Surgical Technologist I - Ortho Specialty
Posted Sep 11, 2026 · We last checked this listing on Oct 6, 2026
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
Tell me about a time you noticed a possible break in sterile technique during a procedure. What did you do?
What they are checking: willingness to speak up and follow protocol even when it might slow down or embarrass the surgical team
Tell me about a time you had to work as second assistant and anticipate what the surgeon needed before they asked.
What they are checking: situational awareness and ability to read a surgeon's rhythm during a procedure
Describe a time the OR schedule changed suddenly, a case got bumped or added, and you had to adjust your setup fast. How did you handle it?
What they are checking: flexibility and ability to stay organized when the day doesn't go as planned
Tell me about a time you disagreed with how something was being done in the OR, maybe an instrument count or a technique. How did you raise it?
What they are checking: comfort speaking up in a hierarchical environment without creating unnecessary conflict
What does 'excellent customer service' look like to you when the customer is an anxious patient who's about to go under anesthesia?
What they are checking: whether the candidate sees patient interaction as part of the job, not just technical tasks
What would you do
Say you're mid-case on a fracture table and you notice a piece of equipment isn't working right. What do you do in that moment, and who do you tell?
What they are checking: judgment under pressure and understanding of escalation paths without abandoning the sterile field
This role has on-call obligations with a 30 minute arrival window on nights, weekends, and holidays. How do you make sure you can meet that commitment reliably?
What they are checking: realistic assessment of whether the person can actually live up to the on-call demand, not just say yes
You're asked to move heavy equipment like a fracture table or a microscope into position, and you're doing it solo before a second person arrives. What do you do?
What they are checking: safety judgment around the physical demands and lifting requirements of the job
About the work
Walk me through how you set up a sterile field for a total knee or hip case, from the moment you enter the room to the surgeon making the first incision.
What they are checking: whether the candidate actually knows aseptic technique and orthopedic case setup, not just textbook definitions
What ortho-specific instrumentation and equipment are you comfortable with, things like fracture tables, power tools, scopes, C-arms?
What they are checking: actual hands-on familiarity with the specialty's tools versus general OR experience
How do you keep a specialty cart organized and make sure everything on it is sterile and in working order between cases?
What they are checking: attention to detail and ownership of a recurring, unglamorous responsibility
How would you adjust your approach when positioning or prepping a pediatric patient versus an elderly patient for the same type of ortho procedure?
What they are checking: understanding of age-specific care requirements called out in the job description
How do you personally stay sharp on new procedures or equipment given you'll need to maintain a range of ortho case knowledge?
What they are checking: initiative around ongoing learning in a specialty that adds new techniques and hardware often
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As published by Advocate Health.