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Surgical

Surgical Tech First Assist Practitioner - Elective Ortho Operating Room - Full-time - No call, no weekends

Erlanger HealthErlanger Baroness Hospital Chattanooga, TNAdded todayStill open, checked every night
  • Full-time
  • Weekdays
  • BLS

How this pay compares

This posting does not state an hourly rate. Open surgical first assistant jobs in Tennessee post a median of $37.60 an hour, the middle half $37.60–$44.19, across 16 jobs that state their pay. Surgical first assistants employed in Tennessee earn a median of $39.25 an hour (source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics), according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025) (source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics).

Surgical first assistants in Tennessee: pay by town and employer

The Surgical Techs & Sterile Processing job market: pay, applicant demand and hiring, researched nightly

Surgical tech and sterile processing jobs in our research

  • How long these jobs stay listed: Median days to removal 20.0 days · Still listed at 7 days 72.3%
  • Applicant demand per open job on this site (1.00x is the average job): Index 1.35x · Clicks 22
  • How often these jobs state their pay: Jobs stating any pay 51.4% · Stating an hourly rate 39.0%

From every open job we read and every apply click on this site, as of 11 Nov 2026. Every figure for Surgical tech and sterile processing jobs

About the job

Job Summary

A Surgical First Assistant Practitioner provides aid in exposure, hemostasis, closure, and other intraoperative technical functions that help the surgeon carry out a safe operation with optimal results for the patient. In addition to intraoperative duties, the surgical assistant also performs preoperative and postoperative duties to better facilitate proper patient care. The Surgical First Assistant Practitioner performs these functions during the operation under the direction and supervision of the surgeon.

Education:

Required:

Graduate approved Surgical Technologist School with Completion First Assistant Course or Orthopaedic Physician Assistant Program

Preferred:

Orthopedic Physician Assistant

Experience:

Required:

Documentation/demonstrated knowledge and skills required to perform Surgical First Assistant role in surgery.

Preferred:

Two (2) years experience as a Surgical Technician in the operating room.

Position Requirement(s): License/Certification/Registration

Required:

Completion First Assistant Certification

BLS completed prior to going to unit/department and maintained going forward

Completion of 8 Hours of Erlanger Online Education specific to Total Ankle, Hip, Knee and Shoulder Replacement

Completion of 4 of these hours as Erlanger Online Education upon hire (EOLS's and other training will be assigned by Department Leadership and/or Educator).

Department Position Summary:

A Surgical First Assistant Practitioner must be able to demonstrate the knowledge and skills necessary to function as a first assistant under the direction and supervision of a Surgeon. The First Assistant Practitioner is a specifically trained in patient positioning, providing visualization of the operative site by appropriate placement of retractors, utilizing appropriate techniques to assist with hemostasis, wound closure, and applying wound dressings.

The individual must demonstrate knowledge of the principles of growth and development over the life span and possess the ability to assess data reflective of the patient's status and interpret the appropriate information needed to identify each patient's requirements relative to his or her age-specific needs and to provide the care needed as described in the unit's policies and procedures. This is done through evaluation of direct supervisor by direct observation, in a skills lab, or discussed verbally or written. Competency can also be evaluated by a formal peer review process and/or by self assessment based on objective criteria that is reviewed and validated.

From Erlanger Health's job posting, checked 13 Nov 2026. The employer's own page is the final word on requirements and availability.

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About Erlanger Health

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