How do they match: Surgical Assistants

  • Gastrointestinal Technician
  • Operating Room Assistant
  • Operating Room Technician
  • Operator Assistant

  • 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.

  • Operate sterilizing devices.
  • Adjust and maintain operating room temperature, humidity, or lighting, according to surgeon's specifications.
  • Cover patients with surgical drapes to create and maintain a sterile operative field.
  • Determine availability of necessary equipment or supplies for operative procedures.
  • Discuss with surgeon the nature of the surgical procedure, including operative consent, methods of operative exposure, diagnostic or laboratory data, or patient-advanced directives or other needs.
  • Maintain an unobstructed operative field, using surgical retractors, sponges, or suctioning and irrigating equipment.
  • Monitor patient intra-operative status, including patient position, vital signs, or volume and color of blood.
  • Transport patients to operating room.
  • Verify the identity of patient or operative site.

  • Operate diagnostic or therapeutic medical instruments or equipment.
  • Operate on patients to treat conditions.
  • Examine medical instruments or equipment to ensure proper operation.
  • Maintain sterile operative fields.