Certified Surgical First Assistant

Surgical First Assist

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.

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.

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 surgeons view.

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).

Participates in volume replacement or autotransfusion techniques as appropriate.

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 surgeons directive.

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).

Assists in securing drainage systems to tissue.

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.

Observes proper technique to prepare operating rooms with appropriate instruments, sutures, supplies, and equipment; open sterile supplies and arrange sterile setups.

Creates, maintains, and terminates sterile field for surgical procedures.

Anticipates needs of surgeon and surgical assistants in the operating room, passing instruments, sutures, sponges, and supplies needed.

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.

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.