I love the ability to go to a number of different hospitals and surgery centers throughout the city. What are the other benefits of being a Surgical Assistant? This enables me to go hiking, biking and indulge in mid-day shopping trips to the grocery store when the crowds are smaller! Depending upon your working arrangement, you may or may not take call at the hospital(s) so this also has to be factored in. I normally work from three to four days per week and the random days off are such a treat. I can remember for years only having the weekend to scramble around to do errands and always have to do my grocery shopping during rush hours. This is typically an 8 hour shift, 5 days per week. Before receiving Surgical Assistant certification, I was a CST for about 15 years. Do you have more flexibility in your schedule being a Surgical Assistant?Ībsolutely! This is the part about my job that I really enjoy. You are also responsible for your own insurance, vacation and sick pay and retirement plans if you are independent, so you’ll need to plan for those accordingly. I would caution you to find a good accountant who is well-versed in this area and who will advise you (if you are independent) to make quarterly tax payments so you won’t be shocked in April when your tax bill comes in. It’s always different, but it is constant. If you are accustomed to receiving the same paycheck each week at the same time, this won’t work for you. I sometimes get reimbursed a year or two later for a case it’s all tied to how soon the surgeon completes his operative notes, how quickly the bill is submitted and how expeditiously the insurance carrier cuts the check. Just don’t expect a fast turnaround in your pay. In spite of having to do cases at times and not get reimbursed for them, if the majority of your cases are paid cases, you will be absolutely fine. I also assist the staff in cleanup following the cases they are always very appreciative of an extra pair of hands! Do you make more money being a Surgical Assistant? What does a Surgical Assistant Make? Following the case, of course, you will stand by to close the incision, apply dressings and/or drains as needed, and help move the patient to the stretcher. Instead of passing instruments and anticipating what is needed, you now wait for someone to pass them to YOU! It can be a little frustrating as we all believe that we are the best Surgical Technologist that ever walked the planet! How can they be so slow? Can’t they anticipate what we need? As a Surgical Assistant, your primary role is to help position and drape the patient and then assist the surgeon during the procedure. Relinquishing this duty is sometimes difficult for a new Surgical Assistant. Although surgical first assistants always arrive at the cases in time to help position the patient and make sure everything that is needed is available, they don’t have to be there early enough to set up the case that is now someone else’s job. There is a definite transition period that you must go through to learn to keep your hands off the instruments unless you ask for and are handed them to use. As we all know, there are Surgical Technologists who are very protective of their Mayo’s (understandably) and do not appreciate you messing with this area. The main difference here is you must get used to not having control of the Mayo stand! Also, it simply feels weird to not set up the case. – Program Director Article – A Day in the Life of a Surgical Assistant: The Truth, Un-Sugar Coated What are the main differences between being a Surgical Technologist and Surgical Assistant?
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