Position Summary / Career Interest:

The Surgical Tech First Assist is responsible for ensuring necessary instruments, supplies, and equipment are available for each surgical procedure assigned. He/she will anticipate surgeon's requests and needs based on the information available and coordinate providing the necessary items to complete the procedure. Assisting the physician with the surgical procedure, instrument handling, and maintenance of a sterile field are all part of the First Assist's role. The First Assist will assist the circulating RN with miscellaneous duties as directed by the RN. Instrument processing, stocking supplies, cleaning, and various other duties are part of the First Assist's job role. The First Assist is qualified to assists the surgeon with clamping and tying vessels, suturing fascia, subcutaneous tissue and skin, tissue manipulation, limited stapling, and hemostasis.


Responsibilities and Essential Job Functions

• Demonstrates responsibility for the care of the patient in the OR: Plans patient care appropriate for each patient, acts as patient advocate and promotes safe care, communicates effectively with team members, directs team members with time management and necessary tasks, performs necessary requirements, manages room turnover efficiently.
• Knowledgeable about surgical procedures and techniques: Ensures proper supplies and equipment are available prior to the start of procedures and utilizes each appropriately, updates preference cards, functions independently, and willingly precepts new employees.
• Under the direction of the operating surgeon, demonstrates ability to: Provide hemostasis by clamping blood vessels, coagulating bleeding points, ligating vessels; provide exposure through appropriate use of instruments, retractors, suctioning, and sponging techniques; handle of tissue and perform sharp tissue dissection, suture the fascia, subcutaneous tissue and skin. May close the skin with automatic stapler.
• Demonstrates knowledge of and ability to maintain the sterile environment and to minimize potential for infection by: Performing excellent aseptic technique, ensuring sterility of items prior to placing on sterile field; controlling traffic in/out of the OR suite; prepping patient using proper technique; observing for breaks in sterile technique, good hand hygiene
• Harvests saphenous vein under the direction of the operating surgeon (Open Technique – CFA, EVH (endovein harvest) – requires a Certification of Completion for EVH)
• Responds to direction from the circulating nurse with a positive, teamwork attitude. Demonstrates knowledge of scope of practice and performs within the scope of practice.
• Coordinate departmental needs and jobs with peers and demonstrates responsibility for individually assigned job duties, making necessary arrangements to have completed in his/her absence ensuring completion of workload.
• Demonstrates ability to plan, organize, and obtain necessary equipment and instruments in a timely and efficient manner and demonstrates knowledge, competence and ability to operate equipment and supplies used in specific areas of the operating rooms.
• Demonstrates knowledge and ability to properly decontaminate and sterilize instruments per policy and in a manner to reduce potential for infections.
• Communicates with physicians, nurses, and ancillary staff effectively and in a professional manner.
• Must be able to perform the professional, clinical and or technical competencies of the assigned unit or department.
• These statements are intended to describe the essential functions of the job and are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities. Skills and duties may vary dependent upon your department or unit. Other duties may be assigned as required.

Required Education and Experience

• High School Graduate or GED
• Successful completion of a recognized ORT program and an accredited program in surgical assisting
• 1 or more years

Required Licensure and Certification

• CPR/ AED/ BLS - Other BLS within 14 days
• First Assistant Certification or Certified Scrub Technician–Certified First Assistant (CST–CFA) upon Hire

We are an equal employment opportunity employer without regard to a person’s race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, gender identity and sexual orientation), national origin, ancestry, age (40 or older), disability, veteran status or genetic information.