Cardiac Surgical Assistant

General Summary of Position Provides first, second or third assistance during open heart and other vascular and thoracic surgical procedures, under direction of a physician.

Assists with the pre- and post-operative care of patient. Incumbents in this position may perform all, or a combination of the duties described depending upon their assigned work area and the specific needs of the department.

Primary Duties and Responsibilities

Contributes to the achievement of established department goals and objectives and adheres to department policies, procedures, quality standards, and safety standards.

Complies with governmental and accreditation regulations.

• Acts as assistant to the attending surgeon during all cardiac surgical cases, including, but not limited to : the opening and closing of sternotomy, arterial and venous cannulation and decannulation, coronary artery grafting, cardiac valve repair or replacement, heart transplantation, and insertion of cardiac mechanical assist devices.
• Reviews patient chart and catheter films with the physician / surgeon, as appropriate.
• Assists the Anesthesiologist in monitoring patient during anesthesia induction and performing venipunctures, starting / administering IV's.

Assists the physician with the application of external / internal fixation devices.

• Inserts Foley catheter and rectal temperature probes, as directed by the attending physician.Places electrical cautery grounding pads on patient.
• Obtains arterial lines via femoral or radial approach for monitoring purposes or to obtain blood samples.
• Ensures / maintains a sterile field during surgical procedures by following Association of Operating Room Nurses (AORN) standards / protocols.

Assists in the surgical draping and positioning of patient for surgery to ensure proper body alignment.

• Harvests and prepares the saphenous vein, the lesser saphenous vein, radial or internal mammary artery, cephalic vein, or other usable conduit, under the direct supervision of the attending physician.
• Obtains proper hemostasis and insures appropriate closing techniques are utilized for closure of surgical wounds.
• Applies surgical dressings as needed; may obtain culture from surgical wounds for lab testing as appropriate; removes surgical suture / stables following surgical procedures as directed by the attending physician.
• Assists in the monitoring and transporting the patient to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU). Conveys appropriate information regarding patient condition to the receiving medical staff.
• Provides surgical and technical assistance during the insertion and operation of the intra-aortic balloon pump (IABP).
• Attends rounds with the Attending Surgeons on all patients in the Cardiac Surgery Service.
• Assists physicians and nursing staff with the post-operative care of inpatients and patients in the Emergency Room. Performs cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), as required.
• Assists in compiling statistical data regarding surgical procedures / outcomes for biomedical research, intra-operative procedure notes, quality assurance, and / or other purposes.
• Maintains and monitors supplies and equipment inventories of assigned areas, including assisting in the maintenance / care of specialty equipment used in specific clinical service areas.

Maintains a high level of knowledge about specialty instrumentation.

Attends cath. and surgical conferences, in-service training, and continuing medical education programs as appropriate to maintain clinical expertise and certification.

Assists in pre and post-operative teaching and the orientation for new personnel, as appropriate.

• Participates in meetings and on committees and represents the department and hospital in community outreach efforts.
• Participates in multi-disciplinary quality and service improvement teams.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

Education

• Associate's degreerequiredor
• higher level degree requiredor
• equivalent training, such as graduation from National Surgical Assistant Association (NSAA) requiredor
• directly related discipline required

Experience

Less than 1 year New graduate from cardiovascular surgical assistant training program will be considered. otherwise preference required is a minimum of two years of direct, previous surgical assistant orequivalent experience in a general surgery or cardiac surgery program exhibiting a high degree of understanding regarding hemodynamic principles for the cardiac patient and how they relate to patient management and be able to assess these parameters and precisely relay the information to the appropriate medical personnel. requiredand

Licenses and Certifications

• Health Services / Certified Surgical Assist - CSA Certification as a Certified Surgical Assistant (CSA) from the National Surgical Assistant's Association or equivalent certificationrequired or
• should certification be pending, incumbent must attain certification within twelve months of hire to maintain employment.

within 1 Year required and

CPR - Cardiac Pulmonary Resuscitation CPR certificationrequired

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Work requires a high level of judgment to plan and perform the work and solve difficult job-related problems.
• Incumbents are usually at the senior or lead level and may be assigned to monitor the work of others.
• Verbal and written communication skills.
• Basic computer skills preferred.

Why MedStar Health?

At MedStar Health, we understand that our ability to treat others well begins with how we treat each other. We work hard to foster an inclusive and positive environment where our associates feel valued, connected, and empowered.

We live up to this promise through :

• Strong emphasis on teamwork- our associates feel connected to each other and our mission as an organization. In return, our effective team environment generates positive patient outcomes and high associate satisfaction ratings that exceed the national benchmark.
• Strategic focus on equity, inclusion, & diversity- we are committed to equity for all people and communities.We continue to build a diverse and inclusive workplace where people feel a sense of belonging and the ability to contribute to equitable care delivery and improved community health outcomes at all levels of the organization.
• Comprehensive total rewards package- including competitive pay, generous paid time off, great health and wellness benefits, retirement savings, education assistance, and so much more.
• More career opportunities closer to home- as the largest healthcare provider in the Baltimore-Washington, D.C. region, there are countless opportunities to grow your career and fulfill your aspirations.

About MedStar Health

MedStar Health is dedicated to providing the highest quality care for people in Maryland and the Washington, D.C., region, while advancing the practice of medicine through education, innovation, and research.

Our team of 32,000 includes physicians, nurses, residents, fellows, and many other clinical and non-clinical associates working in a variety of settings across our health system, including 10 hospitals and more than 300 community-based locations, the largest home health provider in the region, and highly respected institutes dedicated to research and innovation.

As the medical education and clinical partner of Georgetown University for more than 20 years, MedStar Health is dedicated not only to teaching the next generation of doctors, but also to the continuing education, professional development, and personal fulfillment of our whole team.

Together, we use the best of our minds and the best of our hearts to serve our patients, those who care for them, and our communities. It's how we treat people.

MedStar Health is an Equal Opportunity (EO) Employer and assures equal opportunity for all applicants and employees. We hire people to work in different locations, and we comply with the federal, state and local laws governing each of those locations.

MedStar Health makes all decisions regarding employment, including for example, hiring, transfer, promotion, compensation, benefit eligibility, discipline, and discharge without regard to any protected status, including race, color, creed, religion, national origin, citizenship status, sex, age, disability, veteran status, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, political affiliations, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local EO laws.

If you receive an offer of employment, it is MedStar Health's policy to hire its employees on an at-will basis, which means you or MedStar Health may terminate this relationship at any time, for any reason.