Job Description:
- Facilitate the delivery of nursing care to patients in compliance with hospital and nursing service policies and AORN Standards of Care/Practice.
- Performs operative duties and assistance under the direct supervision of the surgeon.
- Functions primarily as a first or second assistant during cardiovascular and thoracic operative procedures. Participates as first or second assistant in other surgical specialties as requested.
- Participates in patient education and assists with patient transportation activities as required.
- Reviews preoperative patient data with each surgeon.
- Assists in setting up and cleaning surgical suite, as necessary, to be certain all supplies, equipment, and instruments are available
- Maintains knowledge of operative trends and advances in surgical technologies.
- Other duties as assigned.
Education:
- Graduate of an approved physician assistant program OR
- Graduate of an accredited Surgical Assistant program  OR
- Completion of the Registered Nurse First Assist (RNFA) course.
Certifications:
- BLS from AHA required, ACLS preferred.
- Prefer Certification for First Assisting per regulatory body.
Complexity of Work:
- Within scope of job, requires critical thinking skills, decisive judgment and the ability to work with minimal supervision.
- Maintains competencies specific to patient population served.
- Knowledge of physiological and anatomical aspects of surgical procedures to include surgical competency in vein harvesting.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
Work Experience:
- Minimum of one year of operating room experience
- To substitute for formal training as Surgical Assistant or Registered Nurse First Assist, must have at least three years recent experience in first assisting with cardiovascular and cardiothoracic procedures.
- Endoscopic vein harvesting experience preferred.
- Completion of military surgical assistant program will meet the requirements of an accredited Surgical Assistant training program.
Physical Requirements:
- Have exceptional dexterity and quick response ability.
- Requires full range of body motion including handling and lifting patient, manual and ginger dexterity, and eye-hand coordination.
- Requires standing and walking for extended periods of time.
- Requires working under stressful conditions and irregular hours.
- Exposure to communicable diseases and/or body fluids.
- Able to safely transport patients on stretchers to bed using good body mechanics.
- Works extended hours, as necessary.
Personal Protective Equipment:
- Follows Standard Precautions using personal protective equipment as required.
Decisions concerning employment, transfers and promotions are made upon the basis of the best qualified candidate without regard to color, race, religion, national origin, age, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, ancestry, status as a disabled or Vietnam era veteran or any other characteristic protected by law. Information provided on this application may be shared with any Cleveland Clinic Health System facility.
Please review the Equal Employment Opportunity poster
Cleveland Clinic Health System is pleased to be an equal employment employer: Women / Minorities / Veterans / Individuals with Disabilities
The policy of Cleveland Clinic Health System and its system hospitals (Cleveland Clinic Health System) is to provide equal opportunity to all of our caregivers and applicants for employment in our tobacco free and drug free environment. All offers of employment are followed by testing for controlled substance and nicotine. All new caregivers must clear a nicotine test within their 90-day new hire period. Candidates for employment who are impacted by Cleveland Clinic Health System’s Smoking Policy will be permitted to reapply for open positions after one year.
Cleveland Clinic Health System administers an influenza prevention program. You will be required to comply with this program, which will include obtaining an influenza vaccination on an annual basis or obtaining an approved exemption.