I. General Summary Under the direction and supervision of a licensed Surgeon and/or physician in the Cardiac Surgery assist department, the First Assistant, Cardiac Surgery performs professional duties and surgical assistance.

II. Principal Responsibilities and Tasks The following statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this classification. They are not to be construed as an exhaustive list of all job duties performed by personnel so classified.

1. Performs tissue handling including making incisions, retracting, dissecting, tying, ligating, stapling, suturing and providing hemostasis. Performs chest tube insertions and closes leg and chest incisions.

2. Performs endoscopic or open harvesting of the saphenous vein during coronary artery bypass procedures and preparation of the vein for bypass.

3. Prepares and loads the vein on an Aortic Connector System for proximal anastomosis.

4. Performs endoscopic or open harvesting of the radial artery during coronary artery bypass procedures and prepares radial artery for bypass.

5. May take cases in the Cardiac Surgery Intensive Care Unit (CSICU) as needed.

6. Regularly visits pre- and post-operative patients, independently or with attending physician and/or students, to monitor patient progress in accordance with Medical System policies and procedures and generally accepted professional practice and The Joint Commission standards.

A. Notifies attending physician on call, house physician on call or supervising physician (or surgeon) regarding any unusual or unexpected events or problems requiring direct physician consultation.

B. Assists in the preoperative planning and documentation in keeping with protocols.

7. May take call during non-routine working hours to assist attending physicians in urgent and emergency procedures.

8. Performs clinical procedures such as the application of dressings and bandages, casting and splinting, removal and adjustment of frames, suturing. Performs these tasks independently, using universal precautions and following prescribed protocols of the hospital.

A. First and second assistance during surgery requires: prepping and draping patients, placing foley catheter, giving pre and post operative health care instruction to the patient, and transporting the patient from the O.R. to the PACU.

B. Collects data for prospective studies and manipulates via computer for various reporting or research purposes.

9. Performs in-service training for medical paramedical personnel locally, nationally and internationally. Assists in supervising students; designs, directs, instructs and evaluates the activities of first assistant students.