Types of Physician's Surgical Assistant
Although patient's may give surgeons the credit for the success of an operation, it actually takes an entire team of surgical assistants and nurses to complete a surgery. In fact the team within the operating room often consists of different types of physician's surgical assistants.
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Surgical Assistant
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The task of preparing the operating room for a surgery is the job of a surgical assistant. They ensure all equipment is properly cleaned, sanitized and in good working condition. This position also assists physicians with surgeries by handing equipment to the surgeon as needed. Once a surgery has been complete, an assistant will clean up the operating room and prepare it for the next surgery.
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Surgical Technician
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Surgical technicians are similar to assistants as they do many of the same tasks and jobs. However, surgical technicians are graduates of an academic degree or certification program, which gives them a little bit more knowledge to do more complex tasks. Rather than simply assisting the physician by handing over equipment, a surgical tech may make cuts or clamp parts of the body under the direction of the surgeon.
Surgical Nurse
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Nurses play an important role in an operating room as they assist the physician with the surgery. They suction blood and other bodily fluids during surgery while also monitoring the patient's vital signs to ensure the surgery is going as planned. They also work with patients before the surgery by explaining the procedure, answering questions and calming their fears. After surgery has ended, they check on the patient frequently while in recovery to ensure the patient is not suffering from postoperative complications.
Physician Assistant
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Under the supervision of a surgeon, a surgical physician assistant is responsible for performing minor surgical procedures and assisting the surgeon with major ones. They oversee the care of patients from the time they enter a facility for surgery to the time they leave, which frees the surgeon up to perform more surgeries and to address patients with complications. Physician assistants may perform post-op procedures as well as prepare the patient for recovery in his home by providing instructions on what to do and writing prescriptions for any medications or painkillers he might need.
Certification
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Surgery is a niche area within the health care field, and most surgical assistants are required to be certified for licensing and employment purposes. Each professional association for the different types of physician surgical assistants certifies its own members through educational requirements and certification exams.
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