Norton Healthcare and Norton Children’s offer diverse surgical services across multiple hospitals and outpatient centers in Louisville, Kentucky, and Southern Indiana, ranging from minimally invasive procedures to complex operations. Surgical technologists are key members of the operating room team, supporting surgeons, anesthesia professionals and registered nurses to deliver safe, efficient, patient-centered care.

What Is a Surgical Technologist?

A surgical technologist (sometimes called “surgical tech” or “scrub tech”) prepares the operating room, maintains sterile technique, hands instruments to the surgeon and anticipates the surgery team’s needs from preoperative setup to after the surgery. Our surgical techs support a wide range of surgical departments —general surgery, neurosurgery, orthopedics, reconstructive surgery, robotic-assisted surgery and more.

Paths to Surgical Tech Jobs at Norton Healthcare and Norton Children’s

• Direct hire surgical tech: Requires one year of surgical tech experience or completion of an accredited surgical technology program (associate degree or diploma)
• Senior surgical tech (promotion track): Typically requires three years of experience and a recognized surgical tech credential such as certified surgical technologist (CST), certified surgical assistant (CSA), tech in surgery – certified (TS-C), certified operating room and surgical technician (CORST) or certified surgical first assistant (CSFA).
• Surgical tech certification for nonaccredited program graduates
  • Individuals who have not attended an accredited surgical technology program still may obtain the TS-C credential through the National Center for Competency Testing if they have a minimum of three years of employer-verifiable experience in the sterile field.
  • The National Center for Competency Testing has more information about the TS-C credential.

What Does a Typical Day Look Like?

Surgical technologists play a critical role on the operating room team. Working under the supervision of a surgeon, they help ensure the safe and efficient care of patients before, during, and after their surgical procedure. Their responsibilities require technical skills, quick decision-making, and a high level of attention to detail.

Daily Responsibilities of a Surgical Technologist

Surgical technologists support the surgical team by preparing, maintaining and managing the sterile environment, along with any sterile surgical equipment necessary for safe and effective procedures.

Core responsibilities include:

• Gathering and opening surgical procedure supplies
• Performing surgical hand scrub
• Preparing and maintaining a sterile field and operating room
• Passing surgical instruments and supplies to the surgeon
• Assisting in preparing patients for surgery
• Preparing medications for the surgeon to use
• Handling and preparing specimens
• Coordinating and assisting in room turnover
• Maneuvering endoscopic cameras
• Performing instrument counts
• Anticipating the needs of patients and surgeons
• Gowning and gloving other team members
• Disassembling the sterile field
• Cleaning and preparing instruments for sterilization
• Transporting instruments to the decontamination area
• Sponging, suctioning and cutting sutures

Surgical technologists assist other members of the health care team throughout the entire perioperative process. If you are a surgical technologist, your role emphasizes preparation, safe handling of instrumentation and equipment, and focused support for the surgeon throughout the procedure.

Are You Interested in Surgical Tech Careers? Here’s How You Can Get Started!

• Job shadow: Norton Healthcare offers job shadowing opportunities so you can observe surgical technicians firsthand and determine if this is the right career for you!
• Financial aid: We can offer to help pay for your education through the Norton Healthcare Scholars Program. This will be based on workforce needs.
• Job opportunities: Start your job search here.

Student Clinical Placements

Norton Healthcare and Norton Children’s welcome students in allied health disciplines seeking meaningful clinical learning experiences across our hospitals and outpatient locations. We offer a variety of placement opportunities designed to support skill development, professional growth and exposure to real world patient care. Different academic programs may use various terms for these required experiences, including clinical placements, internships, externships, practicums, preceptorships or rotations.

To explore placement options or submit a clinical rotation request, please visit Student Clinical Placements.