What does a surgical first assistant do?
A surgical first assistant plays a vital role in a successful surgical procedure. They are primarily in charge of assisting surgeons, such as by arranging and handing over tools, holding open incisions, and dressing surgical wounds. They also perform tasks such as helping patients prepare for surgeries, transporting patients to different rooms, monitoring the inventory of supplies, and maintaining the cleanliness of work areas. Furthermore, it is essential to implement the safety protocols and measures before, during, and after surgeries for a safe and successful outcome.
Surgical first assistant responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real surgical first assistant resumes:
- Manage floor, ICU and rehab in-patients as well as respond to ER and hospital consultation.
- Appropriate placement and securing of retractors.
- Insert and remove Foley urinary bladder catheter.
- Comply with all HIPAA rules and regulations.
- Hold retractors or instruments as directed by the surgeon.
- Assist on total knee and hip replacements as well as fracture care.
- Maintain an inventory of instruments, sponges, and needles used during the surgical procedure.
- Perform CPR during code blues, customize splints, and provide a variety of wind care.
- Major specialty are assisting in plastic surgery, including suturing; however do perform all specialties as needed.
- Count supplies, such as sponges and instruments, maintain a sterile environment by using specific ovens and sterile procedures.
- help with paper work - teach people how to preform CPR - currently in the process of becoming a CPR instructor
- Organize and maintain MOHS laboratory to follow CLIA standardize regulations.
- Experience includes: laparoscopic and da Vinci robotic assist laparoscopic training and gynecologic surgeries.
- Work independently in a pain management clinic providing quality medical attention to acute and chronic pain patients.
- Prepare patients for surgery including education, positioning, sterile draping, skin preparation and administration of local anesthetic
Surgical first assistant skills and personality traits
We calculated that 14% of Surgical First Assistants are proficient in Patients, Visualization, and Patient Care. They’re also known for soft skills such as Compassion, Emotional stability, and Problem-solving skills.
We break down the percentage of Surgical First Assistants that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Patients, 14%
Informed, educated, and counseled patients regarding important surgical procedures.
- Visualization, 9%
Provide retraction of tissue and organs for optimal visualization with regard to tissue type and appropriate retraction instrument and/or technique 10.
- Patient Care, 7%
Report pertinent information regarding patient care to recovery room personnel.
- Surgical Procedures, 7%
Certified first assistant-surgical procedures with surgeon, specializing and achieving skills in: General Surgery OB-GYN Surgery Orthopedics Plastics Surgery
- Surgical Technologist, 6%
Certified Surgical Technologist, Good Samaritan Hospital Performed as a CST in general, orthopedic and cardiovascular surgery.
- Optimal Results, 4%
Ensured to provide efficient and supportive environment for optimal results in administering surgery.
Most surgical first assistants use their skills in "patients," "visualization," and "patient care" to do their jobs. You can find more detail on essential surgical first assistant responsibilities here:
Detail oriented. A big part of what surgical first assistants do relies on "detail oriented." You can see how essential it is to surgical first assistant responsibilities because "surgical assistants and technologists must pay close attention to their work." Here's an example of how this skill is used from a resume that represents typical surgical first assistant tasks: "obtain detailed history of patients medical illnesses, allergies, medications and concerns. "
Communication. Another common skill required for surgical first assistant responsibilities is "communication." This skill comes up in the duties of surgical first assistants all the time, as "to prevent infections or other complications, surgical assistants and technologists must relay any issues that arise during surgery to the other members of the healthcare team." An excerpt from a real surgical first assistant resume shows how this skill is central to what a surgical first assistant does: "experienced in patient care and patient to caregiver communication. "
Dexterity. While "dexterity" is last on this skills list, don't underestimate its importance to surgical first assistant responsibilities. Much of what a surgical first assistant does relies on this skill, seeing as "surgical assistants and technologists should be comfortable working with their hands." Here is a resume example of how this skill is used in the everyday duties of surgical first assistants: "lifted and assisted in positioning patients preceptor"
The three companies that hire the most surgical first assistants are:
- AdventHealth38 surgical first assistants jobs
- LifePoint Health32 surgical first assistants jobs
- HealthTrust32 surgical first assistants jobs
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Compare different surgical first assistants
Surgical first assistant vs. Operating room nurse
An Operating Room Nurse assists surgeons during operations and keeps the operating room sterile at all times. They ensure that patients are ready for transport to the recovery room.
These skill sets are where the common ground ends though. The responsibilities of a surgical first assistant are more likely to require skills like "visualization," "patient care," "surgical technologist," and "optimal results." On the other hand, a job as an operating room nurse requires skills like "bls," "pre-op," "perioperative," and "physician orders." As you can see, what employees do in each career varies considerably.
Operating room nurses earn the highest salaries when working in the professional industry, with an average yearly salary of $78,495. On the other hand, surgical first assistants are paid more in the health care industry with an average salary of $62,203.operating room nurses tend to reach lower levels of education than surgical first assistants. In fact, operating room nurses are 8.9% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 7.7% less likely to have a Doctoral Degree.Surgical first assistant vs. Surgical technician
A Surgical Technician is an essential member of a medical operating team. They serve as an additional hand of a surgeon. Surgical Technicians have the vital responsibility of assisting surgeons during operations, such as passing and providing instruments and tools such as Graspers, Clasps, Suction, and more. Furthermore, Surgical Technicians are also responsible for preparing all of the required surgical devices and instruments, making sure they are all up to the standards of hospital and medical regulations. And post-surgery, their duties include applying bandages to a patient and even cleaning the operating room.
In addition to the difference in salary, there are some other key differences worth noting. For example, surgical first assistant responsibilities are more likely to require skills like "visualization," "optimal results," "operative site," and "technical functions." Meanwhile, a surgical technician has duties that require skills in areas such as "aseptic technique," "surgical services," "cpr," and "sterile processing." These differences highlight just how different the day-to-day in each role looks.
Surgical technicians may earn a lower salary than surgical first assistants, but surgical technicians earn the most pay in the professional industry with an average salary of $55,369. On the other hand, surgical first assistants receive higher pay in the health care industry, where they earn an average salary of $62,203.In general, surgical technicians achieve lower levels of education than surgical first assistants. They're 12.2% less likely to obtain a Master's Degree while being 7.7% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Surgical first assistant vs. Certified surgical assistant
First assistants to surgeons are in charge of assisting surgeons in the smooth execution of the operation's procedure and completion. They are the ones who will prepare the patient for surgeries, hand surgeons the needed tools, hold incisions open so that surgeons can easily perform the operation, transport patients to their rooms, and maintain the cleanliness of the operating room. They must also be able to withstand long hours of standing to complete surgical operations and agility to rush in case of emergencies.
There are many key differences between these two careers, including some of the skills required to perform responsibilities within each role. For example, a surgical first assistant is likely to be skilled in "patient care," "surgical technologist," "operative site," and "technical functions," while a typical certified surgical assistant is skilled in "cpr," "medical equipment," "urology," and "direct patient care."
Certified surgical assistants typically earn lower educational levels compared to surgical first assistants. Specifically, they're 8.4% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 5.9% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Surgical first assistant vs. First assistant
Even though a few skill sets overlap between surgical first assistants and first assistants, there are some differences that are important to note. For one, a surgical first assistant might have more use for skills like "surgical technologist," "optimal results," "operative site," and "technical functions." Meanwhile, some responsibilities of first assistants require skills like "cpr," "rehabilitation," "cleanliness," and "compassion. "
In general, first assistants hold similar degree levels compared to surgical first assistants. First assistants are 0.9% less likely to earn their Master's Degree and 6.5% less likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.Types of surgical first assistant
Updated January 8, 2025
