Surgical First Assist

Northwest Healthcare Tucson; United States; On-site; USD 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

401(k)

Tuition reimbursement

Student loan assistance

Job summary

Northwest Healthcare Tucson is seeking a Surgical First Assist to join its Tucson Surgery Center team. This role involves providing critical support during surgical procedures, maintaining sterile environments, and ensuring optimal patient outcomes. Required qualifications include CST certification and 1-3 years of experience in an acute care setting. A robust benefits package is available, including health insurance and tuition assistance. Candidates must be authorized to work in the U.S.

Qualifications

• 1-3 years of experience as a Surgical Technician or First Assist in an acute care setting required.
• Proficiency in surgical techniques and sterile field maintenance.
• Knowledge of infection control standards.

Responsibilities

• Functions as a scrub person during surgical procedures.
• Handles and dissects tissues, clamps blood vessels, and places drains as instructed.
• Assists with wound closure and applies staples.

Skills

Surgical techniques

Aseptic principles

Sterile field maintenance

Surgical anatomy knowledge

Effective communication

Teamwork skills

Attention to detail

Education

CST - Certified Surgical Technologist

CSFA - Certified Surgical First Assistant

BCLS - Basic Life Support

Job description

Overview

2121 N Craycroft Rd | Building #8 | Tucson, AZ 85712

As a Surgical First Assist at Tucson Surgery Center, you’ll join a team and be a part of a culture that's dedicated to providing top quality care to our patients. Our full-time employees enjoy a robust benefits package which may include health insurance, 401(k), licensure/certification reimbursement, tuition reimbursement, and student loan assistance for eligible roles.

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
• Certified Surgical Assistant (CSA) through NSAA required
• BCLS - Basic Life Support required
• ACLS - Advanced Cardiac Life Support preferred

This position is not eligible for immigration sponsorship now or in the future. Applicants must be authorized to work in the U.S. for an employer.