Surgical Assistant - Inpatient Surgery - Springfield Regional Medical Center

Mercy Health BSMH•Springfield, OH

About The Position

The Surgical Assistant serves in an assistant role providing care to patients undergoing surgical procedures under a provider’s supervision and in accordance with applicable regulations and organizational policies. This is an entry-level practitioner role focused on learning and growth. The position routinely functions as a first or second assistant and may also perform the surgical technologist scrub role as assigned. The role supports safe surgical care through sterile technique, preparation of the operating room and sterile field, assistance with patient positioning and preparation, and intraoperative assistance under the surgeon’s direction. Depending on the task, duties include handling instruments and specimens, assisting with counts, using surgical equipment, supporting wound closure, and applying dressings. The Surgical Assistant also protects confidential patient information, participates in patient-safety protocols, and communicates concerns about instruments or sterility to the circulating nurse. The job requires a high school diploma or equivalent and completion of a Surgical Assistant Program. Certification as a surgical assistant is required, subject to the stated location-specific exceptions. One year of health care experience is preferred. BLS certification is preferred upon hire but must be obtained from an approved source before direct patient care. Benefits may vary based on market and employment status.

Requirements

High school diploma or equivalent.
Completion of a Surgical Assistant Program.
Certified Surgical Assistant (CSA) certification through NBSTSA, NSAA, or NCCSA is required, with stated exceptions: preferred for hires in Virginia before July 1, 2020 and for hires in Cincinnati.
If employed in Virginia, registration with the Virginia Board of Medicine is required.
BLS Basic Life Support certification from the American Heart Association is preferred upon hire and must be obtained from an approved source before direct patient care.
Ability to monitor patient conditions during treatment and complete specific, routine tasks.
Basic reading, writing, or simple arithmetic skills; may operate basic equipment or machinery.
Ability to follow instructions, anticipate needs, take direction, and work under pressure.
Attention to detail, critical thinking, teamwork, conflict resolution, active listening, relationship building, flexibility, and professionalism.
Demonstrates a caring attitude and intentional caring behaviors in interpersonal interactions and patient/family care.
Possesses surgical conscience and communicates clearly with the health care team.

Nice To Haves

One year of health care experience.
BLS Basic Life Support certification upon hire.
CSA certification is preferred for hires in Virginia before July 1, 2020 and for hires in Cincinnati.

Responsibilities

Perform surgical hand scrub, gowning, and gloving according to policy.
Routinely function as first or second assist on assigned cases and perform the scrub role as assigned, demonstrating sterile technique.
Check instruments to ensure they are in proper working order before use; assist with sponge, sharps, and instrument counts.
Handle specimens in accordance with hospital policy and procedure.
Protect patient information and participate in efforts to reduce adverse patient-care events and in Universal Protocol procedures for correct-site surgery.
Communicate missing or malfunctioning instruments and any compromise to sterility to the circulating nurse; report implants, devices, catheters, drains, and packing to the circulator.
Prepare operating room cases using the surgeon’s preference list, procure and place equipment, establish the sterile field using aseptic technique, and help monitor and maintain the sterile field.
Assist with patient positioning, skin clipping and preparation, Foley catheterization, and draping.
Under the surgeon’s direct observation, insert secondary trocars, place instruments through trocars, use power equipment and stapling devices other than skin staplers, and inject infiltration local anesthetic medications excluding Exparel.
During procedures, use sponges and suction; assist with cauterization; place and manipulate retractors; irrigate wound sites; cut suture material; handle hemostats; tie suture; and help secure drains to tissue.
Assist with fascia-layer suture closure under the surgeon’s direct observation; suture subcutaneous tissues and skin, including use of a skin stapler if needed; and apply appropriate wound dressings, including medicated dressings.
Communicate pertinent patient information to other members of the health care team and provide caring, professional interactions with patients and families.
Perform other job-related duties as required by the supervisor, subject to reasonable accommodation.