Surgical First Assistant

Community Health Systems, Inc.; Naples (FL); On-site; USD 65,000 - 85,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Student loan repayment up to $10,000

Health, dental, & vision insurance

PTO

Life Insurance

401(k) with match

Tuition reimbursement

Naples, FL location

Job summary

Community Health Systems, Inc. in Naples, FL is seeking a Surgical Technician First Assist to support surgeons during operative procedures. The role requires scrubbing, instrument handling, and advancing patient safety in a fast-paced OR environment.

Full-time days, with opportunities to work closely with nurses and anesthesia staff; certification requirements include CST or CSFA/CSA and BCLS, with ACLS preferred. New grads welcome with proper supervision.

Qualifications

• 1–3 years of experience as a Surgical Technician or First Assist in an acute care setting.
• CST - Certified Surgical Technologist required; CSFA through NBSTSA or CSA through NSAA required.
• BCLS - Basic Life Support required; ACLS - Advanced Cardiac Life Support preferred.

Responsibilities

• Functions as a scrub person during procedures, maintaining sterile supplies and instruments.
• Performs first assistant duties with exposure, suctioning, retractors, and sponging as directed.
• Handles and dissects tissues, clamps vessels, coagulates bleeding points, and places drains.
• Assists with wound closure, suturing/subcutaneous layers, and dressing.
• Ensures sterility and safety; follows infection control protocols.
• Prepares and transports instruments for decontamination and sterilization.
• Assists in post-procedure room turnover and prep for next surgeries.
• Performs other duties as assigned and maintains regular attendance.

Skills

Surgical techniques

Aseptic principles

Sterile field

Surgical anatomy

Patient positioning

Job description

Surgical First Assistant

• New Grads Welcome!
• Surgical First Assistants bring added versatility by serving as Certified Surgical Technologists.
• Robotics Experience Preferred
• NBSTSA Surgical First Assistant Preferred
• Current Certified Surgical Tech NBSTSA Preferred

Our Benefits

• Up to $10,000 Student Loan Repayment
• Health, Medical, Dental, & Vision
• Paid Time Off PTO
• Life Insurance coverage
• 401(k) with match
• Tuition reimbursement
• Sunny Naples, Florida

Shift:

• Full-Time
• Days

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 and
• 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