Certified Surgical First Assist

About the role

As a Certified Surgical First Assist, this position is responsible for performing intraoperative technical functions and assists in performing surgical procedures under the direction of a surgeon. In addition, this position performs preoperative and postoperative duties to facilitate patient care.

Responsibilities

• Provides surgical assistance to surgeon for perioperative patient cases.
• Prepares for surgical procedures by pulling appropriate instruments and supplies and ensuring good working order of instruments.
• Reviews case carts for correct instruments and supplies.
• Troubleshoots malfunctioning equipment and makes minor adjustments or calls biomedical equipment staff.
• Checks schedule and plans ahead for upcoming surgical case needs.
• Anticipates the surgeon's needs and assists in maintaining hemostasis, passes instruments, retracts tissue, uses and applies appropriate surgical instruments, places ties and suture ligatures, or any other measures as directed by surgeon.
• Contributes to excellent patient outcomes through timely, effective, efficient, equitable, and safe care.
• Demonstrates the principles of aseptic technique and universal precautions throughout the procedure.
• Disposes of sharps and trash and places used supplies into case cart for processing.
• Participates in counting sharps, instruments and sponges.
• Prepares instruments for cleaning following each case.
• Assists with the plan of care under the direction of a physician and provides care based on physician orders in compliance with policies and procedures, standards of care, and regulatory agency requirements.
• Performs all functions according to established policies, procedures, regulatory and accreditation requirements, as well as applicable professional standards.
• Provides all customers with an excellent service experience by consistently demonstrating core and leader behaviors.
• Serves as a First Assistant to a Surgeon in the operating room.
• Follows safety procedures in regard to medication labeling, appropriate handling of specimens, sharps, time-out procedure, radiation and laser safety, infection control, assembling and disassembling instruments.

Requirements

• High school diploma/GED or equivalent working knowledge.
• Current basic life support certification.
• Current certification as a surgical technologist.
• Where applicable, must be registered with State Regulatory Agency.
• 2 or more years of operating room experience.
• Ability to scrub proficiently on a minimum of 2 surgical specialties.
• Manual dexterity and the ability to maintain professional decorum in highly stressful emergent situations.
• Ability to be conscientious, organized, and orderly.
• Ability to respond quickly to the needs of the surgeon and patient within the scope of practice.
• Must stay abreast of new developments in the field.

Preferred Qualifications

• Graduation from an accredited school of surgical technology.
• First Assistant Certification.
• Additional related education and/or experience.