Certified Surgical First Assist - $20k Bonus

Located in Nashville, Tennessee, Vanderbilt University Medical Center (VUMC) operates at a global crossroads of teaching, discovery, and patient care. VUMC is a community where expertise is valued, knowledge is expanded, and abilities are challenged. Vanderbilt Health is committed to an environment where everyone has the chance to thrive and uniqueness is celebrated.

About Us

Perioperative Services is a multi-disciplinary department with over 800 employees, each playing an integral role in providing exceptional care for surgical patients. The department encompasses various areas, including Operating Rooms and Main Campus Intraoperative Service Lines such as Cardiovascular/Transplant (Heart & Lung), OR Float Pool, General Surgery/Transplant (Kidney, Liver, & Pancreas), GYN Surgery, Neurosurgery, Nights/Evenings/Weekends, Orthopedics, Otolaryngology/Bronchoscopy, Urology/Robotics, and Medical Center East.

This role is part of the Orthopedic Team, focusing on adult elective, urgent, and emergent care, including trauma and transplants.

Responsibilities

• Act as a member of the operating room team by assisting with room preparation, setup, and clean-up.
• Assist with patient positioning to provide access to the operative site while maximizing patient safety and comfort.
• Establish and maintain a surgically clean environment to reduce the potential for patient infection through the application of aseptic principles.
• Initiate appropriate intraoperative behaviors unique to first assisting.
• Perform as a Surgical Technologist when not first assisting.
• Provide hemostasis, wound exposure, and handle sutures and tissue under the direction and supervision of the operating surgeon.
• Demonstrate mastery of surgical equipment, procedures, operating room care, environmental sterility, and surgical technology.
• Train and educate team members by setting examples, providing technical instruction, and raising performance levels.
• Monitor and reconcile inventory, working with electronic catalogs.
• Conduct preventive and predictive maintenance on core products and equipment.

Requirements

• Graduate of an approved discipline-specific program or successful completion of a surgical assistant training program during service as a member of any branch of the U.S. armed forces.
• Minimum 3 years of relevant work experience.
• Registration with the Tennessee Board of Medical Examiners.
• Certification as a Surgical First Assistant from one of the following:
  • CSFA - Certified Surgical First Assistant (NBSTSA)
  • CSA - Certified Surgical Assistant (NSAA)
  • CSA - Certified Surgical Assistant (NCCSA)
  • SA-C - Surgical Assistant-Certified (ABSA)
• Preferred: Certification as a Certified Surgical Technologist (CST) from NBSTSA or Tech In Surgery (TS-C) from NCCT.

Skills

• Surgical Equipment Knowledge (Intermediate): Demonstrates mastery of equipment and related devices, resolves problems, and uses equipment to accomplish advanced tasks.
• Procedures Knowledge (Intermediate): Demonstrates mastery of procedures in practical applications, capable of delivering services without support, and able to train others.
• Operating Room Care (Intermediate): Demonstrates mastery of operating room care, capable of delivering services independently, and able to train others.
• Environmental Sterility & Safety (Intermediate): Demonstrates mastery of sterility and safety, capable of delivering services independently, and able to train others.
• Inventory Management (Novice): Demonstrates fundamental proficiency in inventory management, monitors material movement, and reconciles balances.
• Surgical Technology (Intermediate): Demonstrates mastery of surgical technology, capable of delivering results independently, and able to train others.
• Equipment Maintenance (Intermediate): Demonstrates mastery of preventive maintenance, conducts predictive maintenance, and maintains equipment without support.

Core Accountabilities

• Organizational Impact: Independently performs non-routine tasks that significantly impact the team and related teams.
• Problem Solving/Complexity of Work: Gathers and analyzes data to solve problems with little or no precedent.
• Breadth of Knowledge: Applies advanced job knowledge and has developed skills in other areas.
• Team Interaction: Serves as a lead by providing expertise and guidance to team members.

Core Capabilities

Supporting Colleagues

• Develops Self and Others: Invests time and energy in developing self and others to improve performance and gain knowledge.
• Builds and Maintains Relationships: Maintains regular contact with key colleagues and stakeholders to expand and strengthen relationships.
• Communicates Effectively: Recognizes group interactions and modifies communication style to suit different situations and audiences.

Delivering Excellent Services

• Serves Others with Compassion: Seeks to understand current and future needs of stakeholders and customizes services accordingly.
• Solves Complex Problems: Approaches problems from different angles and identifies new opportunities for improvement.
• Offers Meaningful Advice and Support: Provides ongoing support and coaching to increase employee effectiveness.

Ensuring High Quality

• Performs Excellent Work: Engages in dialogue about quality and addresses issues promptly.
• Ensures Continuous Improvement: Applies learning experiences to uncover root causes of problems and identify solutions.
• Fulfills Safety and Regulatory Requirements: Understands all aspects of providing a safe environment and performs routine safety checks.

Managing Resources Effectively

• Demonstrates Accountability: Focuses on and drives critical issues to closure.
• Stewards Organizational Resources: Applies understanding of departmental work to manage resources effectively.
• Makes Data-Driven Decisions: Demonstrates strong understanding of data to identify and elevate opportunities.

Fostering Innovation

• Generates New Ideas: Proactively identifies new ideas and opportunities from multiple sources.
• Applies Technology: Demonstrates enthusiasm for learning new technologies, tools, and procedures.
• Adapts to Change: Views difficult situations as opportunities for improvement and embraces change.

Benefits

• Sign-On Bonus: $20,000 taxable sign-on bonus, distributed in 4 equal payments over two years (not available to current or recent VUMC employees).
• Relocation Bonus: Up to $10,000 (taxable) for relocation expenses, payable within 45 days of hire (for candidates relocating from over 100 miles away; not available to current or recent VUMC employees).

This role offers a comprehensive benefits package, which may include health, disability, retirement, and wellness offerings to enhance well-being and professional growth.

Schedule

Full Time: Days, 12-hour shifts. Additional details to be discussed during the department interview.