CERTIFIED SURGICAL FIRST ASSISTANT at Forrest General Hospital – Hattiesburg, Mississippi

Job Summary:

The Certified Surgical First Assistant position requires proficient knowledge and skills necessary to carry out delegated duties associated with quality, safe, and efficient operating room support functions and related procedures. In addition to performing the duties and responsibilities of an Operating Room Technician I and Operating Room Technician II, the Certified Surgical First Assistant position will provide mentoring and guidance for Operating Room Technician I and Operating Room Technician II positions, utilizing valuable skills and knowledge to help train and orient others.

This position is responsible for assigned non-nursing functions and practices relationship-centered care in accordance with the mission of Forrest General. Other duties for the Certified Surgical First Assistant position will include general patient care and department upkeep as delegated by licensed personnel. It is important for the CSFA to perform well under pressure, work efficiently with attention to detail, and open to continuously learning new surgical techniques and procedures. The Certified Surgical First Assistant is directly accountable to the Patient Care Manager of Surgery and accepts assignments as made by the Specialty Coordinator and adjusted by the Patient Care Coordinator daily.

Performance Expectations:

Items considered essential functions of the job are listed below.

• Ability to effectively communicate with patients, physicians, and co-workers in a manner consistent with a customer service focus and application of positive language principles.
• Provides for exceptional patient and coworker experiences by following our standards of practice of always using positive language.
• Demonstrates independence and exercises sound judgment in interactions with physicians, interprofessional care team
• Promotes a positive work environment with the OR team.
• Collaborates with all members of the OR team by actively communicating and reporting pertinent information in a comprehensive manner.
• Exhibits open and professional communication
• Participate in the procedure timeout and fire safety timeout for every case
• Teaches coworkers to critically think by verbalizing rationale for decisions and follows up, providing structured feedback with examples.
• Serves as the department preceptor for new surgical technologists utilizing skills and knowledge by helping to train and orient.
• Facilitates teamwork by anticipating the need for assistance and responding positively to requests for assistance.
• Makes contributions to the work effort as a whole.
• Assists in prepping the operating room for the next patient.
• Collaborates in preparing instrumentation, equipment, and supplies for use during the procedure before surgeon scrubs.
• Prepares room, equipment and supplies to accommodate procedures.
• Functions within the sterile field by running the instruments, retracting or assisting the surgeon
• Reports any breaks in a sterile technique immediately
• Maintains and accurately communicates updates for surgeon preference cards within the applicable service line.
• Anticipates the needs of the surgeon and nursing staff by performing the role of the OR Technician competently in a variety of surgical procedures including but not limited to: orthopedics, gynecology, general, ENT, urology, vascular, neurology, oral/maxillofacial, laparoscopic, robotic-assisted laparoscopic, podiatry, plastics, and dental.
• Assists the circulating RN with the sponge, instrument, needle, and other surgical counts.
• Performs other related tasks under the direction of the RN Circulator.
• Maintains the highest standard of sterile technique.
• Prepares sterile dressings and/or immobilization devices.
• Cleans and prepares instruments for terminal sterilization.
• Ensures all instruments are sprayed with enzymatic before leaving the Operating Room
• Assist physicians in surgery and may perform specific significant surgical tasks under “professional supervision”. (Significant surgical tasks may include, but are not limited to: opening and closing surgical sites, exposure of the surgical site, harvesting grafts, dissecting tissue, removing tissue, implanting devices, altering tissues or other deemed duties as necessary.)
• Assist in housekeeping duties as directed to ensure a safe patient environment and efficient OR turnover.
• Participates in debriefing and quality improvement practices to ensure quality patient care.
• Contributes to the identification of corrective actions and improvement activities towards improving quality and safety targets through peer-to-peer accountability, reporting near misses, and collaborating with the OR team.
• Organizes time effectively, minimizing incidental overtime and sets priorities.
• Utilizes time between heavy workloads efficiently and helps other team members.
• Maintains efficient use of surgical supplies and minimizes the opening of supplies until confirmation that will be used during surgery.
• Makes recommendations for cost containment during cases.
• Actively Participates in department projects.
• Serves as preceptor and resource as surgical technology students
• Proactively seeks opportunities to enhance knowledge and learning towards expertise.
• Maintains all HealthStream assignment prior to deadlines
• Participates in all competencies planned for the job role prior to deadlines
• Demonstrates the knowledge and skills necessary to provide care appropriate to the age of the patients served; also demonstrates knowledge of the principles of growth and development and possesses the ability to assess data reflective of the patient's status and interprets the appropriate information needed to identify each patient's requirements.
• Complies with the Surgical Services policy.
• Follows the policies in the Employee Handbook.
• The spreading of rumors and gossip, creates unnecessary turmoil, weakens working relationships, and is contrary to the spirit and objectives of the hospital and is prohibited.
• Uses “We Care” philosophy in daily communication.
• Works assigned shift and respond when called upon for additional or emergency services.
• This job description is not intended to be all-inclusive; the employee will also perform other reasonably related job duties as assigned.

Qualifications:

Education/Skills

• High school diploma or equivalent required.
• Graduation from a Surgical Technologist accredited program required or grandfathered into the Operating Room Technician position.
• Graduation from a First Assistant accredited program is required.

Work Experience:

Five years’ experience as a surgical technologist preferred

Two years of Certified Surgical First Assistant (CSFA) experience preferred

Certification/Licensure-DUE UPON HIRE

• Certification from The National Board of Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting or National Center

• Completion of approved Certified Surgical First Assistant Training Program

Additional Certification/Licensure - obtained based on the required timeframe below

• Basic Life Support (Within 30 Days of Employment Required)

Mental Demands:

Ability to perform as a team member, cooperate with others, follow directions precisely, demonstrate initiative, set priorities, and function under stress.