Certified Surgical First Assistant

Northwest Medical Center Houghton; Tucson (AZ); On-site; USD 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health Insurance (Medical, Dental, Vision)

401(k) with matching

Paid Time Off (PTO)

Student Loan Repayment Assistance

Job summary

Northwest Medical Center Houghton is seeking a Surgical First Assistant for full-time day shifts to provide direct support to surgeons during surgical procedures. The role involves maintaining the sterile field, assisting in critical surgical tasks, and requires proficiency in surgical techniques and aseptic principles.

Qualified candidates must hold a CST certification, have 1-3 years of acute care experience, and demonstrate strong teamwork and communication skills. This position offers a competitive salary and comprehensive benefits including health insurance and PTO.

Qualifications

• 1-3 years of experience as a Surgical Technician or First Assist in an acute care setting.
• Proficiency in surgical techniques and knowledge of surgical anatomy and instrumentation.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced, high-pressure surgical environment.

Responsibilities

• Assist surgeons by providing necessary instruments and maintaining the sterile field.
• Perform first assistant duties and manage surgical instruments during procedures.
• Ensure compliance with infection control standards and safety protocols.

Skills

Surgical techniques

Aseptic principles

Sterile field maintenance

Effective communication

Teamwork skills

Education

CST - Certified Surgical Technologist

Certified Surgical First Assistant (CSFA)

BCLS - Basic Life Support

Job description

Surgical First Assistant

Position Type: Full Time Day Shift

Benefits

• Health Insurance (Medical, Dental, Vision)
• 401(k) with matching
• Paid Time Off (PTO)
• Student Loan Repayment Assistance
• Competitive salary and comprehensive benefits package

Job Summary

The Surgical Technician First Assist provides direct support to surgeons during surgical procedures, ensuring efficient operative and invasive procedures by maintaining the sterile field, providing necessary instruments and supplies, and assisting in critical surgical tasks. This role requires advanced technical skills to support the surgical team, including positioning patients, retracting tissues, controlling bleeding, suturing, and applying dressings. The Surgical Technician First Assist collaborates with surgeons, nurses, and other surgical team members to ensure optimal patient outcomes and post-operative care.

Essential Functions

• Functions as a scrub person during surgical procedures, preparing and organizing sterile supplies and instruments, maintaining an organized sterile field, and providing necessary instruments and supplies to the surgical team.
• Performs first assistant duties, including providing exposure through instrument handling, retractors, suctioning, and sponging techniques as directed by the surgeon.
• Handles and dissects tissues, clamps blood vessels, coagulates bleeding points, and places drains as instructed by the surgeon.
• Assists with wound closure, including suturing subcutaneous layers and skin, applying staples, and dressing surgical sites per surgeon instructions.
• Ensures sterility and safety standards, conducting proper counting procedures with the RN circulator, following infection control protocols, and taking corrective actions if needed.
• Prepares and transports surgical instruments for decontamination, ensuring proper handling and sterilization for future use.
• Assists in post-procedure room turnover, ensuring procedural areas are properly cleaned and prepared for subsequent surgeries.
• Performs other duties as assigned.
• Maintains regular and reliable attendance.
• Complies with all policies and standards.

Qualifications

• 1-3 years of experience as a Surgical Technician or First Assist in an acute care setting required.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Proficiency in surgical techniques, aseptic principles, and sterile field maintenance.
• Strong knowledge of surgical anatomy, instrumentation, and procedural workflows.
• Ability to anticipate surgeon needs and respond quickly to intraoperative changes.
• Strong attention to detail in surgical counting procedures, patient positioning, and procedural safety.
• Effective communication and teamwork skills, ensuring smooth collaboration with surgeons, nurses, and anesthesia providers.
• Knowledge of infection control standards, regulatory compliance, and patient safety guidelines.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced, high-pressure surgical environment, demonstrating composure and professionalism.

Licenses and Certifications

• CST - Certified Surgical Technologist required
• Certified Surgical First Assistant (CSFA) through NBSTSA required or
• Certified Surgical Assistant (CSA) through NSAA required
• BCLS - Basic Life Support required
• ACLS - Advanced Cardiac Life Support preferred

Northwest Medical Center Houghton is an equal opportunity employer: race, gender, disability and Veteran status, and VEVRAA Federal Contractor – priority referral Protected Veterans requested.