Surgical Assistants

What Does a Surgical Assistants Do?

Assist in operations, under the supervision of surgeons. May, in accordance with state laws, help surgeons to make incisions and close surgical sites, manipulate or remove tissues, implant surgical devices or drains, suction the surgical site, place catheters, clamp or cauterize vessels or tissue, and apply dressings to surgical site.

Day-to-Day Responsibilities

• 1Verify the identity of patient or operative site.
• 2Monitor and maintain aseptic technique throughout procedures.
• 3Cover patients with surgical drapes to create and maintain a sterile operative field.
• 4Coordinate 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.
• 5Maintain an unobstructed operative field, using surgical retractors, sponges, or suctioning and irrigating equipment.
• 6Prepare and apply sterile wound dressings.
• 7Apply sutures, staples, clips, or other materials to close skin, facia, or subcutaneous wound layers.
• 8Discuss 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.

Required Skills

• Active Listening
• Speaking
• Reading Comprehension
• Critical Thinking
• Monitoring
• Electronic medical record EMR software
• MEDITECH software
• Microsoft Excel
• Microsoft Office software
• Microsoft PowerPoint
• Nursing documentation software
• Patient scheduling software
• Patient tracking software
• Supply documentation software
• Surgery workflow communication software

Surgical Assistants Salary