Certified Surgical First Assistant

Duke Careers • Durham, NC

30d • Onsite

About The Position

The Certified Surgical First Assistant (CSFA) will support the continuity of care for Perioperative patients. The scope of practice includes preoperative patient care management, intraoperative surgical first assisting, and postoperative patient care management. The role will help expedite surgical productivity, support the education of surgical residents, 2nd assist where needed, and first assist the Surgeons when surgical Residents are not available. The CSFA will provide patient care for all ages and provide leadership and direction to the perioperative team where needed. The CSFA in surgery collaborates with the surgeon and the health care team in performing a safe operation with optimal outcomes for the patient. The CSFA practices in collaboration with and at the surgeon's direction during the intra- operative experience.

Requirements

• Graduates from a CSA/CFA program from: Commission on Accreditation of allied health Education Programs (CAAHEP).
• Graduates from a CSA/CFA program from: American Board of Surgical Assistants (ABSA)/SA-C.
• Graduates from a CSA/CFA program from: National Assistant at Surgery Certification (NASC) or CCI Institute/ CRNFA.
• 3 years of experience as a Surgical Technologist.
• Certified Surgical Technologist (CST).
• Certified Surgical First Assist (CSFA).
• BLS certification from American Heart Association required.
• Sound clinical knowledge of technology and treatment applications.
• Skills to educate/train staff.
• Complies with AORN education standards for the CSFA.
• Demonstrated knowledge of the surgeries in which the CSFA participates.
• Sound clinical OR skills (scrubbing).
• Excellent interpersonal skills.
• Organizational capability.

Nice To Haves

• Associate of Science in Surgical Technology preferred.

Responsibilities

• Support the continuity of care for Perioperative patients.
• Manage preoperative patient care.
• Provide intraoperative surgical first assisting.
• Manage postoperative patient care.
• Expedite surgical productivity.
• Support the education of surgical residents.
• Second assist where needed.
• First assist Surgeons when surgical Residents are not available.
• Provide patient care for all ages.
• Provide leadership and direction to the perioperative team where needed.
• Collaborate with the surgeon and the health care team in performing a safe operation with optimal outcomes for the patient.
• Practice in collaboration with and at the surgeon's direction during the intra-operative experience.
• Possess and demonstrate competencies related to all aspects of perioperative care, including preoperative review of patient history and physical, preoperative tests results, and postoperative transfer of care and monitoring for complications.
• Serve as the first assistant in designated surgical procedures under the direct supervision of the operating surgeon/physician.
• Handle all variety of tissue appropriately to reduce the potential for injury or compromised blood supply.
• Use surgical instruments properly, employ principles of safe tissue handling.
• Provide exposure to the operative site.
• Provide and maintain hemostasis.
• Perform wound closure.
• Demonstrate advanced knowledge of normal and pathological anatomy and physiology.
• Safely position patients for the surgical procedure and assist with transport to and from the operative suite.
• Assist surgeon in identifying patient and staff safety hazards.
• Surgical prepping and draping of patients for the surgical procedure.
• Provide exposure of the operative site by the appropriate use of retractors.
• Manipulate equipment and instruments to enhance the visual field.
• Suction and sponge to maintain a dry surgical field resulting in an optimal visualization of the surgical field.
• Provide counter-traction of tissue utilizing various instruments.
• Assist in maintaining hemostasis to reduce potential for fluid volume deficits by clamping/ligating vessels, using electrocautery to tissue, applying manual direct pressure, assisting with use of pharmaceutical agents (e.g. topical thrombin) and other means as directed by the surgeon/physician.
• Tie and cut sutures.
• Skillfully suture all varieties of tissues/tissue planes with appropriate suture materials and suturing techniques.
• Assist in closure of wound or independently close wound under the direction of the surgeon.
• Assist and independently apply dressing and tape at the end of the surgical procedure using proper aseptic/sterile techniques.
• Maintain current knowledge of procedures performed.
• May take a scrub role when not needed as a first assistant.
• Follow the Guideline Statement for the Surgical Assistant in Robotic Surgery from the Association of Surgical Assistant (ASA) and maintain defined competencies for robotic cases.

What This Job Offers

• Education Level: Associate degree