Certified Surgical First Assistant - Wilmington ASC - Full-Time

About Wilmington Health

Since 1971, Wilmington Health has been committed to the care and health of our community in Wilmington as well as all of Southeastern North Carolina. Wilmington Health is structured as a multi-specialty medical practice with primary care providers integrated into the system. In this way, Wilmington Health is able to provide a comprehensive and coordinated approach to the care of all our patients. Wilmington Health is committed to using collaborative, evidence-based medicine in providing the highest quality of care to the patients we serve.

Purpose :

The Certified Surgical First Assistant (CSFA) will support the continuity of care for perioperative patients. The role will help expedite surgical productivity by assisting the surgeons intraoperatively. 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.

Essential Duties / Responsibilities :

The Certified Surgical First Assistant (CSFA) possesses and demonstrates 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. The CSFA serves as the first assistant in surgical procedures under the direct supervision of the operating surgeon / physician; handles all variety of tissue appropriately to reduce the potential for injury or compromised blood supply; uses surgical instruments properly, and employs principles of safe tissue handling :

• Maintains current knowledge of procedures performed
• Demonstrates advanced knowledge of normal and pathological anatomy and physiology
• Safely positions patients for the surgical procedure
• Performs surgical prepping and draping of patients for the surgical procedure
• Assists surgeon in identifying patient and staff safety hazards
• Provides exposure to the operative site
• Manipulates equipment and instruments to enhance the visual field
• Suctions and sponges to maintain a dry surgical field resulting in an optimal visualization of the surgical field
• Provides counter-traction of tissue utilizing various instruments
• Assists with maintaining hemostasis 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
• Utilizes appropriate suturing techniques of tissues / tissue planes with appropriate suture materials
• Assists and independently close wound, approximate skin edges when utilizing skin staplers
• Assists and independently applies dressing, splint, cast or immobilizer at the end of the surgical procedure using proper aseptic / sterile techniques
• Demonstrates ability to administer local anesthetic
• The Certified Surgical First Assistant will perform in a CST role when not needed as a first assistant
• KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES :
• CSFA must have sound clinical knowledge of technology and treatment applications; must also possess skills to educate / train staff and complies with AORN education standards for the CSFA; and a demonstrated knowledge of the surgeries in which the CSFA participates. Must have sound clinical OR skills (scrubbing) and have excellent interpersonal skills and organizational capability
• Ability to work independently and take initiative in addressing concerns and issues
• Proficient with computer-based applications such as MS Office, Adobe, registries / medical databases, and electronic health record

QUALIFICATIONS

Education

Graduate of an accredited school of surgical assisting

Experience

• 3 years of experience as a Surgical Technologist preferred
• 1 year of experience as a first assistant preferred

Degrees, Licensure, and / or Certification required

• Certified Surgical Technologist (CST)
• Certified Surgical First Assist (CSFA)
• BLS certification from American Heart Association

ADA Physical Demands :

Rarely (Less than .5 hrs / day) Occasionally (0.6 - 2.5 hrs / day) Frequently (2.6 - 5.5 hrs / day) Continuously (5.6 - 8.0 hrs / day)

Physical Demand

Required?

Frequency

Standing

Occasionally

Sitting

Continuously

Walking

Occasionally

Kneeling / Crouching

Rarely

Lifting

Rarely