Operating Room Surgical Technologist (CST)
Charleston, South Carolina
Medical University of South Carolina - University Hospital

Job Opportunity: Certified OR Tech / Surgical Tech (CST)

Location: Charleston, South Carolina
Employment Type: Travel/Contract
Contract Length: 13 weeks

Position Details

• Specialty: Surgical Services (Operating Room)
• Shift: 3 shifts per week, 12 hours each (7:00 AM – 7:30 PM)
• Weekend Requirement: Rotating weekends
• On-Call: Up to 4 call shifts per month (end of shift to 7 AM)
• Floating: Required to float within scope to meet facility needs, including sister units/facilities
• Guaranteed Hours: Facility may call off 1 shift per 2 weeks; called off hours can be broken down to equal 1 shift
• Local Radius: 60 miles
• Locals Accepted: Yes, considered case-by-case

Required Qualifications

• Certified Surgical Technologist with a minimum of 2 years of experience
• Surgical Technologist experience within the last year
• NBSTSA certification required
• Basic Life Support (BLS) certification required

Facility & Work Environment

• Level I Trauma Center, Teaching Facility, Magnet designated hospital
• Main OR has 21 suites covering Trauma, Transplant, Ortho, Neuro, ENT, GU-GYN, Robotics
• Nursing team composition: 75% Registered Nurses, 25% Certified Surgical Technologists
• Busy, dynamic, nurse-driven environment with cutting-edge technology
• Charting system: EPIC
• Scrub color: Provided

Health & Safety Requirements

• Physical Exam: Initial and annual updates required, attesting ability to meet physical demands
• Fit Mask Test: N95 fit test within 90 days prior to start, renewed annually (specific mask models required)
• Vaccinations & Titers:

  • Tdap within 10 years or declination form required
  • Measles (Rubeola), Mumps, Rubella, Varicella: Positive titer or vaccination series required; low titers require boosters
  • Hepatitis B: Titer, vaccine series, or declination required
  • Flu vaccine required during flu season (Aug 1 – Mar 31) or medical/religious exemption (no declinations accepted)
  • COVID vaccines highly preferred; declination form required if not vaccinated
• TB Testing: Negative T-spot or Q-Gold within 90 days of start; chest x-ray if prior positive test
• Drug Screen: 10-panel drug screen within 90 days of start; no instant tests accepted
• Radiation Exposure: Radiation badge required; prior radiation exposure attestation must be completed before start

Documentation & Compliance

• Licensure:

  • Active, unencumbered South Carolina CST license required (primary source verification)
• Background Checks:

  • Annual background check covering all locations lived/worked in past 7 years
  • Includes SSN trace, state and national criminal checks, sex offender registry, FACIS 3, and international searches if applicable
• Employment History: Verification of last 3 clinical employers required
• References: Proof of 2 clinical references or hospital evaluations
• Education Verification: Required; diploma or transcripts accepted as placeholder if needed
• Photo for Badge: Passport-style photo with solid light background, frontal view, business casual attire, no hats or sunglasses; must be submitted by Wednesday prior to start
• Orientation: Completion of facility-specific modules (approx. 2 hours) required before orientation; failure to complete results in being sent home
• Other: Driver’s license, Social Security card, and E-Verify attestation required

Additional Notes

• Hurricane Season: From June through November, all staff may be assigned to emergency response teams; consider this before accepting assignments during this period
• Block Scheduling: Possible with manager approval, dependent on unit needs
• Parking: Permit required with a $20 registration fee for garage access; additional fees may apply for other parking locations

This position offers a challenging and rewarding opportunity to work in a high-acuity, academic surgical environment with a diverse case mix and advanced technology.