Licensed Surgical Assistant - Full-Time & Prn

Job Description

Job Description

Join Avant First Assistants as a Licensed Surgical First Assistant | Sugar Land & Cypress, Houston, TX

Avant First Assistants, LLC is seeking a highly skilled, dependable, and motivated Licensed Surgical First Assistant to join our growing team in Sugar Land and Cypress, Texas .

As a Surgical First Assistant with Avant, you will be an integral member of the perioperative team, providing advanced intraoperative first-assisting support while contributing directly to surgical efficiency, patient safety, and exceptional clinical outcomes. You will work alongside experienced surgeons and multidisciplinary surgical teams in dynamic hospital environments across a variety of surgical specialties.

At Avant, our Surgical First Assistants are more than an extra set of hands in the operating room—they are trusted surgical professionals whose expertise, judgment, anticipation, and technical skills make a meaningful difference in every case .

We are looking for professionals who demonstrate strong clinical judgment, technical proficiency, anticipation, adaptability, communication, and teamwork . The ideal candidate is confident in the operating room, performs effectively under pressure, anticipates the surgeon’s needs, adapts to changing clinical situations, and consistently maintains the highest standards of professionalism and patient safety.

Our team supports a diverse range of surgical specialties, providing opportunities for experienced Surgical First Assistants to expand their clinical capabilities, strengthen their expertise, and continue developing professionally .

Avant First Assistants is built on a culture of Integrity, Safety, Professionalism, Accountability, Compassion, Excellence, and Innovation . Our approach to surgical performance is further guided by our ACE Success Pillars: Anticipation, Confidence, and Efficiency —qualities we believe distinguish exceptional Surgical First Assistants.

We are equally committed to teamwork and professional growth . We value individuals who communicate respectfully, support their colleagues, accept constructive feedback, remain flexible as clinical and scheduling needs evolve, and understand that exceptional surgical care depends on the coordinated performance of the entire perioperative team.

At Avant, we believe talented surgical professionals should have the opportunity to continue growing. We support our team members through ongoing clinical development, expanded surgical opportunities, mentorship, increased responsibility, and opportunities for career advancement as our organization continues to grow.

If you are passionate about surgery, take pride in your clinical skills, thrive in a fast-paced, collaborative surgical environment , and are looking for an organization that recognizes your contribution and supports your professional development, we invite you to grow your career with Avant First Assistants .

Your expertise is valued. Your development is supported. Your contribution matters—every case, every patient, every day.

Compensation:

$80,000 - $95,000 yearly for full-time

Responsibilities:

As a Licensed Surgical First Assistant with Avant First Assistants , you will provide advanced perioperative and intraoperative support to surgeons across multiple surgical specialties. You will be expected to demonstrate exceptional clinical judgment, technical proficiency, anticipation, communication, teamwork, efficiency, and commitment to patient safety throughout every phase of surgical care.

Preoperative Responsibilities

• Collaborate with the surgeon and perioperative team to confirm that required preoperative documentation, surgical consents, patient information, and case-specific requirements are complete in accordance with hospital policies and established protocols.
• Review the planned surgical procedure and anticipate the instruments, equipment, supplies, positioning requirements, implants, and specialty devices that may be required for the case.

• Confirm that required surgical instruments, supplies, equipment, implants, and specialty devices are available, properly prepared, functional, and readily accessible before the procedure begins.
• Participate in preoperative briefings and surgical time-outs with the multidisciplinary surgical team to review the planned procedure, patient-specific considerations, positioning, equipment needs, and anticipated intraoperative challenges.
• Communicate effectively with surgeons, anesthesia providers, nurses, surgical technologists, and other members of the perioperative team to promote case readiness, efficiency, and coordinated patient care .
• Anticipate the surgeon’s procedural requirements and proactively prepare for potential variations, challenges, or unexpected needs during the case.

Intraoperative Responsibilities

• Assist with patient positioning, surgical site preparation, and sterile draping , ensuring appropriate attention to patient safety, pressure-point protection, infection prevention, and procedure-specific requirements.
• Provide advanced first-assisting support to the operating surgeon throughout surgical procedures, consistent with applicable licensure, hospital privileges, surgeon direction, and institutional policies.
• Assist with surgical exposure, tissue handling, retraction, dissection, hemostasis, suctioning, visualization, suturing, knot tying, and wound closure , as appropriate to the procedure.
• Provide appropriate exposure of the operative field while protecting surrounding tissues, organs, vessels, nerves, and other critical anatomical structures .
• Utilize advanced surgical techniques, instrumentation, equipment, and technology to support precise, safe, and efficient operative performance.
• Demonstrate exceptional anticipation and situational awareness , maintaining an understanding of procedural progression and proactively preparing for the surgeon’s next steps.
• Recognize and respond appropriately to changing intraoperative conditions , adjusting surgical assistance as necessary to maintain efficient operative flow and support patient safety.
• Maintain strict adherence to sterile technique, aseptic practices, infection-prevention protocols, and operating-room safety standards throughout the procedure.

• Work effectively across multiple surgical specialties and procedural environments , adapting techniques and support to the requirements and preferences of individual surgeons and procedures.
• Collaborate professionally with surgeons, anesthesia providers, nurses, surgical technologists, hospital personnel, vendors, and fellow Surgical Assistants to maintain an efficient and respectful operating-room environment.
• Maintain clear, concise, and professional communication throughout the procedure, particularly during complex cases, changes in the operative plan, and unexpected clinical situations .
• Remain calm, focused, adaptable, confident, and clinically effective under pressure , including during high-acuity procedures and emergency situations.
• Consistently demonstrate professionalism, accountability, teamwork, sound clinical judgment, and respect for patients and all members of the healthcare team.
• Assist with final hemostasis, irrigation, surgical closure, dressing application, and other procedure-specific tasks as directed by the surgeon and within the Surgical Assistant’s authorized scope.

Postoperative Responsibilities

• Assist the perioperative team with the safe transfer, positioning, and stabilization of the patient following completion of the procedure.
• Ensure appropriate protection of the operative site, dressings, drains, lines, and other procedure-specific devices during patient transfer.
• Complete required operative, procedural, and administrative documentation accurately, thoroughly, and promptly in accordance with hospital, regulatory, and organizational requirements.
• Communicate relevant procedural information and any necessary follow-up items to appropriate members of the perioperative team to support continuity of care and patient safety .
• Participate in postoperative debriefings to review procedural outcomes, equipment or workflow concerns, and opportunities for quality improvement.
• Ensure that any instruments, equipment, implants, supplies, specimens, or specialty items requiring follow-up are appropriately communicated to the responsible perioperative personnel.
• Contribute to ongoing quality-improvement, patient-safety, and operational-efficiency initiatives by identifying opportunities to improve surgical workflow, communication, preparation, and teamwork.
• Maintain a professional and organized approach to completing all post-case responsibilities before transitioning to the next assigned procedure.

Above all, the Surgical First Assistant is expected to consistently demonstrate clinical excellence, technical proficiency, anticipation, confidence, efficiency, professionalism, accountability, teamwork, and an unwavering commitment to patient safety .

At Avant, exceptional surgical assisting means being prepared before the case begins, anticipating rather than reacting during the procedure , supporting the entire surgical team, and continuously striving to improve the quality and efficiency of every case.

Qualifications:

• Must possess a valid and current Surgical Assistant License issued by the Texas Medical Board (TMB) .
• Must maintain current certification through a recognized surgical assisting credentialing organization , such as the American Board of Surgical Assistants (ABSA) or the National Surgical Assistant Association (NSAA) .
• Must maintain current Basic Life Support (BLS) certification . Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS) certification is preferred. Certification must be issued by the American Heart Association (AHA) or an equivalent recognized provider.
• Minimum of two (2) years of hands-on surgical first-assisting experience in a hospital, ambulatory surgery center, or comparable surgical environment.
• Demonstrated clinical competence, technical proficiency, and sound judgment , with a strong understanding of surgical anatomy, medical terminology, sterile technique, and perioperative patient-safety standards.
• Demonstrated proficiency across multiple surgical specialties , preferably including cardiovascular and vascular surgery, neurosurgery and spine, orthopedics, general surgery, OB/GYN, robotic surgery, and minimally invasive procedures.
• Excellent interpersonal, communication, and teamwork skills , with the ability to collaborate effectively and professionally with surgeons, anesthesia providers, nurses, surgical technologists, hospital personnel, and fellow Surgical Assistants.
• Must be a dependable, collaborative, and team-oriented professional who supports colleagues, communicates respectfully, accepts constructive feedback, adapts to changing clinical and scheduling needs, and consistently prioritizes patient safety and team success.
• Demonstrate exceptional anticipation, attention to detail, organization, adaptability, situational awareness, and problem-solving abilities in fast-paced and high-acuity surgical environments.
• Must demonstrate the ability to remain calm, confident, professional, and clinically effective under pressure , including during complex procedures, unexpected intraoperative events, and emergency situations.
• Demonstrate a strong commitment to professionalism, accountability, continuous learning, clinical excellence, and exceptional patient care .
• Foreign-trained physicians (MDs) must provide documentation of successful completion of the TOEFL examination, when applicable .

About Company

Avant First Assistants LLC, established in 2012, has been delivering exceptional surgical support to surgeons, hospitals, and surgery centers. As a growing organization, we are seeking dedicated professionals who are goal-oriented and passionate about making a meaningful impact through outstanding service. We currently hold hospital contracts in Sugar Land, Cypress, and partner with several surgery centers across the Greater Houston area. If you share our commitment to excellence, we invite you to join our team and contribute to our mission of providing top-tier surgical assistance.