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Surgical Assistants

The occupation Surgical Assistants covers people who assist in operations, under the supervision of surgeons. O*NET rates it as medium preparation, which usually means one or two years of vocational training, an apprenticeship or an associate’s degree. It leans on active listening, speaking, and reading comprehension. A regular part of the work is to monitor and maintain aseptic technique throughout procedures. With a code of RCS, this is mostly a job for people drawn to hands-on work with tools, machines or the physical world. Conventional interests also help, rated 4.4 out of 7. If you want hands-on work with tools, machines or the physical world, keep it on your list. If you need creative work with room for original expression, it may feel thin.

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.

Main tasks

  • Monitor and maintain aseptic technique throughout procedures.
  • Maintain an unobstructed operative field, using surgical retractors, sponges, or suctioning and irrigating equipment.
  • Pass instruments or supplies to surgeon during procedure.
  • Assist with patient resuscitation during cardiac arrest or other life-threatening events.
  • Verify the identity of patient or operative site.
  • Obtain or inspect sterile or non-sterile surgical equipment, instruments, or supplies.

Skills

  • Active Listening
  • Speaking
  • Reading Comprehension
  • Monitoring
  • Critical Thinking
  • Service Orientation

Who this career fits

May suit you if

  • You like ending the day with a physical result you can point to.
  • You like clear rules and getting the details right.
  • You are willing to put in a year or two of focused training.
  • You are comfortable relying on active listening and speaking.

May not suit you if

  • You would rather stay away from physical, hands-on tasks.
  • You need creative expression to be a big part of your day. Artistic rates 1.0 out of 7 here.
  • You need to start within a few months, with no training period.

Interest profile

O*NET rates each occupation from 1 to 7 on six interest types. The code RCS takes the three highest, and Realistic comes first here.

Preparation

Medium preparation. Expect vocational school, an apprenticeship, related experience or an associate’s degree, usually one or two years in total.

Also called

  • Certified Surgical Technician (Certified Surgical Tech)
  • CRNFA (Certified Registered Nurse First Assistant)
  • CSA (Certified Surgical Assistant)
  • CSFA (Certified Surgical First Assistant)
  • GI Technician (Gastrointestinal Technician)

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This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.