The Division of Cardiac Surgery at Children's National Hospital is seeking an experienced cardiovascular surgical technologist to join our team. NBSTSA certification is required.

As a member of the Operating Room team, the Cardiac Surgical Technologist will function in the scrub role and will monitor and maintain aseptic technique, equipment, supplies and instruments. They will be responsible to receive, wash, inspect, prepare, sterilize and store instruments, trays, equipment and supplies according to policy and procedures. In addition, the candidate is expected to rotate and function in other area services when there are no cardiac procedures.

About Children's National Cardiac Surgery Program

Our team of internationally renowned heart surgeons and pediatric cardiologists provide the following to our pediatric patients:

• Expertise. Our surgeons use advanced surgical procedures, including the most up-to-date cardiopulmonary bypass techniques. Our approach to care results in shorter lengths of stay for patients following surgery. One-third of our surgeries for congenital heart defects are performed on children under three months, leading to a repair that grows with the child, quicker recovery and less stress on the family.
• Subspecialty care. It takes a team to care for a child. As a major pediatric academic medical center, we also offer care in the more than 40 subspecialties the patient may need before, during and after heart surgery. No matter what service, study or specialized care our patient needs, we have an expert right here to partner with the pediatric heart surgery team to offer the best, most comprehensive care possible.
• Level 1 Surgery Verification. We have attained Level 1 Surgery Verification from the American College of Surgeons, a distinction that recognizes surgery centers that have improved surgical quality, prevented complications, reduced costs and saved lives.
• Dedicated anesthesiologists. We have one of the few programs in the nation with an anesthesiology team dedicated exclusively to pediatric heart patients. Our board-certified anesthesiologists are available 24/7 for anesthesia and pain management needs. In fact, we are the only center in the region to guarantee that a specialized pediatric cardiac anesthesiologist will be available at all times. In addition, our unique Cardiac Procedure Recovery Unit provides individualized care for patients before, during, and after undergoing anesthesia.
• Advanced technology and research. We've incorporated the most sophisticated technology available into our procedure rooms and Cardiac Intensive Care Unit (Cardiac ICU). When children need open heart surgery, we often need to place them on a cardiopulmonary bypass machine. During the surgery, the bypass machine takes over the function of the lungs and heart. This can carry a risk of neurological damage. During heart surgery, our heart surgeons use advanced measures based on the latest research-some of which they discovered-to protect the patient's brain and neurological development during surgery. Learn more about the Nobuyuki Ishibashi, M.D., Laboratory.
• Cardiac ICU rooms for parents. We know that you parents want to be with their child as much as possible to provide comfort and support. With that in mind, we designed extra-large rooms in our Cardiac ICU, with plenty of room for one or both parents to stay with their child. Learn more about the Cardiac ICU at Children's National.

Cardiac Surgery Procedures

Children's National offers a comprehensive surgical program that includes the full range of procedures available for the treatment of pediatric cardiac disease and congenital heart defects. Our physicians pioneered many of these procedures and have extensive experience performing them, leading to some of the best heart surgery outcomes in the nation. Procedures we perform, include:

• Aortic valve stenosis repair
• Arterial switch operation (ASO)
• Atrial septal defect and ventricular septal defect closures
• Fontan procedure
• Glenn procedure
• Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome hybrid procedure
• Neonatal Ross procedure
• Nikaidoh procedure
• PAVC repair
• Tetralogy of Fallot repair
• Transposition of great arteries repair

Cardiac Surgery Programs

• Congenital Heart Defect Surgery: We offer the full spectrum of congenital heart surgeries, including the most complex procedures. Our focus is on early primary repair and many of our surgeries are performed on children during the first few days of life.
• Advanced Cardiac Therapies and Heart Transplant Program: Our experienced team provides a full spectrum of therapies for children with heart failure. When transplantation is indicated, we collaborate with nearby MedStar Washington Hospital Center to provide heart transplantation for children.
• Ventricular Assist Devices Program: We offer the next generation of ventricular assist devices, a pump that keeps blood pumping through the left or right heart ventricles, to stabilize children awaiting heart transplant. While VADs are routinely used in adults, they have only recently been used for children. We are one of a few elite programs using this life-saving technology for children, including the Berlin Heart, the only VAD available for babies and small children.
• Pre-Operative Care Clinic: When your child is having surgery at Children's National, the Pre-Operative Care Clinic's (POCC) team of pediatric professionals screens patients for surgery and creates a specific care plan for each patient.

Minimum Education
High School Diploma or GED (Required)

Graduation from an accredited Surgical Technologist program

Minimum Work Experience
2 years experience as a Cardiovascular Operating Room Technician in the OR with specialty in adult or pediatric open heart procedures (Required)

Functional Accountabilities
Clinical/Surgical Case Preparedness Competency

• Prepare the Operating Room for cardio-vascular surgical procedures; open supplies and equipment on the sterile field based on the surgical procedures and child's age.

• Identify, select, and handle the appropriate types of accessory and specialty equipment needed for cardio-vascular surgical procedure; apply the appropriate method of care and handling of surgical instruments;

• Select and apply appropriate draping material for surgical procedures according to type of procedure and age of child.

• Identify and prepare the customized cardiac sterile packs and trays based on the type of cardiac procedure

• Select appropriate surgical sutures specific to cardiac procedures and patient's age.

Aseptic Technique

• Apply the correct technique of disinfection and follow manufacturer protocol.

• Utilize the appropriate sterilizer for sterilization purposes (i.e. flash sterilizer vs. washer sterilizer).

• Maintain highest standards of sterile technique during operative procedure.

• Maintain surveillance of sterilization; maintain and monitor the daily records and indicators; follow recall and procedures.

Scrub Role Competency

• Follow principle of correct hand scrub; gown and glove self and other intraoperative members.

• Pass correct and appropriate instrumentation, supplies and sutures, and implants as needed by the surgical team without being promoted; prepare irrigation and medication solutions as needed by the surgical team.

• Follow established policy and procedure for all counts; initiate corrective action when counts are incorrect.

• Anticipate emergency or unusual circumstances (ie: trauma).

• Anticipate the needs of the surgical team.

Supplies

• Organize supplies in the sterile field.

• Count instruments, sponges, needles and other items as indicated by unit/hospital policy.

• Properly store and rotate sterile supplies in the O.R. and sterile processing to maintain integrity of supplies.