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Obtain or inspect sterile or non-sterile surgical equipment, instruments, or supplies.
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Prepare and apply sterile wound dressings.
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Assist in the insertion, positioning, or suturing of closed-wound drainage systems.
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Monitor patient intra-operative status, including patient position, vital signs, or volume and color of blood.
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Monitor and maintain aseptic technique throughout procedures.
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Apply sutures, staples, clips, or other materials to close skin, facia, or subcutaneous wound layers.
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Clamp, ligate, or cauterize blood vessels to control bleeding during surgical entry, using hemostatic clamps, suture ligatures, or electrocautery equipment.
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Coordinate with anesthesia personnel to maintain patient temperature.
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Assist in volume replacement or autotransfusion techniques.
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Operate sterilizing devices.
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Discuss with surgeon the nature of the surgical procedure, including operative consent, methods of operative exposure, diagnostic or laboratory data, or patient-advanced directives or other needs.
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Pass instruments or supplies to surgeon during procedure.
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Postoperatively inject a subcutaneous local anesthetic agent to reduce pain.
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Insert or remove urinary bladder catheters.
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Transport patients to operating room.
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Adjust and maintain operating room temperature, humidity, or lighting, according to surgeon's specifications.
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Determine availability of necessary equipment or supplies for operative procedures.
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Remove patient hair or disinfect incision sites to prepare patient for surgery.
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Cover patients with surgical drapes to create and maintain a sterile operative field.
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Incise tissue layers in lower extremities to harvest veins.
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Assist in applying casts, splints, braces, or similar devices.
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Maintain an unobstructed operative field, using surgical retractors, sponges, or suctioning and irrigating equipment.
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Gather, arrange, or assemble instruments or supplies.
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Assist members of surgical team with gowning or gloving.
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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.
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Verify the identity of patient or operative site.
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Assess skin integrity or other body conditions upon completion of the procedure to determine if damage has occurred from body positioning.
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Assist with patient resuscitation during cardiac arrest or other life-threatening events.