Hospital Introduces Scrub Technologist Internship Program
Columbus Community Hospital (CCH) is committed to supporting those who are passionate about health care, which is why it began the Scrub Technologist Internship program.
The program addresses the national shortage of scrub technologists and limited applications for open scrub technologist positions at the hospital. CCH has partnered with Southeast Community College in Lincoln, Nebraska, to provide interns with structure and support to attain a degree and certification after graduation.
Kathy Decker, the hospital’s surgical services executive nurse consultant, said the hospital is being proactive in addressing the national certified scrub technologist shortage.
“By partnering with Southeast Community College and developing an internship, we will be giving people an opportunity to achieve a dream they may not have been able to attain on their own,” Decker said. “At the same time, CCH also meets our need, as well.”
The Scrub Technologist Internship program has been modeled after the hospital’s successful nurse internship program. However, in this program, the interns work 24 hours in the hospital’s surgical services department while attending school.
Since the program’s inception, the hospital has hired four scrub technologist interns. They include:
Kara Diaz, who is currently employed at Tyson Foods as an interpreter and management support person. She has dreamed of working at CCH since she was a little girl, and with this program, she will have that opportunity.
Kristy Hopen, who is a certified nursing assistant (CNA) currently working as a monitor tech and unit secretary on the acute care unit at the hospital. She has joined the program to add scrub technologist to her career.
Anthony Mudloff, who is a member of the housekeeping department at CCH. He joined the internship program after learning more about the operating room when a loved one required surgery. He discovered his true passion is to be part of surgical procedures.
Ariana Ramos Carmona, who is currently employed at Flexcon as a production team lead and is also a CNA for CCH’s home health and hospice departments. She joined the internship program to help people, she said.
The two-year program begins in January 2025. After each intern completes all the required prerequisites, they will work at CCH for their clinical experience.
Amy Phillips, the perioperative services manager at CCH, said she is extremely excited about the new internship program.
“We are so fortunate to have the hospital supporting the surgical services department and the STI program to help us build and grow our own surgical technologists,” Phillips said. “This is an extremely important role during surgical procedures, as the technologists assist the surgeons and surgical team to ensure our patients are receiving the best care possible. I am so excited to assist our four interns in this process!”
If you are interested in the program or have any questions, please call Phillips at 402-562-4605 or visit columbushosp.org.