Surgical assistant vs registered nurse

Differences between surgical assistant and registered nurse duties and responsibilities

Surgical assistant example responsibilities.

• Manage medical records and document examination notes, prescriptions, and procedure details in EMR.
• Manage surgical scheduling, cataract evaluations, ultrasounds, keratometry, IOL selection, and preoperative exam for surgery.
• Prepare patients for examination by taking their vitals, and performing EKG when need.
• Assist with all dental procedures, order all supplies, maintain equipment and OSHA handbook.
• Assist surgeons in surgical procedures making incisions, manipulating tissues and organs, cauterizing, suturing and dressing wounds.
• Interview patients, review patient medical history, gather and educate patients on their medications.
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Registered nurse example responsibilities.

• Manage patient care for individuals with multiple diagnoses including COPD, diabetes, stroke and cardiac issues.
• Organize and manage regular clinics involving external physicians, including ophthalmology, ENT, Med/Surg, orthopedics, and podiatry professionals.
• Manage surgical recovery patients including vascular, ENT, GI urological and neurological cases, coronary bypass surgery patients.
• Manage patient pain relief and sedation by providing pharmacological and non-pharmacological intervention, monitor patient response and record care plans accordingly.
• Provide care for cardiac patients in arrhythmia critical care unit, providing patient education and monitoring telemetry
• Re-Cover surgical patients immediately after heart and vascular surgery until transfer out of ICU.
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