Surgical Assistants

• Verify the identity of patient or operative site.
• Monitor and maintain aseptic technique throughout procedures.
• Coordinate or participate in the positioning of patients, using body stabilizing equipment or protective padding to provide appropriate exposure for the procedure or to protect against nerve damage or circulation impairment.
• Cover patients with surgical drapes to create and maintain a sterile operative field.
• Maintain an unobstructed operative field, using surgical retractors, sponges, or suctioning and irrigating equipment.
• Apply sutures, staples, clips, or other materials to close skin, facia, or subcutaneous wound layers.
• Prepare and apply sterile wound dressings.
• Clamp, ligate, or cauterize blood vessels to control bleeding during surgical entry, using hemostatic clamps, suture ligatures, or electrocautery equipment.
• Determine availability of necessary equipment or supplies for operative procedures.
• Discuss with surgeon the nature of the surgical procedure, including operative consent, methods of operative exposure, diagnostic or laboratory data, or patient-advanced directives or other needs.
• Assess skin integrity or other body conditions upon completion of the procedure to determine if damage has occurred from body positioning.
• Assist with patient resuscitation during cardiac arrest or other life-threatening events.
• Operate sterilizing devices.
• Obtain or inspect sterile or non-sterile surgical equipment, instruments, or supplies.
• Pass instruments or supplies to surgeon during procedure.
• Monitor patient intra-operative status, including patient position, vital signs, or volume and color of blood.
• Assist in the insertion, positioning, or suturing of closed-wound drainage systems.
• Gather, arrange, or assemble instruments or supplies.
• Assist members of surgical team with gowning or gloving.
• Coordinate with anesthesia personnel to maintain patient temperature.
• Adjust and maintain operating room temperature, humidity, or lighting, according to surgeon's specifications.
• Transport patients to operating room.
• Assist in applying casts, splints, braces, or similar devices.

Source: O*NET OnLine information for Surgical Assistants.

• Active Listening - Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
• Speaking - Talking to others to convey information effectively.
• Monitoring - Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
• Critical Thinking - Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
• Reading Comprehension - Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
• Service Orientation - Actively looking for ways to help people.
• Coordination - Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
• Operation Monitoring - Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
• Complex Problem Solving - Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
• Social Perceptiveness - Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.

Source: O*NET OnLine information for Surgical Assistants.