Occupation information for Surgical Assistants District Of Columbia

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Typical education needed for entry: Postsecondary certificate

Typical work experience needed for a job in this occupation: No work experience

Typical on-the-job training once you have a job in this occupation: No on-the-job training

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• 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.
• Apply sutures, staples, clips, or other materials to close skin, facia, or subcutaneous wound layers.
• Prepare and apply sterile wound dressings.
• Discuss with surgeon the nature of the surgical procedure, including operative consent, methods of operative exposure, diagnostic or laboratory data, or patient-advanced directives or other needs.
• Determine availability of necessary equipment or supplies for operative procedures.
• Clamp, ligate, or cauterize blood vessels to control bleeding during surgical entry, using hemostatic clamps, suture ligatures, or electrocautery equipment.

Tools:

• Electrosurgical or electrocautery equipment
• Operating room patient positioning devices for general use
• Steam autoclaves or sterilizers
• Surgical clamps or clips or forceps
• Surgical lasers

Technology:

• Medical software
• Office suite software
• Presentation software
• Spreadsheet software
• Word processing software

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