Surgical Assistants

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Certified Surgical First Assistant (CSFA), Registered Nurse First Assistant (RNFA), Surgical First Assistant, Surgical Technician (Surgical Tech)

What they 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.
On the job, you would:
  • Verify the identity of patient or operative site.
  • Monitor and maintain aseptic technique throughout procedures.
  • Cover patients with surgical drapes to create and maintain a sterile operative field.

Knowledge

Health

  • medicine and dentistry

Business

  • customer service

Arts and Humanities

  • English language

Math and Science

  • biology

Skills

Basic Skills

  • listening to others, not interrupting, and asking good questions
  • talking to others

Problem Solving

  • noticing a problem and figuring out the best way to solve it

Social

  • changing what is done based on other people's actions
  • looking for ways to help people

Abilities

Hand and Finger Use

  • keep your arm or hand steady
  • put together small parts with your fingers

Verbal

  • listen and understand what people say
  • communicate by speaking

Ideas and Logic

  • notice when problems happen
  • order or arrange things

Attention

  • pay attention to something without being distracted

Personality

People interested in this work like activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions.

They do well at jobs that need:

  • Self Control
  • Attention to Detail
  • Dependability
  • Integrity
  • Stress Tolerance
  • Concern for Others

Technology

You might use software like this on the job:

Spreadsheet software

  • Microsoft Excel Hot Technology

Presentation software

  • Microsoft PowerPoint Hot Technology

Medical software

  • MEDITECH software
  • Surgery workflow communication software

Education

Education: (rated 3 of 5)

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Job Outlook

Bright
New job opportunities are very likely in the future.
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See more details at O*NET OnLine about surgical assistants.