Valley Baptist Medical Center in Harlingen, Texas is seeking a Surgical Technician Student Intern to join its perioperative team at a community health system with deep roots in the Rio Grande Valley dating to the early 1920s. This hands-on internship places students directly in the operating room alongside experienced surgical and nursing professionals, covering the full perioperative continuum across a broad age spectrum. It is an ideal entry point for students currently enrolled in an accredited Surgical Technology program who are ready to translate classroom skills into real clinical practice.
Perks and Benefits
- Medical, dental, vision, and life insurance coverage
- 401(k) retirement savings plan with employer match
- Generous paid time off
- Career development and continuing education opportunities
- Health savings accounts (HSA); healthcare and dependent flexible spending accounts (FSA)
- Employee Assistance Program and employee discount program
- Voluntary benefits including pet insurance, legal insurance, accident and critical illness insurance, long-term care, elder and childcare assistance, and auto and home insurance
- Note: benefit eligibility is determined by employment status and location
Practice Highlights
- Direct scrub and circulating duties in the operating room under RN supervision
- Exposure to surgical and obstetric cases spanning the full patient age spectrum
- Responsibility for OR setup, supply and equipment preparation, and maintenance of physician preference cards
- Active participation in sterile field maintenance across all assigned cases
- Involvement in OR turnover tasks including disposal, cleaning, inventory, and restocking
- Support for more complex treatments, diagnostic procedures, and physical examinations as directed by a registered nurse with documented competency
- Participation in effective patient hand-offs throughout the perioperative continuum
- Engagement in department meetings, in-services, and Performance Improvement activities
- Part of a health system committed to service excellence principles (Studer framework) and patient-centered care
- Community-anchored facility serving the Rio Grande Valley region with a mission rooted in compassionate, faith-inspired care
Qualifications
- High school diploma or GED required
- Current enrollment in an approved Surgical Technology degree program required
- Successful completion of a basic clinical skills lab required; skills checklist may be used to validate experience
- BLS certification required — must be obtained through an American Heart Association-approved course
About the Community
Harlingen sits in the heart of the Rio Grande Valley in deep South Texas, offering a warm climate year-round, a low cost of living, and a culturally rich, bilingual community. The city provides convenient access to South Padre Island beaches, the natural beauty of the Lower Rio Grande Valley wildlife corridor, and the international character of the Texas-Mexico border region. For students launching a healthcare career, Harlingen combines affordable living with a strong regional healthcare infrastructure and a close-knit community feel.