Description

Avant First Assistants is seeking a highly skilled and dependable Cardiovascular Surgical Assistant to join our dedicated team in Houston, Texas. We offer a professional environment that prioritizes clinical excellence, continuous professional growth, and a collaborative culture, providing the opportunity to work alongside a highly respected cardiovascular surgical team.

In this role, you will deliver critical intraoperative support to cardiovascular surgeons, contributing directly to optimal patient outcomes while continuing to expand and refine your clinical expertise in a dynamic, high-acuity surgical environment.

Responsibilities

Preoperative Responsibilities
• Meet with patients in the preoperative area to verify informed consent and confirm that all required documentation is complete, accurate, and compliant with institutional policies.
• Assist with patient preparation, including positioning, surgical site preparation, and sterile draping in accordance with established procedural, safety, and infection-control standards.
• Confirm that all required surgical instruments, supplies, and equipment are properly prepared, functional, and readily available for the procedure.
• Participate in preoperative briefings with the surgical team to review case details, procedural plans, and any anticipated intraoperative considerations.

Intraoperative Responsibilities
• Provide direct surgical assistance to the operating surgeon, including tissue handling, exposure and retraction, hemostasis, suturing, and wound closure as appropriate.
• Apply advanced surgical techniques and specialized instrumentation to support efficient, precise, and safe operative performance.
• Maintain the sterile field throughout the procedure while strictly adhering to aseptic technique and infection prevention protocols.
• Anticipate and respond to intraoperative needs in real time, adapting support as necessary to ensure optimal surgical flow and patient safety.

Postoperative Responsibilities
• Assist with patient stabilization and safely transfer the patient from the operating table to the post-anesthesia care unit (PACU) or recovery area.
• Ensure accurate, thorough, and timely documentation of all surgical procedures and intraoperative activities in accordance with regulatory, hospital, and organizational standards.
• Participate in postoperative debriefings to evaluate surgical outcomes, identify improvement opportunities, and support continuous quality and patient-safety initiatives.

Experience with the Following Procedures
• Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting (CABG) - On-pump and Off-pump
• Aortic Valve Replacement (AVR) - Mechanical and Bioprosthetic
• Mitral Valve Repair - Annuloplasty and Leaflet Repair
• Mitral Valve Replacement (MVR)
• Tricuspid Valve Repair or Replacement
• Open Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm (AAA) Repair
• Femoral-Popliteal Bypass (Above and Below Knee)
• Carotid Endarterectomy (CEA)
• Peripheral Vascular Embolectomy / Thrombectomy
• Arteriovenous Fistula or Graft Creation (Dialysis Access)

Expected Technical Competencies
• Harvesting of saphenous vein and radial artery
• Performing sternotomy and sternal closure
• Assisting with cannulation and decannulation
• Placement of chest tubes, pacing wires, and surgical drains
• Assisting with vascular anastomoses

Qualifications

Must possess a valid and current Surgical Assistant License issued by the Texas Medical Board.

Must maintain current certification from a recognized accrediting body, such as the American Board of Surgical Assistants (ABSA) or the National Surgical Assistant Association (NSAA).

Active Basic Life Support (BLS) and/or Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) certification from the American Heart Association (AHA) or an equivalent organization is required.

Minimum of two (2) years of experience in cardiovascular surgical assisting within a hospital or outpatient surgical center setting.

Demonstrated excellent interpersonal and communication skills, strong knowledge of medical terminology, and the ability to work effectively within a multidisciplinary surgical team.

Clinical proficiency across multiple surgical specialties, including but not limited to cardiovascular, neurosurgery, orthopedics, general surgery, and minimally invasive procedures.

Strong attention to detail, organizational ability, and problem-solving skills in a fast-paced surgical environment.

Foreign-trained physicians (MDs) must provide proof of passing the TOEFL examination, if applicable.