First Assistant - Robotics

St. Tammany Parish Hospital - Covington, LA

Full-time

Covington, LA

Executive, Legislative, and Other General Government Support

About the position

The Surgical First Assistant can have a formal background as a Registered Nurse (RN) or a Surgical Technologist (ST). The Surgical First Assistant collaborates with the surgeon and the healthcare team in performing a safe operation with optimal outcomes for the patient. The First Assistant practices perioperative practice and must have acquired the necessary knowledge, skills, and judgment specific to clinical practice. The First Assistant practices in collaboration with and at the direction of the surgeon during the intraoperative phase of the perioperative experience. The Surgical First Assistant provides aid in exposure, hemostasis, and other technical functions that will help the surgeon carry out a safe operation with optimal results for the patient. This role will vary considerably with the surgical operation and specialty. Clinical skills performed under direct supervision of the surgeon may include the following: positioning the patient, preparing the skin, providing visualization of the operative site, utilizing appropriate techniques to assist with hemostasis, utilizing appropriate techniques to assist with closure of body planes, assisting with selecting and applying appropriate wound dressings and providing assistance in securing drainage system to tissue. If this employee has a formal background as a RN, this employee will function as a First Assistant or Circulator according to the needs of the department/ staffing assignment. If this employee has a formal background as a Surgical Technologist, this employee will function as a First Assistant or a Surgical Technologist according to the needs of the department/ staffing assignment.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate with the surgeon and healthcare team during surgical operations.
• Assist in exposure, hemostasis, and other technical functions during surgery.
• Position the patient and prepare the skin for surgery.
• Provide visualization of the operative site.
• Utilize techniques to assist with hemostasis and closure of body planes.
• Select and apply appropriate wound dressings.
• Secure drainage systems to tissue.

Requirements

• Certification as a Surgical First Assistant from an accredited certifying agency.
• Graduate from an accredited School of Nursing and/or School of Surgical Technology.
• Current registered nurse licensure in LA, if formal RN background.
• Current BLS certification through any ILCOR provided courses.
• Must be available in-house within 30 minutes when on call.

Nice-to-haves

• CNOR certification.
• Two years perioperative services experience.