Certified Surgical First Assistant

Northwest Healthcare; Tucson (AZ); On-site; USD 50,000 - 70,000; 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 Healthcare in Tucson, Arizona is seeking a Surgical Technician First Assist to provide direct support during surgical procedures. This role involves maintaining a sterile field and assisting in critical tasks such as positioning patients, retracting tissues, and suturing.

The ideal candidate will have 1-3 years of experience in an acute care setting and possess certifications like CST and BCLS. Join a dedicated surgical team and contribute to optimal patient outcomes.

Qualifications

• 1-3 years of experience as a Surgical Technician or First Assist in an acute care setting required.
• Proficiency in maintaining a sterile field and surgical instruments.

Responsibilities

• Assist surgeons during surgical procedures, ensuring the sterile field is maintained.
• Perform first assistant duties like retracting tissues and suturing.
• Ensure infection control protocols are followed.

Skills

Surgical techniques

Effective communication and teamwork

Attention to detail

Knowledge of infection control standards

Education

Certified Surgical Technologist (CST)

Certified Surgical First Assistant (CSFA) or Certified Surgical Assistant (CSA)

Basic Life Support (BCLS)

Job description

Benefits

• Health Insurance (Medical, Dental, Vision)
• 401(k) with matching
• Paid Time Off (PTO)
• Student Loan Repayment Assistance

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.

EEO Statement

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