Surgical Technician First Assist

Job Summary

The Surgical Technician First Assist provides direct support to surgeons during surgical procedures, ensuring efficient operative and invasive procedures by maintaining the sterile field, providing necessary instruments and supplies, and assisting in critical surgical tasks.

Essential Functions

• Functions as a scrub person during surgical procedures, preparing and organizing sterile supplies and instruments, maintaining an organized sterile field, and providing necessary instruments and supplies to the surgical team.
• Performs first assistant duties, including providing exposure through instrument handling, retracting tissues, controlling bleeding, suturing, and applying dressings.
• Handles and dissects tissues, clamps blood vessels, coagulates bleeding points, and places drains as instructed by the surgeon.
• Aids in wound closure, including suturing subcutaneous layers and skin, applying staples, and dressing surgical sites per surgeon instructions.
• Ensures sterility and safety standards, conducting proper counting procedures with the RN circulator, following infection control protocols, and taking corrective actions if needed.
• Prepares and transports surgical instruments for decontamination, ensuring proper handling and sterilization for future use.
• Aids in post-procedure room turnover, ensuring procedural areas are properly cleaned and prepared for subsequent surgeries.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• 1-3 years of experience as a Surgical Technician or First Assist in an acute care setting required.
• Proficiency in surgical techniques, aseptic principles, and sterile field maintenance.
• Strong knowledge of surgical anatomy, instrumentation, and procedural workflows.
• Ability to anticipate surgeon needs and respond quickly to intraoperative changes.
• Strong attention to detail in surgical counting procedures, patient positioning, and procedural safety.
• Effective communication and teamwork skills, ensuring smooth collaboration with surgeons, nurses, and anesthesia providers.
• Knowledge of infection control standards, regulatory compliance, and patient safety guidelines.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced, high-pressure surgical environment, demonstrating composure and professionalism.
• CST - Certified Surgical Technologist required and
• Certified Surgical First Assistant (CSFA) through NBSTSA required or
• Certified Surgical Assistant (CSA) through NSAA required
• BCLS - Basic Life Support required
• ACLS - Advanced Cardiac Life Support preferred