Surgical Assistant

A Surgical Assistant is one of the best tools a Surgeon has. Surgical Assistants provide a second set of senses for the Doctor. You anticipate his or her needs, provide information and tools, and assist with surgical procedures.

Your job as a Surgical Assistant starts before the Surgeon ever enters the room. You read the patient’s chart to educate yourself about the upcoming procedure. Then you sterilize the operation room and ensure that all necessary equipment is present, clean, and working properly. In addition to the operating room, you prep the patient. You clean and shave any incision points, help the patient into a gown, and monitor vital signs.

During the surgery, you provide any service that makes the Surgeon’s job easier. You hand over tools, provide suction, and dispose of waste. While you assist with the patient’s needs, you are also tuned in to those of the Surgeon. Does he need a different pair of glasses? A light moved to a different location? You are constantly thinking ahead so that you can turn on the Surgeon’s favorite classical song before he asks.

Your amount of hands-on care varies by the Surgeon and surgery, but often you provide an extra set of hands to clamp tissue, wipe away fluids, or hold an organ out of the way. You might also close and dress the patient’s wounds. Once the operation is complete, you clean the equipment and restock supplies to prepare the operating room for the next patient.