Job Description Help for Job Description. Opens a new window.

POSITION SUMMARY

Under the direction and supervision of the surgeon, the Surgical First Assist provides aid in exposure, hemostasis, closure, and other intraoperative technical functions to help the surgeon(s) carry out safe operations with optimal patient results. The Surgical First Assist also performs preoperative and postoperative duties to optimize patient safety and experience. The Surgical First Assist will also function under the direct supervision of the surgeon, performing technical and support activities in the operating room as a Surgical Technologist under the direction of a Registered Nurse (RN).

PRIMARY ACCOUNTABILITIES 1.

Positions the patient properly 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. Applies 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. Precepts, trains, and educates 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. Handles and cares for all instruments and equipment properly; checks materials and equipment for proper functioning and adequacy; reports faulty equipment and instruments per policy.