Surgical Assistant Job Description

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Before Surgery

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  There are general responsibilities surgical assistants are expected to do before a surgery is performed. These include determining which equipment will be needed for a particular surgery, assist in moving and positioning the patient for surgery, covering the patient as the surgeon likes and placing the x-rays in the right place to be visible during the surgery.

During Surgery

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  During the surgery, a surgical assistant may do the following per the surgeon's requests: clamp and cut tissues, dissect certain arteries, insert drainage tubes and assist with resuscitation should the patient go into cardiac arrest. A surgical assistant should know how a particular surgeon likes things done.

After Surgery

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  A surgeon may request that other things be done after the surgery such as closing the wounds and selecting and applying the wound dressings.

Surgeries Surgical Assistants Assist In

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  Surgical assistants assist in almost all types of surgeries. Some of these surgeries are general, orthopedic, spinal, obstetrical, cardiac, trauma and plastic surgery.

Other Tasks

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  Surgical assistants also have the role of informing the patient before the surgery about the procedure. They also provide psychosocial support to family and friends during the process.