Surgical First Assist - Surgical Services Support Personnel

Surgical First Assist Job

Under the direction and supervision of the surgeon, the Surgical First Assist (SFA) is fully engaged in Quality/No Harm, Customer Experience and Stewardship by providing aid in exposure, hemostasis, closure, and other intraoperative technical functions to help the surgeon carry out a safe operation with optimal patient results. The SFA also performs preoperative and postoperative duties to optimize patient safety and experience. When the SFA is not functioning under the direct supervision of the surgeon, they will perform technical and support activities in the operating room as a Surgical Technologist under the direction of a registered nurse.

Primary Responsibilities:

1. Properly positions the patient in accordance with surgeon directions to give the best exposure for procedure and consideration for comfort and safety including padding points of pressure, guarding against nerve damage, and ensuring circulation is not impaired.
2. Provides visualization of the operative site by appropriately placing and securing retractors, packing with sponges, digital manipulation of tissue, suctioning, irrigating or sponging, and manipulating suture materials, while using proper body mechanics to prevent obstruction of surgeon's view.
3. Utilizes appropriate techniques to assist with permanent hemostasis (clamping, cauterizing, tying, and ligating vessels or tissues, applying hemostatic clips, and placing local hemostatic agents) and applying temporary hemostasis (tourniquets, vessel loops, non-crushing clamps, direct digital pressure).
4. Participates in volume replacement or autotransfusion techniques as appropriate
5. Utilizes appropriate techniques to assist with closure of body planes utilizing running or interrupted sutures, subcuticular closures with or without adhesive closure strips, staples, and postop subcutaneous injection of local anesthetic per surgeon's directive.
6. Selects and applies appropriate wound dressings including liquid or spray occlusive materials, absorbent materials affixed with tape or circumferential wrapping, and immobilizing dressings (soft or rigid).
7. Assists in securing drainage systems to tissue.
8. Demonstrates an ability to perform all duties required of a Surgical Technologist in accordance with established procedures and completion of skills check list. Certified First Assists will precept, train and educate staff and team members as appropriate.
9. Observes proper technique to prepare operating rooms with appropriate instruments, sutures, supplies, and equipment; open sterile supplies and arrange sterile setups.
10. Creates, maintains, and terminates sterile field for surgical procedures.
11. Anticipates needs of surgeon and surgical assistants in the operating room, passing instruments, sutures, sponges, and supplies needed.
12. Properly handles and cares for all instruments and equipment. Checks materials and equipment for proper functioning and adequacy; reports faulty equipment and instruments per policy.

Work Experience:

• Education: Graduate of a Surgical Assisting Program.
• Work Experience: None
• Licensure: None
• Certification: American Heart Association Basic Life Support (AHA BLS) Healthcare Provider Completion Card prior to start date and maintained.
• Certification in Lieu of Education: Certified Surgical Technologist (CST) from the National Board of Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting (NBSTSA) or American Board of Surgical Assistants (ABSA).
• Skills/Knowledge/Abilities:
• Ability to read, write, speak, and understand English
• Ability to perform basic math
• Extensive knowledge of anatomy and physiology
• Reliable transportation with ability to respond from location within 30 minutes of assigned facility when on call
• Ability to be flexible and adaptable with daily schedule and assigned tasks
• Ability to respond appropriately to stressful or life-threatening situations.
• Detail-oriented with ability for continuous concentration on an activity.
• Excellent customer service skills with ability to interact effectively with medical staff and patient care teams.
• Motivated to complete milestones and competencies with ability to receive constructive criticism and apply to future performance.
• Ability to work autonomously, while consulting chain of command as appropriate.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Work Experience: Previous experience as a surgical assistant or surgical technologist.
• Certification: Certified First Assistant (CSFA) by National Board of Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting (NBSTSA).

Physical Requirements:

• Physically agile; may require walking, standing, running, bending, stooping, kneeling, climbing, or crouching frequently.
• May occasionally include lifting or moving objects up to 50 pounds, with or without assistance.
• May require moving in different positions to accomplish tasks in various environments including tight and confined spaces, including reaching out and above shoulders, or overhead.
• May lift, turn, pull, push, or ambulate people and/or equipment with or without assistance up to 90% of the assigned shift.
• May be exposed to inside and outside environments with varied temperatures, air quality, lighting, and/or low to loud noise.
• May require working with biohazards such as blood/body fluids and airborne particles following OSHA and CDC guidelines.
• Communicating with others to exchange information.
• Visual acuity and hand-eye coordination to perform tasks.
• Workspace may vary from open to confined.
• May require travel to various facilities within and beyond county perimeter; may require use of personal vehicle.

About Health First:

At Health First, diversity and inclusion are essential for our continued growth and evolution. Working together, we strive to build and nurture a culture that recognizes, encourages, and respects the diverse voices of our associates. We know through experience that different ideas, perspectives, and backgrounds create a stronger and more collaborative work environment that delivers better results. As an organization, it fuels our innovation and connects us closer to our associates, customers, and the communities we serve.