Surgical Assistant

Advocate Health Care; Libertyville (IL); On-site; USD 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Advocate Health Care in Libertyville, IL seeks a Surgical Assistant to function as a first or second assistant for complex and basic procedures. The role requires assisting the surgeon, preparing the OR, and maintaining sterile technique in a high‑pressure environment.

The candidate will need certification as a Surgical Assistant (within 30 days of hire), CPR certification, and prior OR experience. On-call nights, weekends, and holidays are expected, with flexibility for changing situations and

Qualifications

• Certification as Surgical Assistant required.
• Previous OR experience required.
• CPR Certification required.
• Certification as Surgical Assistant within 30 days of hire.

Responsibilities

• Provide first or second assisting for specified surgical procedures for patients of all ages.
• Participate in preparatory steps of surgery; assist in gathering supplies and positioning the patient.
• Anticipate needs of Surgeon; ensure supplies are available before incision.
• Maintain sterile OR environment using aseptic technique.
• Ensure equipment and supplies are functional for the OR suite.
• Mentor and train Surgical Technologists and new Surgical Assistants.

Skills

Surgical Assistant certification

CPR Certification

OR experience

On-call availability

Hazard exposure awareness

Job description

Scheduled Hours:

Full Time; Day/PM Shifts and rotating call

Position Requirements

• Certification as Surgical Assistant
• Previous OR experience
• CPR Certification
• Certification as Surgical Assistant within 30 days of hire
• Must be willing to work with exposures to body fluids,
• waste and chemicals, radiation, hazardous materials,
• anesthesia gases and life threatening diseases.
• On-call availability (nights, weekends, holidays)
• Flexibility to deal with changing environments.
• Ability to respond quickly to emergencies.
• Work in a high stress situations.
• Ability to respond to fire and other codes (e.g.,
• evacuate patients.)
• This position will need to recognize the needs and behaviors of a variety of age groups of patients treated, i.e., understand child growth and development, normal patterns of adolescent behavior and look for signs of normal aging prior experience with various age groups is preferred.

Purpose

Functions as Surgical First or Second Assistant to the surgeon for complex and basic operative or invasive procedures. Responsible for performing a variety of procedures or may specialize in a surgical specialty where appropriate. Performs responsibilities of a Surgical Technologist if required but preferably not at the same time while functioning as a first assist.

Accountabilities

• Provide first or second assisting for specified surgical procedures as needed and assigned for patients of all ages.
• Participates in the preparatory steps of surgery; assists operating team in gathering supplies, opening room for cases, assists in lifting, transferring, positioning, preparing and draping the patient.
• Anticipates and responds to the needs of the Surgeon, by ensuring all required supplies are available for procedures prior to incision, recognizing individual preferences.
• Provide assistance in preparation and maintenance of sterile O.R. environment utilizing aseptic techniques.
• Ensure that appropriate equipment and supplies are available and functional for the O.R. suite.
• Acts as a resource and assists in the training of Surgical Technologists and new Surgical Assistants. Participates in department and facility work teams and assists with special projects as needed.
• If position has direct patient care or direct patient contact the following lifting requirement supersedes any previous lifting requirement effective 06/01/2015. Ability to lift up to 35 pounds without assistance. For patient lifts of over 35 pounds, or when patient is unable to assist with the lift, patient handling equipment is expected to be used, with at least one other associate, when available. Unique patient lifting/movement situations will be assessed on a case-by-case basis.