First Assistant - Surgery

St. Tammany Parish Hospital; Covington, Northern (LA, KY); Hybrid; USD 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

St. Tammany Health System in Covington, LA seeks a Surgical First Assistant to collaborate with surgeons and the team in perioperative care.

The role involves intraoperative assistance, patient positioning, skin prep, site visualization, and wound/drainage management. The position supports either RN or Surgical Technologist backgrounds, requires 30-minute on-call availability, and calls for a 40-hour workweek with weekday scheduling and some call duty.

Qualifications

• Certification as a Surgical First Assistant from an accredited certifying agency.
• Graduate from an accredited School of Nursing and/or School of Surgical Technology.
• Current registered nurse licensure in LA, if formal RN background.
• Current BLS certification through ILCOR-provided courses with manikin check-off.

Responsibilities

• Assist surgeon and healthcare team during operative procedures.
• Provide exposure, hemostasis and other intraoperative technical support.
• Position patient, prepare skin and assist with wound management as directed by surgeon.
• Function as First Assistant or Circulator or Surgical Technologist per department needs.

Skills

Surgical First Assistant

BLS Certification

RN Background

Education

Certification as Surgical First Assistant

Graduate from accredited School of Nursing or Surgical Technology

Current LA RN Licensure

ILCOR BLS Course with manikin check-off

Job description

At St. Tammany Health System, delivering world-class healthcare close to home is our goal. That means we are committed to attracting and retaining the very best professionals for every position in our health system. We believe the pristine beauty of St. Tammany Parish adds to our attractive compensation package. The health system is nestled in the heart of Covington on the north shore of Lake Pontchartrain. It is a peaceful, scenic, community-oriented area with an abundance of amenities to suit every taste.

JOB DESCRIPTION AND POSITION REQUIREMENTS

Scheduled Weekly Hours: 40

Work Shift: Mid position - Monday through Friday 10:30 am to 7 pm. Call is required.

Summary of the Job: The Surgical First Assistant can have a formal background as a Registered Nurse (RN) or a Surgical Technologist (ST). The Surgical First Assistant collaborates with the surgeon and the healthcare team in performing a safe operation with optimal outcomes for the patient. The First Assistant practices perioperative practice and must have acquired the necessary knowledge, skills, and judgment specific to clinical practice. The First Assistant practices in collaboration with and at the direction of the surgeon during the intraoperative phase of the perioperative experience. The Surgical First Assistant provides aid in exposure, hemostasis, and other technical functions that will help the surgeon carry out a safe operation with optimal results for the patient. This role will vary considerably with the surgical operation and specialty.

Clinical skills performed under direct supervision of the surgeon may include the following: positioning the patient, preparing the skin, providing visualization of the operative site, utilizing appropriate techniques to assist with hemostasis, utilizing appropriate techniques to assist with closure of body planes, assisting with selecting and applying appropriate wound dressings and providing assistance in securing drainage system to tissue.

If this employee has a formal background as a RN, this employee will function as a First Assistant or Circulator according to the needs of the department/ staffing assignment. If this employee has a formal background as a Surgical Technologist, this employee will function as a First Assistant or a Surgical Technologist according to the needs of the department/ staffing assignment.

Minimum Qualifications

• Certification as a Surgical First Assistant from an accredited certifying agency;
• Graduate from an accredited School of Nursing and/or School of Surgical Technology;
• Current registered nurse licensure in LA, if formal RN background;
• Current BLS certification through any International Liaison Committee on Resuscitation (ILCOR) provided courses such as but not limited to: Ochsner Health System, American Heart Association, and American Red Cross. The ILCOR course must include a manikin check off.
• The Surgical First Assistant must be available in-house within 30 minutes when on call.

Preferred Qualifications

• CNOR;
• Two years perioperative services experience.

Physical Demands

Must possess good physical health. Some requirements include but are not limited to standing, sitting or walking for long periods of time.

Lifting at least 50 pounds is required.

Must be able to work with a moderate level of noise.

Physical Effort required: Constant (67%-100%) - reaching, handling/feeling, talking, hearing, seeing Frequently (34%-66%)- lifting, carrying, pushing/pulling, balancing Occasionally (1%-33%)– stooping, crouching, crawling

EMPLOYMENT

Each St. Tammany Health System staff member is expected to conduct himself or herself according to our mission, vision and values.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

St. Tammany Health System is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

St. Tammany Health System is committed to equal employment opportunity for all employees and applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin or ancestry, citizenship, sexual orientation, gender identity, veteran status, disability status, genetic information or any other protected characteristic under applicable law.

St. Tammany Health System is a full-service acute care facility that delivers today’s life-improving procedures with the latest technology, highest quality and the utmost care to area residents. From wellness and prevention to diagnosis, treatment, rehabilitation and recovery, the St. Tammany Health System delivers the very latest technology, the most accomplished specialists and highly personalized, caring staff to ensure patients and their families receive world-class healthcare close to home. St. Tammany Health System is an independent service district in a clinically integrated partnership with Ochsner Health System. Together, the two organizations focus on aligning their healthcare offerings to best serve patients and families in west St. Tammany Parish and surrounding areas.