Surgical First Assistant Tech — Hands-On OR Support

adventhealth; Merriam (KS); On-site; USD 40,000 - 76,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

Life insurance

Disability insurance

Paid time off

403(b) plan

Parental leave

Career development

Well-being resources

Mental health resources

Pet benefits

Job summary

AdventHealth in Merriam, KS seeks a Surgical First Assistant to support the surgeon during procedures, maintain sterile technique, and ensure patient safety. You will work closely with anesthesia, prepare the OR, and help with closures, dressings, and drains in a fast-paced setting.

The role requires BLS certification and CSA/CSFA or equivalent, with 2+ years of first assistant experience preferred. Day shift, full-time position with comprehensive benefits offered.

Qualifications

• Knowledge of Anatomy [Required]
• Assist the surgeon in the Surgical Procedures [Required]
• Prepares and maintains surgical area [Required]
• Performs technical responsibilities for optimal patient care [Required]
• Serves as a resource person [Required]
• Able to precept and act as resource person and preceptor in multiple surgical specialties [Required]
• Ability to prepare surgical suites with appropriate instruments, resources, and supplies based on surgeon preference cards [Required]
• Strong physician/surgeon relationship skills and team mentality [Required]
• Up-to-date knowledge of patient rights and ability to respect cultural, psychosocial, and spiritual values [Required]
• Up-to-date knowledge of applicable regulatory, compliance, and accreditation standards and requirements [Required]
• Ability to communicate appropriately and effectively with patients and their family, hospital staff, nurses, physicians, and other health care professionals [Required]
• Must be able to read, write and speak conversational English [Required]
• Basic computer skills and knowledge of Microsoft Office [Required]
• Proficient in a minimum of 2 surgical specialties [Preferred]

Responsibilities

• Positions patients for optimal surgical exposure while ensuring comfort and safety.
• Pads pressure points and guards against nerve damage to prevent injury.
• Collaborates with anesthesia personnel to maintain the patient's temperature within the desired range.
• Utilizes equipment necessary for common surgical positions, including fracture tables, head and body stabilizers, and C-arm extensions.
• Evaluates patients post-procedure for any positioning‑related damage and reports abnormalities to the surgeon.
• Provides visualization of the operative site through proper placement and securing of retractors, packing with sponges, and digital manipulation of tissue.
• Assists with hemostasis by clamping, cauterizing, tying, ligating vessels, and applying hemostatic agents.
• Participates in volume replacement or auto-transfusion techniques as needed.
• Assists with closure of body planes using various suturing techniques and materials as directed by the surgeon.
• Selects and applies appropriate wound dressings and secures drainage systems to tissue.
• Prepares and maintains the surgical area, including scrubbing for procedures, setting up the operating room, and cleaning instruments and equipment post-procedure.
• Performs operative shave prep, scrub, urinary catheterization, and other patient care tasks as assigned by the RN.
• Performs other duties as assigned

Skills

Anatomy knowledge

Assist surgeon

Prepare surgical area

Technical patient care

Resource person

Precepting

Surgical suite prep

Team communication

Cultural competence

Regulatory knowledge

English proficiency

MS Office

Surgical specialties

Education

Associate

High School Grad

Technical/Vocational School

Job description

AdventHealth in Merriam, KS seeks a Surgical First Assistant to support the surgeon during procedures, maintain sterile technique, and ensure patient safety. You will work closely with anesthesia, prepare the OR, and help with closures, dressings, and drains in a fast-paced setting.

The role requires BLS certification and CSA/CSFA or equivalent, with 2+ years of first assistant experience preferred. Day shift, full-time position with comprehensive benefits offered.