Overview and ResponsibilitiesRole Summary
The Surgical First Assistant (SFA) supports surgeons and the perioperative team by providing direct assistance before, during, and after surgical procedures. This role primarily functions as a Surgical Technologist while serving as a first assistant during operative cases when staffing and procedural needs allow.
Success in this role includes maintaining a safe and sterile surgical environment, providing skilled intraoperative assistance, supporting efficient surgical workflows, and delivering high-quality patient care across operating rooms, procedure rooms, and ambulatory surgery center settings.
Location: Howard County AmbulatorySurgeryCenter
Schedule: Based on surgical center operating hours and department needs
Pay: $55.00 per hour
Travel: May flex between operating rooms, procedure rooms, and designated Johns Hopkins Surgery Center locations as needed
Top Responsibilities
- Serve as a first or second assistant to surgeons during operative procedures in accordance with established protocols and physician direction.
- Prepare patients and surgical fields using proper sterile technique, including shaving, scrubbing, draping, and positioning patients safely for procedures.
- Scrub and assist on a wide variety of surgical procedures within the Ambulatory Surgery Center (ASC).
- Prepare, organize, and maintain surgical instruments, equipment, supplies, and specialty instrumentation required for procedures.
- Anticipate surgeon preferences and communicate patient-specific procedural needs to the surgical team.
- Maintain aseptic technique and ensure compliance with infection prevention and patient safety standards.
- Assist with insertion and management of monitoring devices, urinary catheters, temperature probes, and other procedural equipment as directed.
- Support operating room turnover processes and maintain a clean, safe, and efficient surgical environment.
- Monitor patients throughout the perioperative process and collaborate with surgeons, nurses, and healthcare team members regarding patient care needs.
- Flex between operating rooms, procedure rooms, and other clinical areas to support daily surgical center operations.
Qualifications
Required Qualifications (Must Have)
- Successful completion of an accredited Surgical First Assistant program.
- Current certification through the National Board of Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting (NBSTSA) and/or the National Commission for the Certification of Surgical Assistants (NCCSA).
- Working knowledge of surgical procedures, anatomy, physiology, and medical terminology.
- Ability to perform advanced sterile techniques and maintain an aseptic surgical environment.
- Ability to stand for extended periods and concentrate during lengthy surgical procedures.
- Ability to work effectively in a fast-paced surgical environment while maintaining patient safety standards.
- High school diploma or equivalent required; completion of accredited Surgical First Assistant training required.
- Zero to twelve months of related Surgical First Assistant or Surgical Technology experience.
Preferred Qualifications
- Previous experience scrubbing a variety of surgical specialties.
- Ambulatory Surgery Center (ASC) experience.
- Experience assisting physicians during complex surgical procedures.
- Familiarity with advanced surgical equipment and specialty instrumentation.
- Experience working in a high-volume operating room environment.
- Strong collaboration skills with surgeons, nurses, and multidisciplinary teams.
- Knowledge of perioperative quality and safety initiatives.
- Experience supporting operating room efficiency and turnover processes.
Certifications / Licenses
- Certified Surgical First Assistant (CSFA) through NBSTSA or
- Certified Surgical Assistant (CSA) through NCCSA
- Current Basic Life Support (BLS) certification
