First Assist

First Assist

Are you passionate about the patient experience? At HCA Healthcare, we are committed to caring for patients with purpose and integrity. We care like family! Jump-start your career as a First Assist today with Methodist Hospital.

Methodist Hospital, offers a total rewards package that supports the health, life, career and retirement of our colleagues. The available plans and programs include:

• Comprehensive medical coverage that covers many common services at no cost or for a low copay. Plans include prescription drug and behavioral health coverage as well as free telemedicine services and free AirMed medical transportation.
• Additional options for dental and vision benefits, life and disability coverage, flexible spending accounts, supplemental health protection plans (accident, critical illness, hospital indemnity), auto and home insurance, identity theft protection, legal counseling, long-term care coverage, moving assistance, pet insurance and more.
• Free counseling services and resources for emotional, physical and financial wellbeing
• 401(k) Plan with a 100% match on 3% to 9% of pay (based on years of service)
• Employee Stock Purchase Plan with 10% off HCA Healthcare stock
• Family support through fertility and family building benefits with Progyny and adoption assistance.
• Referral services for child, elder and pet care, home and auto repair, event planning and more
• Consumer discounts through Abenity and Consumer Discounts
• Retirement readiness, rollover assistance services and preferred banking partnerships
• Education assistance (tuition, student loan, certification support, dependent scholarships)
• Colleague recognition program
• Time Away From Work Program (paid time off, paid family leave, long- and short-term disability coverage and leaves of absence)
• Employee Health Assistance Fund that offers free employee-only coverage to full-time and part-time colleagues based on income.

Learn more about Employee Benefits

Note: Eligibility for benefits may vary by location.

Come join our team as a First Assist. We care for our community! Just last year, HCA Healthcare and our colleagues donated $13.8 million dollars to charitable organizations. Apply Today!

The Surgical First Assistant lead works as a member of the perioperative team under the direction of the surgeon. He/she performs responsibilities of both the Surgical Technologist and the Surgical First Assistant based on department needs and as directed by the unit director or designee. The Surgical First Assistant lead practices within the scope of the job description and performs clinical and technical skills under surgeon supervision to assist with carrying out a safe operation with optimal patient results. This is done in collaboration with the circulating RN and other perioperative/OB team members. The Surgical First Assistant is educated and skilled in both the use of surgical instruments on tissues and the handling of instruments; however, the surgical first assistant does not concurrently function as the scrub nurse. Provides a leadership role to support and guide other first assistants and scrub technicians in promoting optimum patient care and team work within the surgical team; includes mentoring and assisting surgical technicians and surgical first assistants on a daily basis.

Education: Must have completed ALL of the following:

• High School Diploma or GED
• Graduate/completion of a CAAHEP accredited first assistant training program
• Meets ONE of the following:
• Graduate/completion of a surgical technologist program OR
• Practiced as a surgical technologist prior to 9/1/2009

Experience: New hires as of 11/1/2011- 2 years experience in the perioperative setting within the last 4 years as a surgical first assistant

Employee completes initial and ongoing training and competencies as defined by service line, facility and department/unit which are specific to the needs of the patient population served (if applicable).

Minimum License, Certificates, or Registrations Required: Must have and maintain ONE of the following:

A. Surgical Technologist Certification

• i. CST – Certified Surgical Technologist through the National Board for Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting (NBSTSA) (formally the Liaison Council on Certification for the Surgical Technologist) OR
• ii. TS-C- Tech in Surgery, Certified through the National Center for Competency Testing (NCCT)

B. Surgical First Assistant certification

• i. SA-C – Surgical Assistant, Certified through the American Board of Surgical Assistants (ABSA)
• ii. CSA – Certified Surgical Assistant through the National Surgical Assistant Association (NSAA)
• iii. CSFA (formally CFA) – Certified Surgical First Assistant through the National Board of Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting (NBSTSA)

C. LSA- Licensed Surgical Assistant through the Texas Medical Board

Essential Job Functions:

1. Functions as a surgical first assistant at the direction of and under the appropriate supervision of the attending surgeon; always practices within the limitations of preparation and experience and within the scope allowed by the hospital.

2. A. Consistently functions at the direction of and under direct supervision (physical presence of the attending surgeon in the procedure/treatment room) of the attending surgeon. The surgical assistant scope includes:

• Providing visualization of the operative site through appropriate placement and securing of retractors with or without padding, packing or sponges; digital manipulation of tissue; suctioning, irrigation or sponging; manipulation of suture materials; proper use of body mechanics to prevent obstruction of the surgeon's view.
• Utilizing appropriate permanent and temporary techniques to assist with hemostasis. Permanent hemostasis techniques include clamping and/or cauterizing vessels and tissue, tying and/or ligating clamped vessels or tissue, applying hemostatic clips, or placing hemostatic agents. Temporary hemostasis techniques include applying tourniquets and demonstrating awareness of the indications/contraindications for use with knowledge of side effects of extended use; applying vessel loops, non-crushing clamps, or direct digital pressure.
• Administering post-operative subcutaneous local anesthetic injection
• Utilizing running or interrupted sutures with absorbable or non-absorbable material of wound layers, including muscle and fascia.
• Assisting with placement of implants
• Robotic procedures only: Insertion of subsequent (not initial) trocars. Must have documented training and competency validated (initially within by MHS Medical staff member privileged to perform robotic surgery. The documentation must include directly supervised trocar insertions on a minimum of 5 patients with good patient outcomes.
• Saphenous Vein Harvesting only: May harvest saphenous vein through endoscopic or open technique. Must have documented training and competency validated by a MHS Medical staff member privileged to perform Cardiothoracic surgery. The documentation must include directly supervised saphenous vein harvests on a minimum of 10 patients with good patient outcomes.

B. Under direct or general perioperative supervision (surgeon/proceduralist presence in the perioperative area (pre-op department, perioperative suite, PACU, OR/procedure waiting room) and is immediately available), the surgical assistant scope includes closure of body planes and applies wound dressings per the method indicated by the attending physician:

• Utilizing sub-cuticular closure technique with or without adhesive skin closure strips
• Skin closure with suture, staples and/or spray occlusive material/skin adhesive strips
• Securing drainage systems to tissue
• Application of immobilizing dressing

3. Consistently assists with maintaining the patient's expected physiologic responses to surgery including infection prevention (SCIP measures and practices, maintaining effective disinfection practices, instrument processing, and sterilization).Applies a working knowledge of patient preoperative deficits, risk for intraoperative injuries, and possible post-operative outcomes to assist in optimal patient outcomes. Demonstrates principles of safe patient positioning for best exposure in collaboration with the surgical team using appropriate positioning equipment to ensure padded pressure points, protection from nerve damage and unimpaired circulation.

4. Demonstrates effective communication and works collaboratively with all members of the perioperative team to include active consistent participation in Universal Protocol and timely and accurate sponge and sharp counts to include initiating corrective action as appropriate.

5. Acts as a mentor and preceptor for surgical first assistants and surgical technicians; conducts and/or coordinates inservices for staff as directed; participates in unit special projects as requested.

6. Functions in the role of a Surgical Technician as needed by the department; however, does not concurrently perform as the surgical first assistant and surgical technologist. Wears proper surgical attire, opens sterile packs, instruments, and supplies for each procedure, scrubs, gowns, gloves, and drapes