Surgical Tech First Assist

Tennova Healthcare- North Knoxville Medical Center; Knoxville (TN); On-site; USD 60,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Tennova Healthcare- North Knoxville Medical Center is seeking a Surgical Technician First Assist to provide direct support to surgeons during procedures, maintain sterile field, and assist in critical tasks. Position requires advanced technical skills for patient positioning, tissue handling, bleeding control, suturing, and dressing applications.

Responsibilities include instrument handling, exposure, and assisting with wound closure while ensuring sterility, safety, and efficient turnover of

Qualifications

• 1-3 years of experience as a Surgical Technician or First Assist in an acute care setting required.
• CST - Certified Surgical Technologist or CSFA/CSA certification required or equivalent.

Responsibilities

• Functions as a scrub person during surgical procedures, preparing and organizing sterile supplies and instruments.
• Performs first assistant duties, including exposure via instrument handling, retractors, suctioning, and sponging as directed by the surgeon.
• Handles and dissects tissues, clamps vessels, coagulates bleeding, and places drains per surgeon instructions.
• Assists with wound closure, suturing, staples, and dressing of surgical sites per surgeon instructions.
• Ensures sterility and safety, conducts proper counting procedures with RN circulator, follows infection control protocols.
• Prepares and transports instruments for decontamination and sterilization.
• Assists in post-procedure room turnover and prepares areas for subsequent surgeries.
• Performs other duties as assigned and maintains regular attendance.
• Complies with all policies and standards.

Skills

Surgical techniques

Aseptic principles

Sterile field maintenance

Anatomy knowledge

Instrumentation

Intraoperative decision-making

Teamwork & communication

Infection control

Patient positioning

Tools

Surgical instruments

Job description

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.

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