Certified Surgical First Assistant

• Location: 1000 Medical Center Dr., Hardeeville, South Carolina 29927 

• Status: Full Time 

• Schedule: 4 10-hour shifts or 3 12-hour shifts - 2-3 call shifts per month including 1 24-hour weekend call shift

• Education: Graduate, Formal CSFA program recognized by AST,required. 2 Year / Associate Degree, preferred. Graduate of an accredited Surgical Technology Program.
 • Experience: 2 year previous Surgical Technologist experience, preferred.
 • Licensure/Certification: Current Certification as Surgical Technologist and First Assistant, required.
 • Additional Skills (required):

1. Promote the mission, vision, and values of the organization.
2. Participate in preoperative assessment and planning for surgical patients specific to CSFA activities (eg, anatomical exposure, wound closure) in collaboration with perioperative team members.
3.Implement the plan of care by

a. protecting the patient from injury caused by extraneous objects and chemical, electrical, laser, mechanical, and thermal sources.

b. participating in accounting procedures to protect the patient from unintended retained surgical items.
c. performing interventions necessary to ensure that the patient’s procedure is performed on the correct site, side, and level.
d. assisting with management of the patient’s specimens as necessary.
e. communicating the patient’s status to relevant parties throughout the continuum of care;
f. administering medications safely and correctly.
g. performing interventions to maintain the patient’s wound and tissue perfusion at or above baseline levels.
h. performing interventions to maintain the status of the patient’s genitourinary, gastrointestinal, musculoskeletal, endocrine, respiratory, cardiovascular, and neurological systems and fluid, electrolyte, and acid-base balances at or above baseline levels;
 i. 
j. performing interventions to ensure the patient is at or returned to normothermia at the conclusion of the immediate postoperative period.
k. performing interventions to protect the patient from surgical site infection.
I. protecting the patients’ rights, dignity, and privacy.
m. providing age-specific, culturally competent, ethical care within legal standards of practice; and
n. providing consistent and comparable care regardless of the setting.
4. Function as a first assistant during operational and other invasive procedures byproviding exposure through correct use of instruments, retractors, suction, and sponging techniques.
5. handling and dissecting tissues in collaboration with the surgeon.
6. clamping blood vessels, coagulating bleeding points, and ligating vessels in collaboration with the surgeon.
7.placing drains as directed by the surgeon; and
8. suturing muscle, fascia, subcutaneous, and skin in collaboration with the surgeon.
9. Transfer care as applicable.
10. Collaborate effectively with other disciplines as applicable.
11. Participate in quality review and performance improvement projects.
12. Participate in the performance appraisal process.
13. Use problem-solving and conflict resolution skills to foster effective work relationships with team members.
14. Serve as an educator, mentor, consultant, and resource to peers, colleagues, and others in relation to CSFA activities.
15. Maintain regulatory, credentialing, and privileging requirements required for practice as a CSFA.
16. Participate in ongoing educational and competency verification activities applicable to CST and CSFA activities.
17. Act as a patient advocate and maintain privacy and confidentiality of individuals and health information

Additional Skills/Requirements (preferred): All other duties assigned.

• Assisting with patient positioning and surgical site preparation 
• Controlling bleeding through suctioning, clamping, and cauterization 
• Handling and manipulating tissues during surgery 
• Holding retractors and maintaining clear visualization of the surgical field 
• Suturing and closing incisions 
• Applying dressings and supporting postoperative care in the OR 
• Maintaining sterile technique and supporting infection prevention protocols