Certified Surgical First Assistant

Parrish Medical Center•Titusville, FL

About The Position

The Certified Surgical First Assistant works in the Operating Room under the general supervision of the OR Manager and the direct supervision of the Surgery Clinical Coordinator and OR Registered Nurse. During operations, the assistant works under the direction and supervision of the surgeon, providing aid in exposure, hemostasis, closure, and other intraoperative technical functions that support safe operations and optimal patient outcomes. The position is expected to exemplify Parrish Healthcare’s Culture of Choice® and philosophies. The role supports invasive and non-invasive procedures as a member of the surgical team. It includes maintaining the sterile field, preparing the OR and case-specific supplies, assisting with patient care and positioning, supporting room turnover, and performing first-assistant tasks such as operative-site visualization, closure, hemostasis, wound dressing, and securing drainage systems. The position also participates in emergency surgical coverage, quality improvement, education, and equipment and instrument management.

Requirements

Graduate of a surgical assisting program accredited through ARC/STSA, NBCSTSA, or CAAHEP.
1 year to less than 2 years of experience as a certified surgical technologist.
Certified Surgical First Assistant (CSFA) certification required.
BLS through the American Heart Association required.

Responsibilities

Serve as a member of the surgical team for invasive and non-invasive procedures.
Maintain the integrity of the sterile field, safely handle and label medications and solutions, and monitor accurate needle, sponge, and instrument counts.
Assemble and open supplies and equipment; prepare the OR suite and anticipate case-specific supply needs.
Handle equipment and instruments safely to minimize damage, loss, and breakage; mark and report damaged instruments for replacement.
Support timely room turnover, including cleansing the surgical site, applying dressings, breaking down instruments, and decontaminating the room.
Assist with patient positioning, transport, and direct patient care as appropriate.
Participate as a member of the emergency surgical team; respond to C-section call within 20 minutes and OR call within 30 minutes of notification.
Maintain specialty instrument sets, restock specialty carts, update physician preference cards, and pull supplies and specialty equipment for cases.
Demonstrate knowledge of surgical procedures and function as a member of the specialty team.
Participate in Quality Monitoring/Performance Improvement.
Mentor and teach surgical technician and first assistant students and orientees; assist with perioperative team in-services and education.
Provide operative-site visualization using retractors, sponge packing, digital tissue manipulation, suctioning, irrigation, sponging, and/or manipulation of suture materials.
Assist with closure of body planes and hemostasis using appropriate techniques.
Participate in volume replacement or autotransfusion techniques as appropriate.
Select and apply appropriate wound dressings and assist in securing drainage systems to tissue.
Know fire, disaster, and safety procedures and regulations applicable to the work area.
Perform similar or related duties as assigned.