Surgical Assistant

Assist in the insertion, positioning, or suturing of closed-wound drainage systems.

Clamp, ligate, or cauterize blood vessels to control bleeding during surgical entry, using hemostatic clamps, suture ligatures, or electrocautery equipment.

Pass instruments or supplies to surgeon during procedure.

Postoperatively inject a subcutaneous local anesthetic agent to reduce pain.

Apply sutures, staples, clips, or other materials to close skin, facia, or subcutaneous wound layers.

Transport patients to operating room.

Determine availability of necessary equipment or supplies for operative procedures.

Assist in volume replacement or autotransfusion techniques.

Verify the identity of patient or operative site.

Prepare and apply sterile wound dressings.

Operate sterilizing devices.

Monitor patient intra-operative status, including patient position, vital signs, or volume and color of blood.

Remove patient hair or disinfect incision sites to prepare patient for surgery.

Coordinate with anesthesia personnel to maintain patient temperature.

Incise tissue layers in lower extremities to harvest veins.

Assist with patient resuscitation during cardiac arrest or other life-threatening events.

Monitor and maintain aseptic technique throughout procedures.

Coordinate or participate in the positioning of patients, using body stabilizing equipment or protective padding to provide appropriate exposure for the procedure or to protect against nerve damage or circulation impairment.

Gather, arrange, or assemble instruments or supplies.

Cover patients with surgical drapes to create and maintain a sterile operative field.

Maintain an unobstructed operative field, using surgical retractors, sponges, or suctioning and irrigating equipment.

Discuss with surgeon the nature of the surgical procedure, including operative consent, methods of operative exposure, diagnostic or laboratory data, or patient-advanced directives or other needs.

Assist members of surgical team with gowning or gloving.

Obtain or inspect sterile or non-sterile surgical equipment, instruments, or supplies.

Assist in applying casts, splints, braces, or similar devices.

Insert or remove urinary bladder catheters.