Surgical Technologist - First Assist

Job Title: Surgical Technologist - First Assist
Location: Grand Rapids, MI
Duration: 13 Weeks
Shift: Days, 7am to 5:30pm (0700-1530), 10-hour shift, no weekend rotation, on-call required with a 2-hour minimum callback


Summary:
The Surgical Technologist First Assistant (STFA) possessing advanced knowledge of anatomy and physiology, and utilizing extensive patient assessment skills, collaborates with all health team members to ensure the most optimal patient outcome. Performs all activities at an expanded level of surgical technician practice executed within the context of the nursing process. Intraoperatively, the STFA actively assists the surgeon, performing observable, technical behaviors (cognitive, psychomotor, and affective).

Responsibilities:

• Assesses, monitors, develops, and maintains individualized patient plans of care with the patient and consistent with patient/family changing needs, and goals and reflecting the full products of nursing practice.
• Delivers care in a manner that is culturally sensitive and preserves patient autonomy, dignity, and rights.
• Identifies, facilitates, and evaluates outcomes of nursing care for an individual patient or group of patients.
• Documents patient care accurately and acts as a patient/family advocate.
• Initiates patient discharge planning at initial patient contact and facilitates a smooth transition to the next point of service/home.
• Ensures that required documentation is performed in an accurate and timely manner.
• Provides evidence-based patient care consistent with plan and guidelines of care, physician’s orders, and in compliance with health system policies, procedures, and client regulatory standards.
• Communicates with other members of the health care team to ensure continuity of care.
• Evaluates patients and families' educational needs and develops and implements appropriate teaching strategies or makes appropriate referrals.
• Demonstrates a high standard of moral and ethical behavior.
• Formulates decisions and actions based on ethical principles.
• Advocates for privacy, confidentiality, and security of patient, staff, and organization data.
• Assumes an autonomous leadership role and delegates appropriately to support employees to facilitate safe, quality care in a timely, cost-effective manner.
• Intra-operatively, actively and independently assists the surgeon, performing observable, technical behaviors, including but not limited to patient positioning, skin preparation, tissue handling, wound exposure, hemostasis, manipulating surgical instruments, and wound closure.
• The intern is under the supervision of a surgeon/preceptor and will work towards independence by completing all STFA competencies.

Required Skills:

• 3 years of relevant experience within a surgical services nursing department.
• Successfully complete a certification STFA course, which addresses both didactic knowledge and technical skills.
• The STFA course curriculum is based on recognized core curriculum for the ST First Assistant in which a certificate is awarded.

Certifications & Licenses:

• CRT-Surgical Technologist, Certified (CST) - AST Association of Surgical Technologist Upon Hire required Or
• CRT-Surgical Technologist, Certified (CST) - NBSTSA National Board of Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting Upon Hire required Or
• CRT-Surgical Technologist, Certified (CST) - ABSA American Board of Surgical Assistants Upon Hire required
• CRT-Surgical First Assistant, Certified (CSFA) - NBSTSA National Board of Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting Upon Hire required
• CRT-Basic Life Support (BLS) - AHA American Heart Association Upon Hire required Or
• CRT-Basic Life Support (BLS) - ARC client Upon Hire required
• CRT-Adv Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS) - AHA American Heart Association Upon Hire preferred