JobsAdvocate Health

Surgical Technologist I - Ortho Specialty

Advocate Health · Milwaukee, WI

Posted Sep 10, 2026 · We last checked this listing on Sep 20, 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.

Behavioral

Tell me about a time you noticed a possible break in sterile technique during a procedure. What did you do?

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.

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?

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?

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?

whether the candidate sees patient interaction as part of the job, not just technical tasks

Technical

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.

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?

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?

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?

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?

initiative around ongoing learning in a specialty that adds new techniques and hardware often

Situational

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?

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?

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?

safety judgment around the physical demands and lifting requirements of the job

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The full job description

As published by Advocate Health.

Department: 37703 Aurora St. Lukes Medical Center - Surgery Room Status: Full time Benefits Eligible: Yes Hou rs Per Week: 40 Schedule Details/Additional Information: Ortho Specialty, Full-time, Monday - Friday 5x8 hour Day shifts with a flexible start time between 0530-7000, On Call obligations for weekends and holidays. On call requires arrival within 30-minutes. 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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