PRIMARY FUNCTION:To assist the surgical team, under the direction of aprofessional nurse, implementing skilled nursing care for neonatal, pediatric, adolescent,adult, and geriatric patients undergoing surgical procedures. In the First Assist function, to provide aid in exposure, hemostasis, closure,and other intraoperative technical functions that help the surgeon carry out a safe operation with optimal results for the patient. The CSFAperforms these functions during the operation under the direction and the supervision of the surgeon and in accordance with hospital policy.In addition to intraoperative duties, the CSFA also performs preoperative and postoperative duties to better facilitate proper patient care.PRINCIPAL DUTIES ANDRESPONSIBILITIES:Performs assigned procedures for comfort and well-being for pediatric, adolescent, adult, and geriatric patients,demonstrating a concern for safety.Assists in updating physician reference sheets.Participates in the nursing care plans, functioning as an effective team member.Demonstrates ability to scrub on all procedures, minor to major.Communicates effectively to patients, families, employees, and physicians, utilizing both written and verbalcommunication skills.Responds appropriately to crisis situations as outlined in unit specific standards, initiates interventions within scope of responsibility; notifies RN.Maintains required credentials ofBCLS and mandatory inservice patients.Demonstrates skills and knowledge necessary to provide care appropriate to neonatal, pediatric, adolescent,adult and geriatric patients, including knowledge of growth and development, the ability to obtain and interpret information to identify patient needs, and provide the care needed.Performs assigned work safely, adhering to established departmental safety rules and practices.Reports to supervisor, in a timely manner, any unsafe activities, conditions, hazards, or safety violations that may cause injury to oneself, other employees, patients and visitors.Performs other related duties as required.Acts upon surgeon request and under direct supervision of surgeon CSFA may perform the following: Appropriate placement and securing of retractors with or without padding; Packing with sponges; Digital manipulation of tissue; Suctioning, irrigating, or sponging & Manipulation of suture materials (e.g., loops, tags, running sutures)Assists with hemostasis by: Clamping and/or cauterizing vessels or tissue; Tying and/or ligating clamped vessels or tissue; Applying hemostatic clips; Placing hemostatic agents; Applying tourniquets; Applying vessel loops; Applying noncrushing clamps & Applying direct digital pressure.Assists with closure of body planes: Utilizing running or interrupted subcutaneous sutures with absorbable or nonabsorbable material; Utilizing subcuticular closure technique with or without adhesive skin closure strips; Closing the skin with method indicated by surgeon (suture, staples, etc.) & Postoperative cutaneous injection oflocal anesthetic agent.Selects and apply appropriate wound dressings including liquid or spray occlusive materials, absorbent material affixed with tape or circumferential wrapping, or immobilizing dressing (soft or rigid).Provides assistance in securing drainage systems to tissue.SCOPE, PURPOSE, AND FREQUENCY OF CONTACTS:Daily contact with patients, employees, physicians, and students. Contact at various time intervals with families, visitors, community agencies, companies as well as general public.DIRECTION/SUPERVISION OF OTHERS:Gives direction to PPCT's, SAIV's, support service personnel, and at various tirne intervals assists in direction of new staff RN's and ST's.DIRECTION/SUPERVISION RECEIVED:Directly reports to Nurse Manager; receives supervision also from PCC's and direction from staff RN's. Practices under the direct supervision of the surgeon.SHIFT/HOURS: Part-TimeRequires Primarily Day Shift: Any day between M-F (20hrs per week)On-Call responsibility on Weekends2 - 10hour shiftsEDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS:High school diploma or equivalent. Graduate of an accredited surgical technologist program; or minimum 2 year ORT experiencepreferred. Graduate of an accredited Surgical Assistant Program.An equivalent combination of education and experience may be substituted.KNOWLEDGE, SKILL, AND ABILITY REQUIREMENTS:Knowledge, skills, and abilities related to scrub responsibilities for the care of the neonate, pediatric,adolescent, adult, and geriatric patient in the OR.knowledge, skills, and abilities related to the handling of instruments/equipment in the OR.Knowledge, skills, and abilities related to aseptic techniques.Knowledge, skills, and abilities related to neonatal, pediatric, adolescent, adult, and geriatric patient safety in delivery of care in the OR.Knowledge of nursing care provided for specific patient population of unit.Knowledge ofCCHS and departmental policies/procedures, and CPGs.Knowledge ofCCHS Core Values.Knowledge ofperformance improvement purpose and process.Ability to act independently within established procedures and protocols.Ability to perform specific unit tasks as assigned by the RN.Ability to effectively respond to patient crisis situations as outlined in protocols, under the direction of an RN.Ability to exercise judgement, tact and diplomacy.Ability to perform required technical skills as outlined in procedures and protocols, demonstrating use of appropriate safety measures forpatient, employees, and self.Ability to perform standard precautions.Ability to make decision utilizing sound judgement.Ability to maintain patient confidentiality.Ability to collect data, enter data into computerized information system using a keyboard and light pen, and retrieve patient careinformation.SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS:Certification by an approved certification body such as AST or CST. BCLS certification.PHYSICAL DEMANDS:Ability to stand, walk, sit, bend, lift, push, pull, carry, reach, twist, handle, stoop, climb as per unit based Physical Demands Checklist.WORKING CONDITIONS:Frequent exposure to biological, chemical and environmental elements, as per unit based Physical Demands Checklist.Christiana Care Health System is an equal opportunity employer, firmly committed to prohibiting discrimination, whose staff is reflective of its community, and considers qualified applicants for open positions without regard to race, color, sex, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, genetic information, gender identity or expression, age, veteran status, disability, pregnancy, citizenship status, or any other characteristic protected under applicable federal, state, or local law.