The Non-Physician Surgical Assistant is responsible and accountable in collaboration with the Primary Surgeon to assess, plan, implement, and evaluate the care delivered to patients undergoing surgery. The Non-Physician Surgical Assistant is specifically trained to meet the unique needs of patients from Neonate to Geriatric. He/she is responsible for performing the duties of a Surgical Assistant during surgical procedures and participates as a Mid-level Clinical Professional on the surgical and perioperative team.

 

ACCOUNTABILITIES

*All duties listed below are essential unless noted otherwise*

1. Demonstrates sound knowledge and skills related to providing Surgical Assistance to the Primary Surgeon.

2. Assists with Patient transport, movement, and positioning.

3. Assists Anesthesia personnel with initial induction of patients under anesthesia, assists with transporting patient to Post Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU), or Intensive Care Unit (ICU).

4. Must complete all appropriate paperwork required by the surgeon and facility.

5. Performs other related perioperative tasks and duties as directed by surgeon.

6. Non-Physician Surgical Assistants (CSAs) assist Physicians in surgery and may perform specific significant surgical tasks under “Professional Direction and Supervision.” (Significant surgical tasks include, but are not limited to: opening and closing operative sites, harvesting grafts, dissecting tissue, removing tissue, inserting trocars or other access devices, implanting devices, altering tissues, injecting local anesthetics, placement of intravenous and intraarterial lines, and other tasks delegated by the primary surgeon, and for which the hon-Physician Surgical Assistant has been specifically trained).

7. Determine specific equipment needed for surgical procedure.

8. Review H&P and consent to confirm procedure and special equipment, medicine, or therapeutic needs.

9. Selection and placement of x-rays for reference during the procedure.

10. Moving and positioning of the surgical patient.

11. Insertion and removal of catheters.

12. Placement of pneumatic tourniquets.

13. Removal of and Placement of casts, splints, and other orthopedic devices.

14. Draping of surgical patient.

15. Placement of access ports for minimally invasive and robotic procedures.

16. Administer medications and local anesthetics.

17. Place IVs, Arterial Lines, and other such necessary procedures as directed by the surgeon.

18. Operation of intra-operative surgical devices (to include, but not limited to stapling devices, ligating devices, ablating devices, energy sources, retraction devices, etc.).

19. Retraction of tissue and organs for optimal visualization with regard to tissue type and appropriate retraction instrument and/or technique.

20. Maintenance of hemostasis by direct pressure, use and application of appropriate surgical instrument for the task, placement of ties, placement of suture ligatures, application of chemical hemostatic agents, or other necessary measures.

21. Cauterization of vessels for hemostasis.

22. Clamp, ligate, and cut tissue, as necessary.

23. Harvest veins and arteries when needed for replacement of damaged vessels.

24. Mature Colostomies and Ileostomies.

25. Placement of Wound Vacuum Systems. *

26. Closure of all wound layers (fascia, subcutaneous and skin).

27. Verification and Marking of Specimens. *

28. Insertion of drainage tubes (Including, but not limited to wound drainage, chest tubes, orogastric and naso-gastric tubes, as well as bladder catheters).

29. Select and apply appropriate wound and compression dressings.

30. Assists with resuscitation of patient during cardiac arrest or other life-threatening events in the operating room.

31. Performs any other duties or procedures incidental to the surgical procedure deemed necessary for patient safety and optimal patient outcomes.

32. Non-Physician Surgical Assistants may, under “Professional Direction and Supervision,” Participate in Follow-up Floor Rounds on surgical patients as directed by Physician, Write in Progress Notes, and may take verbal orders and write orders directed by Physician.

33. Non-Physician Surgical Assistants may mark site on patient according to AORN Site Marking guidelines, with knowledge of the patient and planned procedure to be performed.

34. Non-Physician Surgical Assistants may perform any other significant surgical tasks delegated by the primary surgeon, for which the hon-Physician Surgical Assistant has been specifically trained.

35. Medical Staff Requirements: Definition and Level of Supervision:

a. “Supervising Physician” means the licensed Doctor of Medicine, Doctor of Osteopathy, Oral Surgery, or Podiatry, which has accepted responsibility for the supervision of the service that a Non-Physician Surgical Assistant renders.

b. “Professional Direction and Supervision” means the supervising physician is within the facility in which the Non-Physician Surgical Assistant is functioning or is directly in contact with the Non-Physician Surgical Assistant for non-invasive tasks such as rounding, writing orders, and follow up tasks deemed necessary by physician.