Job Description

University of Utah Job Description

Job Summary

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The Surgical Assistant provides vital intraoperative support to surgeons, assisting in exposure, hemostasis, and closure to ensure optimal surgical outcomes. This role encompasses preoperative and postoperative duties to enhance patient care, unctioning under the surgeon's supervision and ollowing hospital policies and regulations. The Surgical Assistant primarily acts as a irst or second assistant during abdominal, cardiovascular and thoracic procedures and participates in other surgical specialties as needed. Key responsibilities include patient transportation, perioperative data review, and assisting in the setup and cleaning o the surgical suite, supplies, equipment, and instruments.

Qualifications

• Basic Life Support (BLS) Certification through the American Heart Association (AHA)
• A Bachelor’s degree in Health Care Administration, Nursing, or a related field (1 year of directly related work experience may be substituted for 1 year of education), or
• Graduation from an approved physician assistant program, an accredited or military surgical assistant program, or completion of the Registered Nurse First Assist (RNFA) course, or
• Three years of recent experience in first assisting with abdominal, cardiovascular and cardiothoracic procedures.
• Demonstrated human relation and effective communication skills
• Knowledge of physiological and anatomical aspects of surgical procedures, including surgical competency in vein harvesting.  
• Experience in oncology, multidisciplinary clinics, and/or working with high-acuity, complex patients may be preferred.
• This position provides patient care and is patient-sensitive. Employees in this position must fulfill all requirements associated with this role, including:
  • Vaccination requirements, or be approved for an exemption, prior to the first day of work.
  • All patient care and patient-sensitive employees must be immunized in accordance to CDC standards and position requirements. Limited exemptions may be made for documented medical contraindications or religious beliefs that object to vaccinations.

Preferred Qualifications

• Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) certification.
• Certification for First Assisting.
• Endoscopic vein harvesting experience.

This position is patient-sensitive and must fulfill all associated vaccination requirements, or be approved for an exemption, prior to the first day of work. We protect our patients, coworkers and community by requiring all patient-sensitive employees to be immunized according to CDC standards and hospital policy. Limited exemptions may be made for documented medical contraindications or religious beliefs that object to vaccinations.

Applicants must demonstrate the potential ability to perform the essential functions of the job as outlined in the position description.

Disclaimer

This job description has been designed to indicate the general nature and level of work performed by employees within this classification.  It is not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities and qualifications required of employees assigned to the job.

Essential Functions

• Perform operative duties and assistance under the surgeon's supervision.
• Function primarily as a first or second assistant during abdominal, cardiovascular and thoracic operative procedures.
• Participate as a first or second assistant in other surgical specialties, as requested.
• Participate in patient transportation.
• Review perioperative patient data with each surgeon.
• Assist in setting up and cleaning the surgical suite, supplies, equipment, and instruments.
• Position the patient and provide visualization of the operative site.
• Utilize appropriate techniques to assist with hemostasis, closure of body planes, and volume replacement or autotransfusion as appropriate.
• Select and apply appropriate wound dressings, and secure drainage systems to tissue.
• Applicants must demonstrate the potential ability to perform the essential functions of the job as outlined in the position description.

Disclaimer

This job description has been designed to indicate the general nature and level of work performed by employees within this classification.  It is not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities and qualifications required of employees assigned to the job.

Work Environment and Level of Frequency that may be required:

Nearly Continuously: Office environment.

Seldom: Infectious disease, oils (there is air or skin exposure to oils or other cutting fluids).

Physical Requirements and Level of Frequency that may be required

Nearly Continuously: Hearing, listening, talking.

Often: Repetitive hand motion (such as typing), walking, standing, sitting. 

Seldom: Bending, reaching overhead.

The staff member must be able to demonstrate the knowledge and skills necessary to provide care appropriate to the age of the patients served on the assigned unit. The individual must demonstrate knowledge of the principles of life span growth and development and the ability to assess data regarding the patient’s status and provide care as described in the department’s policies and procedures manual.  

Comments

The staff member must be able to demonstrate the knowledge and skills necessary to provide care appropriate to the age of the patients served on his or her assigned unit.  The individual must demonstrate knowledge of the principles of life span growth and development and the ability to assess data regarding the patient's status and provide care as described in the department's policies and procedures manual.