Surgical Assistant Career Guide
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A surgical assistant is a specialized member of the operating room team who provides critical support and hands-on aid to surgeons during operations of all kinds. These skilled healthcare professionals are close to the action and play a direct role in ensuring patients receive high-quality care during surgical procedures.
This career demands hands-on dexterity, technological skill, and a team approach. The OR is a highly specialized environment, and surgical assistants are vital to the success of operations.
Surgical assistants and surgical technicians work closely together, and both are vital members of the OR team. Despite this, there are essential differences between these two career paths:
Surgical assistants may care for patients of all ages during surgery and directly assist the surgeon with hands-on care. They are closely familiar with the surgeries they help with and are experts in surgical procedures and care.
The surgical assistant job description includes the following:
Surgical assistants can also be called surgical first assistants or “first assists.” They are the closest person to the surgery, besides the actual surgeons themselves!
The roles and responsibilities of surgical assistants can vary between facilities, surgeries, and from surgeon to surgeon. Surgical assistants are highly-trained professionals who can perform a wide range of operating room functions.
There are many paths you can take to become a surgical assistant. All of them start with a high school diploma. Here’s a closer look at each of them:
Learn everything you need to know about Surgical Assistant salaries, what states pay the most, and what the Surgical Assistant job outlook is.
Discover the essentials of Surgical Assistant certifications, including state licensure requirements in Trusted Health's comprehensive guide.
A surgical assistant has an expansive skillset! Their knowledge and technical skills play a huge role in surgical outcomes. Here are the skills that you will need:
Surgical assistants work in operating room environments. They are needed in hospital operating rooms and surgical centers. Surgical assistants are needed in all 50 states and in hospitals of all sizes.
Surgical assistants primarily work daytime hours. Call shifts, plus weekend and overnight shifts, may be needed depending on work setting. Large hospitals and trauma centers must have OR teams available 24/7 in case an emergent surgery is needed. Outpatient surgery centers provide more routine cases and standard working hours.
Surgical assistants encounter a wide range of surgical cases and procedures. Here are some of the most common,
Once you get started, you can further your surgical assistant career by advancing your education, specializing in a particular area, or growing into a leadership or management role. Here are a few options:
To become a surgical assistant, you must obtain an associate or bachelor’s degree in a health-related field. Once you have finished your degree, you will need to complete an accredited surgical assistant training program.