Surgical Technologist First Assistant

The Surgical Technologist First Assistant assists in the preparation of the surgical room, prepares, and maintains the sterile field, provides surgical team with supplies and instruments, and cares for equipment following surgical procedures. The First Assist will act as a lead, assisting the surgeon throughout the surgery. The first assistant will also be responsible for the knowledge and technical skills needed to operate a variety of mechanical devices to accomplish this task. The First Assist will rely on his/her education and training to complete procedures.

• 1.   Surgical Case Preparation
  a.   Assists in the preparation of the surgical case through creation of the sterile field, operating specialized instruments or equipment, and ensuring proper supply levels are maintained in an effort to provide quality health care services.
  b.   Provides for patient safety by performing surgical counts, checking that instruments and equipment are in good working condition, and by proper handling of specimens.
  c.   Performs the tasks of positioning, prepping, and draping of the patient.
  d.   Placement of urinary drainage catheter under the direct supervision of the attending Surgeon (1st assist only)
• 2.   Quality & Patient Safety
  a.   Ensures that high quality health care services are provided to patients by maintaining infection control techniques and monitoring situations which could lead to breaches in techniques.
  b.   Demonstrates and maintains clinical competency in the delivery of patient care services.
  c.   Utilizes all equipment, supplies, facilities and resources in a prudent and efficient manner in order to ensure efficient departmental operations and the provision of high quality health care services.
  d.   Observes and adheres to all departmental and hospital policies and procedures and follows all safety, quality assurance and infection control standards.
• 3.   Collaboration & Teamwork
  a.   Collaboration and partnership under the direct supervision of the attending Surgeon.
  b.   Facilitate wound exposure by retractor placement and manipulation taking into consideration the Surgeon's needs, demonstrating regard for the surrounding tissues and pressure exertion during retraction, managing instruments in the operative field to prevent obstruction of the Surgeon's view and anticipating the exposure needs of the Surgeon.
  c.   Provides hemostasis using the following methods: electrocautery to clamps, vessels and tissue; sponging bodily fluids and stylizing suction techniques; applying clamps to vessels and tying off; placement of hemostatic sutures or clamps; and/or placement of hemoclips.
  d.   Performance of knot tying to include: basic and advanced knot tying techniques in order to have a secure knot; one and two handed knot techniques appropriate to Surgeon preference and surgical circumstances; proper deep tying techniques in order to securely tie off deep structures without damaging tissue or losing control of vessels; controlling knot tension so that tissue is approximated but not strangulated; and keeping current on knot tying skills and techniques through hospital-approved training and certification.
  e.   Facilitate the flow of the surgical procedure by anticipating the Surgeon's needs while providing safe, reliable and efficient technological assistance.
  f.   Participates in educational programs, in-service meetings, and training sessions to share his/her own expertise with others and further the education and personal growth provided to new team members, volunteers and student interns.
• 4.   Other Duties as Assigned
  a.   Performs other duties as assigned to include but not limited to the following: wound closure by approximating the layers of the wound using suturing materials and techniques appropriate to the tissue and according to Surgeon preference; correctly applies skin staples and appropriately approximating the skin to best facilitate the healing process; injecting local anesthetic medication into the skin and/or subcutaneous tissue; stabilizing the drain by suturing to patient's skin; cleaning the wound and applying dressings; and assisting in the transportation of the patient to PACU if requested.
  
   

• TWO years experience in acute care Operating Room as Surgical Tech 
• High School diploma or GED; Graduate from an accredited Surgical Tech program (1 year experience will substitute for this requirement), and a Graduate from an accredited First Assist program
• Certified Surgical First Assist obtained from National Board of Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting; BLS