Surgical First Assistant (Certified) - Operating Room

WellSpan Health; Chambersburg (Franklin County); On-site; USD 52,000 - 70,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Comprehensive health benefits

Retirement savings plan

Paid time off (PTO)

Education assistance

DailyPay

Job summary

WellSpan Health in Chambersburg, PA is seeking a Surgical Technician to support the operating room team. The role includes preparing rooms, assisting with positioning and draping, maintaining aseptic technique, and handling instruments and supplies to ensure safe patient care.

Under surgeon supervision, you will assist with specimen collection, tissue handling, and intraoperative tasks; participate in cross-training and maintain compliance with universal protocols and safety guidelines.

Qualifications

• Customer service behaviors and communication skills required.
• Five years of experience as Surgical Technician in Armed Forces preferred.
• Certifications: CSFA or SA-C required or preferred.

Responsibilities

• Demonstrates involvement in unit by attending staff/committee meetings and in-services.
• Maintains aseptic technique and safe handling of instruments and supplies.
• Assists with preparing room supplies, positioning and draping patients.
• Assists in maintenance and sterilization of instruments and equipment.
• Communicates effectively with RN and surgical team for patient care and safety.

Skills

Customer service

Communication skills

Teamwork

Safety awareness

Education

School of Surgical Technology or equivalent

CSFA or SA-C certification (preferred)

Tools

Surgical instruments

Autoclaves

Sterilization equipment

Job description

Job Description

Full Time (80 Hours/Biweekly). Shift: Day/Evening Flex.

Essential Functions and Responsibilities

• Utilizes appropriate physician preference cards; anticipates supplies and equipment needed for the assigned case.
• Prepares room supplies according to operative procedure.
• Assists with moving, positioning, preparing and draping patients.
• Applies and utilizes special equipment safely.
• Maintains aseptic technique.
• Assists with obtaining specimens and ensures proper preparation and handling.
• Performs correct counts according to hospital policies and procedures.
• Anticipates and adjusts rapidly to the instrument needs of the surgeon.
• Assists in the maintenance of instruments and supplies by proper care, cleaning and sterilization.
• Maintains good interpersonal skills.
• Performs all of the above in a safe and efficient manner according to hospital policies and procedures.

Responsibilities

• Demonstrates involvement in unit by attending 50% of staff/committee meetings and in‑services in area.
• Actively supports and participates in new employee orientation.
• Assists in maintaining a neat, safe and clean environment.
• Performs duties accurately, recognizing their importance and relationship to patient care and safety.
• Uses supplies and equipment with discretion, being mindful of costs and avoiding waste.
• Adapts to changes in workload or procedure assignment.
• Responds appropriately to emergency situations.
• Plans, prioritizes and organizes the day effectively related to patient care and workload.
• Accurately swipes in and out. Maintains time in accordance with department specifics.
• Utilizes proper body mechanics to prevent injury to self or others. Safely positions, transfers & transports patients.
• Maintains aseptic technique.
• Anticipates and addresses needs of the surgeon and surgical team, including radiological procedures and equipment needs; may step on the pedal.
• Performs correct counts and time‑out as part of the surgical team.
• Assists in proper specimen collection and hand‑off.
• Assists in maintenance of instruments and equipment; removes defective equipment immediately and troubleshoots to finish the case, reporting issues to appropriate department for repair.
• Accurately prepares and labels all medications with nurse and surgeon on the sterile field.
• Knows own role in surgical fire, codes and emergency situations and responds appropriately.
• Communicates pertinent information to RN and surgical team.
• Maintains appropriate safety measures in surgical areas in compliance with surgical initiatives including Universal Protocol, parallel processing, sharps safety, no‑pass zone, PPE, medication labeling and specimen handling.
• Maintains competency with common positions and assists with patient positioning per surgeon instruction to provide optimal exposure while ensuring patient comfort and safety.
• Points of pressure requiring additional padding include elbows, heels, knees, eyes, face and axillary region.
• Ensures circulation is not impaired; protects against nerve damage.
• Maintains competency with required equipment such as fracture tables and head stabilizers.
• Exhibits manual dexterity and flexibility adequate for cleaning, processing and sterilizing instruments per CDC, OSHA and hospital policies.
• Acquires operational knowledge of autoclaves and sterilizers; programs, packs and troubleshoots as appropriate.
• Sets up and processes specified trays; picks instruments and supplies for upcoming cases.
• Participates in cross‑training as assigned.
• Processes and reprocesses incoming implant instruments/trays from vendors for scheduled cases.
• Places and secures retractors with or without padding.
• Performs packing with sponges.
• Handles suctioning, irrigating and sponging.
• Manipulates suture materials and tissue to reduce injury risk.
• Uses surgical instruments skillfully according to design and purpose.
• Provides primary surgical assistance to the surgeon during operative procedures.
• Under direct supervision of surgeon, performs duties in operative treatment of surgical patients.
• Utilizes techniques to assist with hemostasis and prevent hemorrhage.
• Applies direct digital pressure.
• Closes skin using method directed by surgeon (suture, staples, etc.).
• Selects and applies appropriate wound dressings: liquid or spray occlusive materials, absorbent material affixed with tape or circumferential wrapping, immobilizing dressing.
• Assists in securing drainage systems to tissue.
• Assists with robotics as outlined by additional Intuitive training course.
• Performs intraoperative harvesting of the saphenous vein.
• Activates power equipment and electrosurgery unit as necessary to contribute to quality surgical outcomes.
• Performs advanced task functions in closure of body planes under surgeon supervision.
• Facilitates closure of skin layer by proper handling of tissue with forceps.
• Performs venipuncture for continuous IV therapy.

Qualifications and Standards

• Education: Graduate from a School of Surgical Technology or equivalent; five years of experience as Surgical Technician in Armed Forces.
• Continuing education: evidence of participation in programs that update and maintain knowledge and clinical skills.
• Experience: Customer service behaviors and communication skills required; recent experience as Operating Room Technician preferred; basic understanding of interpersonal and health concepts.
• Certifications: Certified Surgical First Assistant (CSFA) by National Board of Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting or Surgical Assistant – Certified (SA‑C) by American Board of Surgical Assistants required.

Benefits Offered

• Comprehensive health benefits
• Retirement savings plan
• Paid time off (PTO)
• Education assistance
• Financial education and support, including DailyPay