Surgical First Assistant

JOB SUMMARY:

We believe there is a better way to provide quality healthcare while achieving health equality. Our Chicago location looks forward to working closely with our neighbors and residents to build a full-service community hospital in the Bronzeville area of Chicago, creating a comprehensive plan to increase service and meet community needs. With a growing team that is dedicated to delivering world-class service to everyone we meet, it is our mission to deliver the most compassionate, loving, expert, and impactful care in the world to our patients. Be a part of the team that provides PATIENT CARE SECOND TO NONE! If you would like to be a part of our team, please apply now!

A registered nurse first assistant (RNFA) assists surgeons during operative procedures, performing advanced technical functions under the surgeon's supervision. This role includes pre-, intra-, and postoperative nursing care to enhance surgical outcomes, improve efficiency, and maintain patient safety. This position is full-time, Monday- Friday, with shifts starting at 6:30/7:00 am, and may require on-call rotation or call coverage.

ROLE & RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Preoperative Duties
  • Conduct comprehensive patient assessments (e.g., history review, physical evaluation)
  • Provide presurgical patient/family education and teaching.
  • Ensure proper surgical positioning, preparation, and draping of the patient

• Intraoperative Duties (as RN First Assistant)
  • Provide surgical field exposure: use of retractors, suction, and sponges
  • Achieve hemostasis: clamp, ligate vessels, use electrocautery, apply pressure
  • Handle tissues appropriately and perform precise dissection (including vessel, muscle, and fascia.)
  • Suture closures under supervision: peritoneum, fascia, subcuticular, skin
  • Place drains when directed by the surgeon
  • May cannulate for cardiopulmonary bypass or assist in advanced specialties (e.g., CVOR, orthopedics, robotics)
  • Maintain aseptic technique and instrument sterilization
  • Participate in instrument and sponge counts, uphold surgical safety protocols

• Postoperative Duties
  • Apply and manage surgical dressings
  • Evaluate postoperative patients for complications and provide teaching
  • Work with the team to ensure seamless transition of care
  • Document perioperative events in EMRs like Cerner, SurgiNet

• Collaboration and Leadership
  • Coordinate and collaborate with surgeons, anesthesiologists, scrub and circulating nurses, and perioperative staff.
  • Provide leadership in the OR, uphold professional nursing standards, and mentor junior staff
  • Participate in continuous quality improvement (CQI), research, performance evaluations, and in-services.

• Physical/Environmental Requirments
  • Sustain prolonged standing, lifting/positioning adult patients (~35 lbs.). And maintaining dexterity under sterile conditions
  • Exposure to blood, bodily fluids, and potentially hazardous materials

QUALIFICATIONS

• REQUIRED
  1. Registered Nurse (RN) license, active and in good standing - specifically licensire to Illinois
  2. Completion of an accredited RNFA program (didactic & clinical per AORN standards)
  3. Perioperative nursing certification (CNOR) required before or shortly after hire
  4. RNFA certification (CRNFA) from a recognized board within 2 years of hire
  5. Basic Life Support (BLS) certification - includes CPR, AED, and choking response
  6. 2+ years OR experience as a scrub or circulating RN

PREFERRED

• Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN)
• Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS) certiciation
• Experience across multiple surgical specialties (e.g., cardiothoracic, ortho, robotics)
• Specialty training (e.g., robotics, perfusion assistance)
• Experience with EMRs (e.g., Cerner, Meditech, SurgiNet)

COVID-19 VACCINE REQUIRED (subject to accommodation for medical or sincerely held religious beliefs; exemption forms must be provided by the candidate upon hire)