procedures.
• Experience preparing and handling neurosurgical instruments and equipment.
• Strong understanding of operating room protocols, surgical safety, and infection prevention.
• Ability to anticipate surgeon needs during complex procedures.
• Experience with spinal fusion, decompression, and craniotomy procedures.
• Ability to work five 8-hour day shifts per week.
• Willingness to work one weekend shift during the assignment.
• Ability to float to other surgical specialties within demonstrated competency when required.
• Residence outside the facility's 100-mile local restriction.

Required Clinical Skills

Neurosurgery

• Craniotomy procedures
• Ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunt placement
• Spinal cord tumor procedures
• Neurosurgical instrument preparation and handling
• Sterile field maintenance during complex neurological procedures

Neuro & Orthopedic Spine Surgery

• Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion (ACDF)
• Spinal fusion procedures
• Cervical and lumbar decompressions
• Laminectomy and discectomy
• Lumbar fusion
• Anterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion (ALIF)
• Transforaminal Lumbar Interbody Fusion (TLIF)
• Anterior/posterior spine fusion procedures

Preferred Qualifications

• Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) procedure experience.
• Experience with Extreme Lateral Interbody Fusion (XLIF).
• Experience in high-volume surgical departments.
• Familiarity with advanced spinal instrumentation.
• Previous travel surgical technologist experience.
• Experience supporting additional surgical specialties.
• Familiarity with Epic/Excellian documentation workflows.

Job Description

We are seeking an experienced Travel Certified Surgical Technologist (CST) specializing in Neurosurgery and Spine Surgery for a 13-week assignment in Minnesota.

The ideal candidate will have at least 2 years of surgical technologist experience, with strong expertise in neurosurgical and complex spinal procedures.

This position involves supporting surgeons and operating room teams during procedures such as craniotomies, VP shunt placement, spinal fusions, decompressions, and other neurological and orthopedic spine surgeries.

The surgical department operates in a high-volume environment, requiring excellent technical skills, attention to detail, and the ability to anticipate surgical team needs.

First-time travelers are welcome.

Responsibilities

• Prepare operating rooms for neurosurgical and spinal procedures.
• Organize surgical instruments, equipment, and sterile supplies.
• Maintain sterile technique throughout surgical procedures.
• Assist surgeons by passing instruments and anticipating procedural needs.
• Support complex spinal fusion and decompression procedures.
• Assist with craniotomies, VP shunt placements, and other neurosurgical operations.
• Verify the availability and functionality of surgical equipment.
• Assist with patient positioning and surgical preparation within the CST scope of practice.
• Follow surgical safety protocols and universal time-out procedures.
• Perform surgical counts according to facility policies.
• Support proper specimen handling and labeling.
• Collaborate with surgeons, anesthesia providers, nurses, and other surgical team members.
• Assist with operating room turnover and instrument management.
• Float to other surgical specialties according to demonstrated competency and facility needs.

Surgical Department Information

• Operating Rooms: 34
• Average Daily Surgical Case Volume: Approximately 60–75 cases
• Average Daily Instrument Tray Volume: Approximately 500
• Patient Population: Adolescents, Adults, and Geriatrics
• Primary Specialty: Neurosurgery / Spine Surgery
• Work Environment: High-volume Operating Room

Common Surgical Procedures

Neurosurgery

• Craniotomies
• VP shunt procedures
• Spinal cord tumor surgeries
• Neurological decompression procedures
• Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) — preferred experience

Spine Surgery

• Cervical and lumbar fusion
• ACDF procedures
• Laminectomy and discectomy
• Anterior and posterior spinal fusion
• TLIF and ALIF procedures
• Orthopedic spine decompressions

Facility Highlights

• Large surgical department with 34 operating rooms.
• Approximately 60–75 surgical cases daily.
• Specialized neurosurgical and orthopedic spine procedures.
• Exposure to advanced spinal instrumentation and complex surgeries.
• Five 8-hour day shifts per week.
• No routine on-call requirement.
• Only one weekend shift required during the contract.
• First-time travelers accepted.

Scheduling & Time-Off Requirements

• Day shifts, Monday through scheduled workweek as assigned.
• Five 8-hour shifts per week.
• One weekend shift required during the 13-week assignment.
• No on-call requirement.
• Ideally no more than 5 days of requested time off.
• All requested time off must be disclosed during submission.
• Schedule adjustments are subject to facility approval.

Additional Information

• Contract Duration: 13 weeks
• Shift: Days
• Scheduled Hours: 40 weekly
• Experience: Minimum 2 years
• Certification: BLS required
• First-Time Travelers: Accepted
• Weekend Requirement: 1 shift per contract
• On-Call: None
• Local Radius Restriction: 100 miles
• Floating: Within surgical specialties when needed
• Pre-Start Compliance: Facility-specific requirements apply
• Guaranteed Hours: Subject to facility cancellation policy