Before the surgery takes place, the surgical assistant is required to do a variety of tasks, such as get the equipment set up for the surgeon and ensuring all of the right instruments are there beforehand. Moving around the patient may also be required as well. You will have to cover the patient and keep an eye on the patient's status and the x-ray machine if there is one.
During the surgery, the surgical assistant job description says that you will have to follow instructions and meet the requests of the surgeon. You will have to dissect specific arteries, clamp tissues, cut tissues, help with resuscitation and insert drainage tubes into the patient. You will have to know how to perform all of these duties and more.
Once the surgery has taken place, the surgical assistant will have to close wounds and dress wounds caused by the operation to avoid infections.
Wonder what type of surgeries you would help with if you were to become a surgical assistant? Well, you would have to help with trauma, spinal, general, cardiac, plastic surgery and obstetrical.
Some of the other tasks you will have as a surgical assistant includes teaching patients about the surgery before the procedure takes place. They are also known to offer psychological support to the patient and their family members.
