Surgical First Assistant

Application Deadline: 03/02/2026

Job Summary:

The Surgical First Assistant is an integral part of the team of medical practitioners providing surgical care to patients. The Surgical First Assistant will provide direct support to surgeons during operative procedures. The Surgical First Assistant will be responsible for assisting with preoperative planning, intraoperative functions such as tissue handling, wound exposure, hemostasis, suturing, and postoperative duties to ensure optimal patient outcomes.

Hours & Pay:

• .75 FTE - 30 hours per week
• 10 hour shifts 
• Hours are variable 
• $36.06 - $54.04 per hour depending on experience 

Essential Job Functions:

• Advocate for patients’ rights, preferences, and needs, ensuring that they receive high-quality, compassionate care that is tailored to their individual circumstances
• Project a professional demeanor and appearance while maintaining the confidentiality of the patient, coworkers, and the organization, as appropriate
• Check supplies and equipment needed for surgical procedure
• Open sterile supplies and sets up sterile table with instruments, equipment, and medications/solutions needed for procedure
• Ensure infection control protocols and safety standards are followed in all aspects of patient care
• Ensure compliance with Universal Protocol by initiating a pre-procedural 'Time Out' to prevent wrong-site, wrong-procedure, and wrong-patient errors
• Anticipate additional supplies needed during the procedure
• Gown and glove surgeon and assistants
• Hold retractors or instruments as directed by the surgeon
• Sponge or suction operative site
• Cut suture material as directed by the surgeon
• Connect drains to suction apparatus
• Prepare and apply sterile dressing
• Help in draping sterile field
• Pass instruments to surgeon during procedure
• Maintain highest standard of sterile technique during procedure
• Assist in prepping room for the next patient
• Keeps accurate records throughout the procedure and communicates them to circulator
• Properly label and care for specimens taken during surgery, ensuring correct handling and documentation
• Perform appropriate counts with circulator prior to the operation and before incision is closed
• Clean and prepare instruments for terminal sterilization
• Assist other members of team with terminal cleaning of room
• Possess knowledge of surgeon and procedure specific instrumentation and equipment
• Anticipation of surgeon needs
• Assist with the safe and proper positioning of surgical patients
• Communication with a variety of people in a direct, empathetic, and articulate manner
• Inject local anesthetic
• Place trocars
• Apply cautery to clamps, tissue, vessels, any bleeders, including cautery pencil, ligature devices, etc.
• Apply clips to vessel
• Apply a stapler across vessel
• Adapt to unpredictable situations in the peri-operative setting
• Suturing of surgical wounds
• Promptly report and document any occurrences of unusual events, safety concerns, or incidents in accordance with organization policies and procedures
• Use the organization's secure messaging platform in accordance with departmental protocols, including timely receipt and responses to communications
• Perform other duties as assigned

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities:

• Medical Terminology
• Electronic Medical Records (EMR) systems
• Quality assurance and accreditation standards
• Understanding of HIPAA regulations, patient confidentiality laws and patient rights
• Effective English communication in verbal and written format
• Quality work including attention to detail and accuracy
• Basic computer proficiency
• Carry out customer service standards
• Capacity to work independently and as part of a multidisciplinary team
• Prioritize tasks effectively through managing workload based on urgency and importance
• Continuously learn and improve through staying up to date on job specific trends, policies, and new technologies
• Successfully demonstrate organization-wide performance review competencies

Qualifications: 

• Demonstrates eligibility for employment in the U.S.
• Degree from an accredited Surgical First Assistant program required
• Surgical First Assistant certification preferred
• BLS certification is required upon hire
• Previous exp