Melani Hooten
Fort Worth,TX
Summary
Skilled military medical professional with extensive experience in operating room settings since 2015. Expertise in sterile and aseptic techniques, patient safety, and surgical instrumentation. Anticipates surgical needs, providing essential support to surgeons and OR staff while managing emergency situations with accuracy and efficiency.
Overview
1
1
Certification
2
2
years of post-secondary education
11
11
years of professional experience
Work History
Certified Surgical Technologist
Texas Health Southwest
Fort Worth, Texas
10.2024 - Current
- Supported surgeons with instrument setup and sterile field upkeep.
- Prepared surgical tools and equipment for multiple procedures.
- Worked with surgical teams to keep operating room tasks moving smoothly.
- Watched patient safety and comfort during surgical procedures.
- Trained new staff on operating room procedures and best practices.
- Communicated clearly with surgeons, nurses, anesthesiologists, and scrub techs during OR duties.
Certified Surgical Technician
Bear Creek Surgery Center
Keller, Texas
07.2024 - 09.2024
- Assisted in successful surgeries by setting up operating rooms with appropriate instruments, supplies, and equipment for each procedure.
- Set up equipment, tools, and supplies, arranging instruments per surgeons' preferences to ensure readiness for procedures.
- Prepared instrument trays based on procedure requirements, facilitating efficient surgical team operations.
- Prepared trays and instrument sets for surgical procedures to maintain efficiency and safety.
- Maintained sterile fields through adherence to aseptic techniques and infection control protocols, safeguarding patient safety.
- Followed OSHA, FDA and AAMI guidelines related to sterilization in compliance with administrative regulations.
Tissue Recovery Technician
LifeGift
Fort Worth, Texas
04.2024 - 01.2025
- Prepared operating room suite and donor for aseptic surgical tissue recovery process
- Utilize aseptic technique to assist in all aspects of cadaver tissue recovery according to established guidelines
- Assisted in collection, culturing, packaging, and labeling of tissues, including body reconstruction and disposition after procurement
- Maintained records related to tissue recovery and ensured on-call availability during scheduled shifts.
Sterile Processing Technician
Baystate Wing Hospital
, MA
08.2023 - 01.2024
- Prioritized and assembled standard and complex surgical instrumentation sets for surgical schedule
- Performed decontamination, assembly, packaging, sterilization and storage of surgical instrumentation according to established procedures
- Cleaned, sterilized, and distributed supplies and instruments to ensure safety and quality of patient care
- Inspected returned instruments for damage or wear prior to reprocessing them for reuse
- Trained new employees on proper decontamination and sterilization techniques to maintain compliance with safety standards
- Disassembled complex instrument sets in preparation for cleaning, sterilization and reassembly
- Participated in staff meetings to propose process improvements, enhancing department efficiency and team collaboration
Labor and Delivery Surgical Technician / Secretary
Cooley Dickinson Hospital
Northampton, Massachusetts
06.2022 - 02.2023
- Scrubbed into scheduled and emergent c-sections
- Prepared vaginal delivery tables
- Conducted inventory of unit supplies to ensure readiness for patient care
- Managed phone inquiries and scheduled appointments for upcoming deliveries
- Coordinated administrative tasks to support unit operations
- Only one secretary/surgical tech worked per shift.
Sterile Processing Technician
United States Air Force
North Las Vegas, Nevada
07.2015 - 07.2019
- Assembled, wrapped, and sterilized instrument sets, supplies, and linen packs.
- Operated Sterrad, steam sterilizers, automated reprocessers, ultrasonics, cart washer, and censitrac for efficient cleaning and sterilization of instruments.
- Received, decontaminated, and cleaned soiled patient care items
- Evaluated case carts to verify all instruments and sterile items were present, compiling missing items list to prevent delays in room turnover
- Evaluated daily sterilization records for completion and accuracy
- Ensured monthly instrument sets complied with national infection control regulations and standards.
- Created and updated instrument count sheets to ensure accuracy in inventory management
- Accomplished routine safety checks and preventative maintenance
Operations Supervisor / Surgical Scrub Technician
United States Air Force
North Las Vegas, Nevada
06.2015 - 06.2019
- Supported manning coverage for 9 surgical specialty departments, assisting 26 surgeons and serving 230000 TRICARE beneficiaries.
- Monitored daily operations and maintained compliance with safety regulations.
- Scheduled daily coverage for 15 technicians.
- Trained 15 scrub technicians.
- Created practical, specialty-based training for surgical technicians in line with AST standards.
- Instructed 21 Surgical Service Apprentice Phase 2 students.
- Received "Preceptor of Excellence" award for strong student guidance.
- Led surgical technician instruction for spine service.
- Worked with nursing team to update surgeon preference cards, reducing turnover time and supporting patient safety.
Education
Bachelor of Arts - English
American Military University
09.2024 - 10.2026
High School Diploma -
Charlestown High School
CharlestownSkills
- Surgical Technologist (CST)
- Instrument set assembly
- Equipment setup
- Sterilization procedures
- Aseptic Techniques
- Surgical counting
- Pre-surgical preparation
- Preoperative checks
- Specimen Collection
- Equipment monitoring
- Surgical inventory management
- Supply chain management
- Diagnostic Testing
- Instrument handling
- Procedure familiarity
- Time Management
- Patient positioning assistance
- Patient safety
- Team collaboration
- Communication skills
- Staff training
- Staff management
Certification
- National Certification as a Certified Surgical Technologist
- Basic Life Support
References
References available upon request
Timeline
Certified Surgical Technologist
Texas Health Southwest
10.2024 - Current
Bachelor of Arts - English
American Military University
09.2024 - 10.2026
Certified Surgical Technician
Bear Creek Surgery Center
07.2024 - 09.2024
Tissue Recovery Technician
LifeGift
04.2024 - 01.2025
Sterile Processing Technician
Baystate Wing Hospital
08.2023 - 01.2024
Labor and Delivery Surgical Technician / Secretary
Cooley Dickinson Hospital
06.2022 - 02.2023
Sterile Processing Technician
United States Air Force
07.2015 - 07.2019
Operations Supervisor / Surgical Scrub Technician
United States Air Force
06.2015 - 06.2019
High School Diploma -
Charlestown High School