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Surgical Technologist

Advocate Health · Pleasant Prairie, WI · $26.55–$39.85 an hour · Full time

Posted Sep 22, 2026 · We last checked this listing on Oct 6, 2026

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Likely interview questions for this role

Written from this job description, not a generic list. Each one notes what the interviewer is really checking.

About your past

A surgeon gets short with you in the middle of a stressful case. How do you respond?

What they are checking: Whether they can stay focused and professional under pressure and address problems after the case.

What kinds of cases are you most comfortable scrubbing, and which ones would you want more training on?

What they are checking: Whether they are honest about their range, since the posting expects them to perform all types of procedures.

Tell me about a time you helped turn over a room quickly between cases without cutting corners.

What they are checking: Whether they balance speed and safety during turnover, which affects the whole OR schedule.

What would you do

You notice the surgeon's glove brushed something non-sterile, and no one else saw. What do you do?

What they are checking: Whether they speak up about breaks in sterile technique no matter who made the mistake.

You're on call and get called in at night for an emergency case. How do you prepare once you arrive?

What they are checking: Whether they can set up quickly and safely for urgent cases with a smaller team.

The schedule is 10-hour shifts with start times that flex and call one weeknight per week and every ninth weekend. How does that fit your life?

What they are checking: Whether they can reliably meet a flexible schedule and call requirements.

About the work

Walk me through how you set up your back table and Mayo stand for a laparoscopic case.

What they are checking: Whether they have an organized, repeatable setup that keeps the sterile field safe and the case moving.

How do you handle the surgical counts, and what happens if your count is off at closing?

What they are checking: Whether they take counts seriously and know to stop closing and search until the count is right.

How do you anticipate what the surgeon will need next without being asked?

What they are checking: Whether they know the steps of common procedures well enough to stay one step ahead.

How do you handle specimens from the sterile field so they reach pathology correctly?

What they are checking: Whether they label and pass off specimens carefully, since a lost or mislabeled specimen harms the patient.

How do you set up and troubleshoot equipment like cameras, microscopes or a fracture table?

What they are checking: Whether they can handle the equipment the posting names and solve problems before a case is delayed.

Practice this interview out loud.

Offer builds a real interview for this exact role at Advocate Health from your resume and this job description, asks the questions one at a time, and tells you what landed. The first one is free.

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The full job description

As published by Advocate Health.

Department: 37703 AMC Kenosha - Surgery Room Status: Full time Benefits Eligible: Yes Hou rs Per Week: 40 Schedule Details/Additional Information: Full Time working 10 Hour Shifts from 9AM to 7:30PM with variable day off. Start time may flex up to an hour earlier/later depending on case needs. Call is one weeknight per week and every 9th weekend. Pay Range: $26.55 - $39.85 Major Responsibilities: • Provides for a clean, safe and efficient area conducive to optimal patient care. Utilizes aseptic surgical techniques in the preparation of materials, supplies and equipment for surgical procedures (e.g., assistance with gowning and gloving; preparation and draping of the surgical area; provision of a sterile field, instruments, suture and related materials; anticipation of the Surgeons' needs; passing of instruments and/or supplies; holding of retractors, observing and reporting possible breaks in aseptic technique; and assisting in maintaining a sterile, dry, unobstructed field). • Performs all types of procedures and maintains basic knowledge of a variety of procedures. • Ensures the environmental disinfection, safety and efficiency of the operating room. This includes setting up the room for each case including moving equipment (i.e., tables, cameras, microscopes, fracture table, and instrument pans), operating the various types of equipment used during operating room procedures, and returning equipment post procedure. • Functions as a Second Assistant as necessary. • Notifies appropriate staff of equipment and supply problems. • Transports patients and/or equipment and supplies. • Maintains a specialty cart or item, ensuring its completeness and availability. This includes checking the working condition of equipment, sterility, and sending damaged items out for repair. • Performs various patient positioning and transporting duties, which require lifting and pushing/pulling, while utilizing proper technique. • Must be able to demonstrate knowledge and skills necessary to provide care appropriate to the age of the patients served. Must demonstrate knowledge of the principles of growth and development over the life span and possess the ability to assess data reflective of the patient's status and interpret the appropriate information needed to identify each patient's requirements relative to his/her age-specific needs, and to provide the care needed as described in the department's policies and procedures. Age-specific information is developed further in the departmental job standards. Licensure, Registration, and/or Certification Required: • Basic Life Support (BLS) for Healthcare Providers certification issued by the American Heart Association (AHA) needs to be obtained within 6 months unless department leader has determined it is not required. Education Required: • Completion of an accredited or approved program in Surgical Technology. Experience Required: • No experience required. Knowledge, Skills & Abilities Required: • Knowledge of aseptic surgical techniques used in the preparation of materials, supplies and equipment for various surgical procedures. • Knowledge of various types of equipment used in the operating room. • Excellent customer service and interpersonal skills. • Basic computer proficiency. • Certification Addendum • Team members will maintain annual educational requirements for hospital based certifications (e.g. DNV, CARF or others). Physical Requirements and Working Conditions: • Must be able to withstand a very stressful and fast-paced environment. • Must be able to: • lift up to 50 lbs. from floor to waist. • lift up to 20 lbs. over the head. • carry up to 40 lbs. a reasonable distance. • Must be able to: • push/pull with 30 lbs. of force. • perform a sliding transfer of 150 lbs. with a second person present. • Required to use foot pedals on carts or machines. • Exposed to the following hazards on a continuous basis: mechanical, electrical, chemical, radiation, blood and body fluids. • Must have functional sight and hearing. • Required to wear masks, gloves, goggles, and gowns. • Must be able to sit, stand, walk, lift, squat, bend, reach above shoulders and twist frequently during work shift. • Must be able to operate all equipment essential to performing the duties of the job. This job description indicates the general nature and level of work expected of the incumbent. It is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities required of the incumbent. Incumbent may be required to perform other related duties. Our Commitment to You: Advocate Health offers a comprehensive suite of Total Rewards: benefits and well-being programs, competitive compensation, generous retirement offerings, programs that invest in your career development and so much more – so you can live fully at and away from work, including: Compensation • Base compensation listed within the listed pay range based on factors such as qualifications, skills, relevant experience, and/or training • Premium pay such as shift, on call, and more based on a teammate's job • Incentive pay for select positions • Opportunity for annual increases based on performance Benefits and more • Paid Time Off programs • Health and welfare benefits such as medical, dental, vision, life, and Short- and Long-Term Disability • Flexible Spending Accounts for eligible health care and dependent care expenses • Family benefits such as adoption assistance and paid parental leave • Defined contribution retirement plans with employer match and other financial wellness programs • Educational Assistance Program Note: Eligibility for programs listed above may depend on your FTE or status (e.g., full-time, part-time, per diem, temporary, etc.); please ask a Recruiter for more information during an interview. About Advocate Health Advocate Health is the third-largest nonprofit, integrated health system in the United States, created from the combination of Advocate Aurora Health and Atrium Health. Providing care under the names Advocate Health Care in Illinois; Atrium Health in the Carolinas, Georgia and Alabama; and Aurora Health Care in Wisconsin, Advocate Health is a national leader in clinical innovation, health outcomes, consumer experience and value-based care. Headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina, Advocate Health services nearly 6 million patients and is engaged in hundreds of clinical trials and research studies, with Wake Forest University School of Medicine serving as the academic core of the enterprise. It is nationally recognized for its expertise in cardiology, neurosciences, oncology, pediatrics and rehabilitation, as well as organ transplants, burn treatments and specialized musculoskeletal programs. Advocate Health employs 155,000 teammates across 69 hospitals and over 1,000 care locations, and offers one of the nation’s largest graduate medical education programs with over 2,000 residents and fellows across more than 200 programs. Committed to providing equitable care for all, Advocate Health provides more than $6 billion in annual community benefits.

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