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Career Exploration

Surgical Assistants

Also called: Certified Surgical First Assistant (CSFA), Registered Nurse First Assistant (RNFA), Surgical First Assistant, Surgical Technician (Surgical Tech)

What they do:

Assist in operations, under the supervision of surgeons. May, in accordance with state laws, help surgeons to make incisions and close surgical sites, manipulate or remove tissues, implant surgical devices or drains, suction the surgical site, place catheters, clamp or cauterize vessels or tissue, and apply dressings to surgical site.

On the job, you would:
  • Verify the identity of patient or operative site.
  • Monitor and maintain aseptic technique throughout procedures.
  • Cover patients with surgical drapes to create and maintain a sterile operative field.
On the job, you'll need:

Health

  • medicine and dentistry

Business

  • customer service

Arts and Humanities

  • English language

Math and Science

  • biology

Basic Skills

  • listening to others, not interrupting, and asking good questions
  • talking to others

Problem Solving

  • noticing a problem and figuring out the best way to solve it

Social

  • changing what is done based on other people's actions
  • looking for ways to help people

Hand and Finger Use

  • keep your arm or hand steady
  • put together small parts with your fingers

Verbal

  • listen and understand what people say
  • communicate by speaking

Ideas and Logic

  • notice when problems happen
  • order or arrange things

Attention

  • pay attention to something without being distracted

Realistic

People interested in this work like activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions.

  • Self Control
  • Attention to Detail
  • Dependability
  • Integrity
  • Stress Tolerance
  • Concern for Others

Spreadsheet software

  • Microsoft Excel

Presentation software

  • Microsoft PowerPoint

Medical software

  • MEDITECH software
  • Surgery workflow communication software

Video courtesy of CareerOneStop.

Job Outlook

The job outlook for this position is Bright.

New job opportunities are very likely in the future. This career will grow rapidly in the next few years.

Median Annual Salary: $57,290