All About Surgical Assistants

Surgical Assistant Example Assist surgeons during surgery by performing duties such as tissue retraction, insertion of tubes and intravenous lines, or closure of surgical wounds. Perform preoperative and postoperative duties to facilitate patient care.

What do Surgical Assistants do On a Daily Basis?

• Monitor and maintain aseptic technique throughout procedures.
• Pass instruments or supplies to surgeon during procedure.
• Maintain an unobstructed operative field, using surgical retractors, sponges, or suctioning and irrigating equipment.
• Postoperatively inject a subcutaneous local anesthetic agent to reduce pain.
• Assist in applying casts, splints, braces, or similar devices.
• Insert or remove urinary bladder catheters.

Things a Surgical Assistant Should Know How to Do

Below is a list of the skills most Surgical Assistants say are important on the job.

Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.

Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.

Reading Comprehension: Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.

Monitoring: Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.

Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.

Types of Surgical Assistant Jobs

• Certified Surgical Technician
• Assistant-at-Surgery
• Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA)
• Certified First Assistant (CFA)
• Certified Surgical First Assistant (CSFA)

Is There Job Demand for Surgical Assistants?

In the United States, there were 127,800 jobs for Health Technologists and Technicians in 2016.

New jobs are being produced at a rate of 19.7% which is lower than average. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 25,100 new jobs for Surgical Assistants by 2026. There will be an estimated 11,000 positions for Surgical Assistant per year.

The states with the most job growth for Health Technologists and Technicians are California, Texas, and Florida.

Watch out if you plan on working in Wyoming, Vermont, or South Dakota. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.

Surgical Assistant Average Salary

Health Technologists and Technicians Make between $28,130 and $72,720 a year. The median salary for this occupation is $42,920.

How much do Health Technologists and Technicians make in each U.S. state?

Annual Mean Salary by State

State	Annual Mean Salary
Tennessee	$64,010
Alaska	$62,580
New Mexico	$60,690
Washington	$59,950
Massachusetts	$55,950
Minnesota	$55,940
New York	$55,700
Rhode Island	$55,490
Connecticut	$55,450
Hawaii	$54,660
Oregon	$54,520
South Dakota	$54,290
District of Columbia	$54,210
New Jersey	$53,570
Kentucky	$51,780
Maine	$51,500
Wyoming	$51,120
New Hampshire	$50,390
California	$50,150
Vermont	$50,140
Indiana	$49,300
Kansas	$49,180
Delaware	$48,900
Arizona	$48,840
Idaho	$48,750
Virginia	$48,050
Illinois	$47,590
Georgia	$46,960
Missouri	$46,580
North Dakota	$46,370
Colorado	$46,270
Alabama	$46,230
Nevada	$45,980
Michigan	$45,640
Nebraska	$45,370
Maryland	$44,590
Wisconsin	$44,080
Texas	$43,990
Oklahoma	$43,960
West Virginia	$43,490
Pennsylvania	$43,070
South Carolina	$42,820
Ohio	$42,780
Florida	$42,730
Montana	$42,630
Iowa	$42,590
Arkansas	$42,300
Utah	$41,150
North Carolina	$39,230
Louisiana	$38,370
Mississippi	$36,900

Tools & Technologies Used by Surgical Assistants

Below is a list of the types of tools and technologies that Surgical Assistants may use on a daily basis:

• MEDITECH software
• Microsoft Excel

How to Become a Surgical Assistant

What education is needed to be a Surgical Assistant?

What work experience do I need to become a Surgical Assistant?

Who Employs Surgical Assistants?

References

Bureau of Labor Statistics

College Factual

O*NET Online

Image Credit: Via Wikimedia Commons