First Surgical Assistant - Cardiothoracic Team

Start the day excited to make a difference…end the day knowing you did.  Come join our team.

Job Summary:

The Cardiac Surgical First Assistant functions as the surgical first assistant under the direction and supervision of the surgeon during the intra-operative phase of cardiac surgery.

Essential Functions and Responsibilities:

Assists with procedural set up and patient preparedness for specific procedures in positioning, prepping, and draping.

Assists the surgeon in skin closure, subcutaneous closure and ties, facia closure and ties, closure and ties of peritoneum, tying deep vessels, incising tissue, and performs hemostatic techniques.

Assists and/or independently performs sternal opening; performs sternal closure.

Acts as primary first assist throughout the procedure, providing wound exposure, mobilizing tissue and organs for exposure.

Performs open and endoscopic harvest and preparation of the saphenous vein grafts.

Harvests and prepares radial artery grafts.

Inserts intravascular catheters, chest tubes, intra-aortic balloon pump catheters.

Assists with arterial and venous cannulation to implement circulatory support.

Assists with arterial and venous decannulation after termination of circulatory support.

Controls bleeding and routinely sutures tissue.

Establishes and maintains a safe peri-operative environment. Observes aseptic techniques in preparing for and assisting with procedures.

Participates in patient transport and room turnover as indicated by unit activity to facilitate utilization of services in a cost-effective manner.

Serves as educator, mentor and resource to patients and colleagues.

Performs other duties assigned.

Qualifications:

• Graduate of a Surgical First Assisting program required.
• Registered and licensed with the Virginia Board of Medicine as a Surgical Assistant required.
• Certified Surgical First Assistant with the National Board of National Board of Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting (NBSTSA) or National Commission for the Certification of Surgical Assistants (NCCSA) required.
• AHA BLS CPR provider certification required.
• MWHC will not discriminate in its employment practices due to an applicant's race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, and veteran or disability status (EOE). We are also committed to equitable and transparent compensation practices and comply with all applicable pay transparency and pay equity laws.