Career Overview
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.
Also Known As
- Certified Surgical First Assistant (CSFA)
- Registered Nurse First Assistant (RNFA)
- Surgical First Assistant
- Surgical Technician (Surgical Tech)
Alternate Job Titles
- Certified First Assistant (CFA)
- Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA)
- Certified Registered Nurse First Assistant (CRNFA)
- Certified Surgical Assistant (CSA)
- Certified Surgical First Assistant (CSFA)
- Certified Surgical Technician
- Clinical Assistant
- First Assistant
- Gastrointestinal Technician (GI Technician)
- Med Surg PCA (Medical Surgical Patient Care Assistant)
- Medical Surgical Nursing Assistant
- Operating Room Assistant
- Operating Room Technician
- OR Aide (Operating Room Aide)
- OR Surgical Tech (Operating Room Surgical Technician)
What You'll Do
In this role, your typical responsibilities include:
- 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.
- Coordinate or participate in the positioning of patients, using body stabilizing equipment or protective padding to provide appropriate exposure for the procedure or to protect against nerve damage or circulation impairment.
- Maintain an unobstructed operative field, using surgical retractors, sponges, or suctioning and irrigating equipment.
- Prepare and apply sterile wound dressings.
- Apply sutures, staples, clips, or other materials to close skin, facia, or subcutaneous wound layers.
Knowledge You'll Use
You'll need solid knowledge in these areas:
- Medicine and Dentistry
- Customer and Personal Service
- English Language
Essential Skills
Success in this career requires strong skills in:
- Active Listening
- Speaking
- Reading Comprehension
- Critical Thinking
- Monitoring
Key Abilities
This career requires key abilities in:
- Oral Comprehension
- Near Vision
- Finger Dexterity
- Arm-Hand Steadiness
- Problem Sensitivity
- Speech Clarity
- Oral Expression
- Written Comprehension
- Speech Recognition
- Visual Color Discrimination
Work Style
People who excel in this career typically demonstrate:
- Attention to Detail
- Dependability
- Cautiousness
- Cooperation
- Stress Tolerance
What Matters in This Career
This career tends to satisfy these work values:
- Relationships
- Achievement
- Recognition
- Support
- Working Conditions
Education & Preparation
Typical Education: Associate's Degree (or other 2-year degree)
Related Work Experience Needed: Over 1 year, up to and including 2 years
On-the-Job Training: Over 3 months, up to and including 6 months
Education Details: Most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree.
Experience Required: Previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for these occupations. For example, an electrician must have completed three or four years of apprenticeship or several years of vocational training, and often must have passed a licensing exam, in order to perform the job.
Technology You'll Use
Popular Technologies & Software
- MEDITECH software
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Office software
- Microsoft PowerPoint
Tools & Equipment
- Anesthesia carts
- Angiocaths
- Argon beam coagulators
- Automated external defibrillators AED
- Blanket warmer cabinets
- Blood warming equipment
- Body stabilizers
- C-arm tables
- Carbon dioxide CO2 lasers
- Cardiac monitoring equipment
- Cast cutting saws
- Cauterizing equipment
- Cell savers
- Desktop computers
- Endoscopic camera/video systems
Work Environment
- Wear Common Protective or Safety Equipment such as Safety Shoes, Glasses, Gloves, Hearing Protection, Hard Hats, or Life Jackets
- Indoors, Environmentally Controlled
- Physical Proximity
- Contact With Others
- Work With or Contribute to a Work Group or Team
Salary & Job Market
| Salary Percentile | Annual Wage |
|---|---|
| Entry-Level (10th percentile) | $39,540 |
| Median | $60,290 |
| Top Earners (90th percentile) | $102,390 |
Workers Employed Nationally: 22,860
Related Careers
If you're interested in this career, you might also consider:
Surgical Technologists
Education: Associate's Degree (or other 2-year degree)
Median Salary: $62,830
Anesthesiologist Assistants
Education: Master's Degree
Median Salary: $133,260
Paramedics
Education: Not specified
Median Salary: $58,410
Emergency Medical Technicians
Education: Not specified
Median Salary: $41,340
Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians
Education: Associate's Degree (or other 2-year degree)
Median Salary: $67,260
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Occupational data sourced from the O*NET OnLine database, developed by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration. Wage data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), 2024.