Lorraine Santiago
Ballwin,MO
Summary
Results-driven Surgical Technologist with extensive experience in staff training and mentorship. Skilled in maintaining sterile environments and adhering to infection control standards, contributing to improved patient outcomes and operational efficiency in high-pressure surgical settings.
Overview
18
18
years of professional experience
Work History
Traveling Certified Surgical Technologist
St. Lukes Medical Hospital
Chesterfield, Missouri
09.2025 - Current
- Assisted surgeons during procedures by preparing instruments and equipment.
- Maintained sterile environments by following infection control protocols.
- Collaborated with surgical teams to streamline workflows and enhance efficiency.
- Provided mentorship to promote critical thinking skills among learners.
- Demonstrated proper techniques for performing a variety of medical procedures.
- Educated preceptees on evidence-based practice guidelines and standards of care for specific populations.
Traveling Certified Surgical Technologist
Columbia Memorial Hospital
Astoria, Oregon
02.2025 - 06.2025
- Assisted surgeons during procedures by preparing instruments and equipment.
- Maintained sterile environments by following infection control protocols.
- Collaborated with surgical teams to streamline workflows and enhance efficiency.
Traveling Certified Surgical Technologist
Abrazo Arrowhead Hospital
Glendale, AZ
09.2024 - 01.2025
- Assisted surgeons during procedures by preparing instruments and equipment.
- Maintained sterile environments by following infection control protocols.
- Collaborated with surgical teams to streamline workflows and enhance efficiency.
- Used hemostatic clamps, suture ligatures and electrocautery equipment to control bleeding.
- Assisted surgeons in preparing operating rooms for surgery, including setting up and arranging instruments, supplies, and equipment.
- Prepared suture needles by tying knots using correct techniques prior to surgeries commencing.
- Educated new staff on operating room protocols and safety standards.
- Sterilized surgical instruments using autoclaves and chemical solutions.
- Prepared and organized sterile supplies for surgical procedures.
- Maintained accurate records of sterilization processes and equipment usage.
- Assisted in training new staff on sterilization protocols and safety measures.
- Followed infection control procedures to ensure a safe environment.
Traveling Surgical Technologist
Froedtert Hospital (Pride Health)
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
12.2023 - 06.2024
- Assisted in the management of emergency situations within the operating room, enabling swift intervention to protect patient health and wellbeing.
- Increased surgeon satisfaction through timely anticipation of their needs during procedures, resulting in smoother operations.
- Provided exceptional pre-operative care, including patient assessment, vital signs monitoring, and IV insertion when needed.
- Maximized operating room efficiency by assisting with turnover between cases, reducing downtime between scheduled surgeries.
- Collaborated with multidisciplinary teams, enhancing overall patient care standards throughout each medical facility visited.
- Worked with cross-functional teams to achieve goals.
- Maintained updated knowledge through continuing education and advanced training.
- Conducted comprehensive research and data analysis to support strategic planning and informed decision-making.
- Achieved cost-savings by developing functional solutions to problems.
Traveling Surgical Technologist
Unity Point Health Methodist (Aequor)
Des Moines, Iowa
08.2022 - 12.2023
- Increased surgeon satisfaction through timely anticipation of their needs during procedures, resulting in smoother operations.
- Provided exceptional pre-operative care, including patient assessment, vital signs monitoring, and IV insertion when needed.
- Maximized operating room efficiency by assisting with turnover between cases, reducing downtime between scheduled surgeries.
- Mitigated potential risks during surgery by adhering to strict infection control measures according to facility guidelines or specific surgeon preferences.
- Ensured the safety of patients during surgery by correctly handling and passing instruments to surgeons.
- Supported surgeons in life-saving procedures, demonstrating adaptability under high-pressure situations.
- Served as a reliable resource for other healthcare professionals requiring guidance on Surgical Technologist best practices and techniques.
- Positioned patients and set up drapes to create comfortable surgical environment for patients.
- Passed instruments and supplies to surgical team members to provide surgeons with necessary tools to complete procedures.
- Gathered and set up equipment, tools, and supplies and arrange instruments according to surgeons' preferences or instruction.
- Prepared sterile solutions to support surgical processes and helped physicians scrub in for procedures.
- Introduced new staff members to training protocols regarding operating room procedures, infection control, safety standards, and overall facility policies.
Traveling Surgical Technologist
Baptist Health Medical Center ( Global Health)
Pensacola, Florida
02.2022 - 07.2022
- Supported positive work culture within traveling teams through effective communication skills, adaptability, problem-solving, and strong collaboration.
- Enhanced surgical efficiency with meticulous organization and maintenance of surgical instruments and supplies.
- Streamlined operating room processes by effectively setting up equipment and ensuring proper functioning prior to surgery.
- Improved patient outcomes by providing top-quality surgical assistance and maintaining a sterile environment.
- Maintained seamless communication between surgical team members, contributing to successful surgeries and patient care.
- Supported surgeons in life-saving procedures, demonstrating adaptability under high-pressure situations.
- Assisted in complex surgeries, utilizing specialized knowledge of various surgical techniques and equipment.
- Collaborated with multidisciplinary teams, enhancing overall patient care standards throughout each medical facility visited.
- Provided exceptional pre-operative care, including patient assessment, vital signs monitoring, and IV insertion when needed.
- Assisted in the management of emergency situations within the operating room, enabling swift intervention to protect patient health and wellbeing.
- Increased surgeon satisfaction through timely anticipation of their needs during procedures, resulting in smoother operations.
Traveling Surgical Technologist
Northwestern Kishwaukee Hospital (Favorite Agency)
DeKalb, Illinois
12.2021 - 02.2022
- Assisted in the management of emergency situations within the operating room, enabling swift intervention to protect patient health and wellbeing.
- Increased surgeon satisfaction through timely anticipation of their needs during procedures, resulting in smoother operations.
- Provided exceptional pre-operative care, including patient assessment, vital signs monitoring, and IV insertion when needed.
- Maximized operating room efficiency by assisting with turnover between cases, reducing downtime between scheduled surgeries.
- Mitigated potential risks during surgery by adhering to strict infection control measures according to facility guidelines or specific surgeon preferences.
- Educated patients on expected side effects and discomfort levels post-surgery.
- Prepared sterile solutions to support surgical processes and helped physicians scrub in for procedures.
- Managed operating room setup by cleaning and sterilizing instruments and surfaces, maintaining supply inventories, and organizing surgical tools.
- Reduced infection risks and protected patients by maintaining sterile fields during procedures.
- Gathered and set up equipment, tools, and supplies and arrange instruments according to surgeons' preferences or instruction.
Lead Surgical Technologist
Arkansas Center For Surgical Excellence
Hot Springs, Arkansas
06.2017 - 07.2021
- Maintained high infection control standards.
- Prepared operating rooms with required instruments, ensuring efficient setup for various surgical cases.
- Setup operating and surgery rooms by preparing equipment and supplies for upcoming procedures.
- Minimized infection risks by strictly adhering to aseptic techniques when handling surgical supplies and equipment.
- Sterilized instruments and disposed of medical supplies and waste following OSHA guidelines.
- Maintained daily workflow, coordinating with operating room staff to prepare for scheduled and emergency cases.
- Assisted surgeons during procedures, ensuring all instruments were sterile and available.
- Prepared operating rooms by setting up surgical instruments and equipment efficiently.
- Collaborated with nursing staff to ensure seamless workflow in the surgical setting.
- Educated new team members on best practices for surgical procedures and protocols.
- Maintained inventory of surgical supplies, ensuring timely availability for operations.
- Implemented infection control measures to uphold a safe surgical environment consistently.
- Responsible for ensuring compliance with applicable regulatory standards.
- Assisted surgeons during operations with sterile techniques and equipment set-up.
- Attended meetings with physicians, management personnel, nursing staff and other stakeholders.
- Coordinated activities between circulating nurses and anesthesia providers as needed.
- Maintained accurate records of patient information, including allergies and medications.
- Facilitated communication between members of the healthcare team before, during and after surgeries.
- Conducted regular inventory checks of operating room supplies to ensure adequate stock levels.
Surgical Technologist II
St. Vincent's Infirmary Hospital
Little Rock, Arkansas
05.2013 - 06.2017
- Maintained high infection control standards.
- Prepared operating rooms with required instruments, ensuring efficient setup for various surgical cases.
- Minimized infection risks by strictly adhering to aseptic techniques when handling surgical supplies and equipment.
- Setup operating and surgery rooms by preparing equipment and supplies for upcoming procedures.
- Handled high-pressure situations calmly and efficiently, contributing to successful completion of critical surgeries.
- Assisted surgeons in complex procedures for optimal patient outcomes and reduced recovery time.
Surgical Technologist
Mercy St. Vincent Medical Center
Hot Springs, Arkansas
01.2008 - 05.2013
- Maintained high infection control standards.
- Prepared operating rooms with required instruments, ensuring efficient setup for various surgical cases.
- Contributed to team-based problem-solving to resolve issues that arose during surgery and improve patient outcomes.
- Transported patients to and from surgeries to promote timely operating room turnover.
- Provided wound care post-operatively to promote healing and reduce risk of infections.
- Sterilized instruments and equipment for specific procedures and arranged for surgeons.
Education
Diploma - Surgical Technology
National Park College
Hot Springs, ARHigh School Diploma -
Magnet Cove High School
Malvern, ARSkills
Sterile Technique Expertise
- Staff training and mentorship
- Adaptability under pressure
- Attention to detail
- Surgical procedures
- Stress management techniques
- Infection control protocols
- Patient positioning proficiency
- Equipment troubleshooting
- Wound closure techniques
- Quality assurance practices
- Preoperative preparation
- Conflict resolution strategies
- Continuing education commitment
- Sterile technique expertise
- Motivation and initiative
- Anatomy and physiology
- Continuous learning attitude
- Emergency response
- Mentorship and training
- Facial trauma treatment
- Trauma surgery assistance
Timeline
Traveling Certified Surgical Technologist
St. Lukes Medical Hospital
09.2025 - Current
Traveling Certified Surgical Technologist
Columbia Memorial Hospital
02.2025 - 06.2025
Traveling Certified Surgical Technologist
Abrazo Arrowhead Hospital
09.2024 - 01.2025
Traveling Surgical Technologist
Froedtert Hospital (Pride Health)
12.2023 - 06.2024
Traveling Surgical Technologist
Unity Point Health Methodist (Aequor)
08.2022 - 12.2023
Traveling Surgical Technologist
Baptist Health Medical Center ( Global Health)
02.2022 - 07.2022
Traveling Surgical Technologist
Northwestern Kishwaukee Hospital (Favorite Agency)
12.2021 - 02.2022
Lead Surgical Technologist
Arkansas Center For Surgical Excellence
06.2017 - 07.2021
Surgical Technologist II
St. Vincent's Infirmary Hospital
05.2013 - 06.2017
Surgical Technologist
Mercy St. Vincent Medical Center
01.2008 - 05.2013
Diploma - Surgical Technology
National Park College
High School Diploma -
Magnet Cove High School