Surgical First Assist - Surgical Services Support Personnel

Health First Careers•Melbourne, FL

About The Position

Under the direction and supervision of the surgeon, the Surgical First Assist (SFA) supports quality and patient safety, customer experience, and stewardship by assisting with exposure, hemostasis, closure, and other intraoperative technical functions. The SFA also performs preoperative and postoperative duties to optimize patient safety and experience. When not under the surgeon’s direct supervision, the SFA performs operating-room technical and support activities as a Surgical Technologist under the direction of a registered nurse. The role includes positioning patients safely and appropriately; visualizing the operative site using retractors, sponges, suction, irrigation, and tissue manipulation; assisting with temporary and permanent hemostasis; participating in volume replacement or autotransfusion techniques as appropriate; assisting with wound closure and local anesthetic injection as directed; selecting and applying dressings; and securing drainage systems. The SFA also performs Surgical Technologist duties, including preparing the operating room, maintaining the sterile field, anticipating and supplying the surgical team’s needs, and caring for instruments and equipment. The position is per diem, with listed shift times of 7:00 AM–5:00 PM. The role may involve call availability requiring the ability to respond from a location within 30 minutes of the assigned facility.

Requirements

Graduate of a Surgical Assisting Program, or certification in lieu of education: Certified Surgical Technologist (CST) from NBSTSA or American Board of Surgical Assistants (ABSA).
AHA BLS Healthcare Provider Completion Card required before the start date and maintained.
Ability to read, write, speak, and understand English.
Ability to perform basic math.
Extensive knowledge of anatomy and physiology.
Reliable transportation and ability to respond from a location within 30 minutes of the assigned facility when on call.
Ability to be flexible and adaptable with daily schedules and assigned tasks.
Ability to respond appropriately to stressful or life-threatening situations.
Detail-oriented, with the ability to concentrate continuously on an activity.
Excellent customer service skills and ability to interact effectively with medical staff and patient care teams.
Motivated to complete milestones and competencies, receive constructive criticism, and apply it to future performance.
Ability to work autonomously while consulting the chain of command as appropriate.

Nice To Haves

Previous experience as a surgical assistant or surgical technologist.
Certified First Assistant (CSFA) credential from NBSTSA.

Responsibilities

Position patients according to surgeon directions while protecting comfort, safety, circulation, and nerves.
Provide visualization of the operative site using retractors, sponges, digital tissue manipulation, suctioning, irrigation, and suture manipulation.
Assist with permanent and temporary hemostasis using appropriate techniques and devices.
Participate in volume replacement or autotransfusion techniques as appropriate.
Assist with closure of body planes using sutures, subcuticular closure, adhesive strips, staples, and postoperative subcutaneous local anesthetic injection as directed by the surgeon.
Select and apply appropriate wound dressings, including occlusive, absorbent, and immobilizing dressings.
Assist in securing drainage systems to tissue.
Perform duties required of a Surgical Technologist in accordance with established procedures and completed skills checklists.
Precept, train, and educate staff and team members as appropriate when certified as a First Assist.
Prepare operating rooms with appropriate instruments, sutures, supplies, and equipment; open sterile supplies and arrange sterile setups.
Create, maintain, and terminate the sterile field for surgical procedures.
Anticipate the needs of the surgeon and surgical assistants and provide instruments, sutures, sponges, and supplies.
Handle and care for instruments and equipment; check their function and adequacy and report faulty items according to policy.
Perform preoperative and postoperative duties to optimize patient safety and experience.