Day in the life
A Day in the Life of a Surgical Assistant
What surgical assistants actually do from the start of a shift to the end: the tasks, tools, schedule and realities of the job.
What is a typical day like for a surgical assistant?
Review the surgery schedule. From there, the day usually includes position and prep patients, retract tissue for exposure, and control bleeding. Most work full-time with early starts, long cases and on-call duty.
Hour by hour: a typical shift
No two days are identical, but this timeline reflects a realistic day for a surgical assistant working full time.
- Review the surgery schedule.
- Position a patient for spine surgery.
- Retract and suction during the procedure.
- Close the incision.
- Assist with a hernia repair.
- Harvest a vein for heart surgery.
- Document and restock.
Where surgical assistants work
Surgical assistants work in operating rooms in hospitals and surgery centers.
Hours and schedule
Most work full-time with early starts, long cases and on-call duty.
Tasks you’ll do most often
- Position and prep patients
- Retract tissue for exposure
- Control bleeding
- Suction and irrigate
- Suture and close incisions
- Apply dressings
- Assist with instruments and devices
Tools you’ll use every day
- Retractors
- Suction and cautery
- Suture and needle drivers
- Staplers
- Laparoscopic tools
- Positioning equipment
The best and hardest parts of the job
What people like
- Hands-on surgical role
- Good pay
- High responsibility
- Variety of specialties
What’s hard
- Long hours standing
- On-call duty
- High-pressure environment
- Exposure to blood and fluids
You’ll likely thrive if…
- I love the operating room
- I have steady hands
- I can stand for hours
- I anticipate what others need
- I stay calm under pressure
- I want more surgical responsibility
Not sure? Take the free Surgical Assistant fit quiz or the Career Match Quiz.
Staying safe on the job
- Follow sterile technique
- Use sharps safety
- Pad pressure points
- Participate in counts and time-outs