Jobs / Healthcare / 29-9093.00
Surgical Assistants
Assist in operations, under the supervision of surgeons. May, in accordance with state laws, help surgeons to make incisions and close surgical sites, manipulate or remove tissues, implant surgical devices or drains, suction the surgical site, place catheters, clamp or cauterize vessels or tissue, and apply dressings to surgical site.
- US jobs
- 22,270
- Median wage
- $66,800 a year
- Job family
- Healthcare
Can agents do the work of surgical assistants?
We read the evidence for the whole job family, Healthcare: Some tasks (no change in 12 months)
Agents complete 20% or more of the tasks (or projects) on a direct benchmark.
Evidence: MedAgentBench, 69.7% of tasks completed.
0% of this occupation's work, by O*NET work activities, is measured by a direct benchmark.
- 27%Assist healthcare practitioners during medical proceduresNot measured
- 12%Administer basic health care or medical treatmentsNot measured
- 9%Treat injuries, illnesses, or diseasesNot measured
- 7%Operate medical equipmentNot measured
- 6%Confer with healthcare or other professionals about patient careNot measured
- 5%Monitor health conditions of humans or animalsNot measured
- 5%Prepare medical equipment or work areas for useNot measured
- 5%Replenish inventories of materials, equipment, or productsNot measured
Benchmarks for the job family
These cover work in healthcare, not always this occupation's tasks.
Direct evidence
Work benchmarks mapped primary to this family. They set the step when they report how many tasks agents complete.
Also relevant
These benchmarks cover part of this family's work, or have no result yet. They do not set its step.
Context only
These benchmarks span many occupations, or they test how agents behave. They give context but do not set the step.
Typical tasks
From O*NET 31.0. Core tasks first. Few of these tasks have a benchmark today.
- Monitor and maintain aseptic technique throughout procedures.
- Maintain an unobstructed operative field, using surgical retractors, sponges, or suctioning and irrigating equipment.
- Pass instruments or supplies to surgeon during procedure.
- Assist with patient resuscitation during cardiac arrest or other life-threatening events.
- Verify the identity of patient or operative site.
- Obtain or inspect sterile or non-sterile surgical equipment, instruments, or supplies.
- Assist members of surgical team with gowning or gloving.
- Cover patients with surgical drapes to create and maintain a sterile operative field.
- Coordinate or participate in the positioning of patients, using body stabilizing equipment or protective padding to provide appropriate exposure for the procedure or to protect against nerve damage or circulation impairment.
- Determine availability of necessary equipment or supplies for operative procedures.
- Gather, arrange, or assemble instruments or supplies.
- Operate sterilizing devices.
Other job titles for this occupation (27)
Certified Surgical Technician (Certified Surgical Tech) · CRNFA (Certified Registered Nurse First Assistant) · CSA (Certified Surgical Assistant) · CSFA (Certified Surgical First Assistant) · GI Technician (Gastrointestinal Technician) · RNFA (Registered Nurse First Assistant) · Scrub Technician (Scrub Tech) · Surgical First Assistant · Surgical Scrub Technician (Surgical Scrub Tech) · Surgical Technician (Surgical Tech) · CFA (Certified First Assistant) · FA (First Assistant) · Med Surg Nursing Assistant (Medical Surgical Nursing Assistant) · Med Surg PCA (Medical Surgical Patient Care Assistant) · Operating Room Technician (OR Tech) · OR Aide (Operating Room Aide) · OR Assistant (Operating Room Assistant) · OR Surgical Tech (Operating Room Surgical Technician) · Oral Surgery Assistant · Perioperative Assistant · Surgery Assistant · Surgery Technician (Surgery Tech) · Surgical Aide · Surgical Dental Assistant · Surgical Medical Assistant · Surgical Services Assistant · Travel RNFA (Travel Registered Nurse First Assistant)