Certified Surgical First Assistant
Martinsburg, West Virginia
Berkeley Medical Center

OR Certified First Assistants - West Virginia (Martinsburg)

Position Overview

• Specialty: OR Certified First Assistants (CSFA)
• Location: Martinsburg, West Virginia
• Contract Length: 13 weeks
• Unit: Operating Room (Cost Center 72)
• OR Suites: 14 suites in Main OR
• Average Cases per Day: 28 cases/day plus 5 add-ons (including same-day surgery cases)
• EMR System: EPIC
• Shift Types: 8, 10, and 12-hour shifts; varied start times, primarily day/evening shifts
• Orientation: 3 shifts floor-specific orientation
• Floating: No floating except occasional float to outpatient surgery as needed
• Scrubs: Provided for RNs and OR Techs

Certifications & Requirements

• Required Certifications:

  • BLS (Basic Life Support)
  • Certified Surgical First Assistant (CSFA) via NBSTSA
  • Certified Surgical Technologist (CST) via NBSTSA
• Not Accepted: ABSA certification (as of 10/29/2025)
• Education: Graduate of a CAAHEP accredited Surgical Assistant program
• Experience:

  • Minimum 1 year of experience in the specialty required
  • Must have completed 2-3 previous travel assignments
  • Orthopedic and neurosurgical experience preferred
  • Must be proficient with assisting in orthopedic cases

Case Types

• All surgical cases except Open Heart
• Common cases include:

  • Neuro spine
  • Total joints
  • Open fractures
  • General surgery
  • ENT
• Vascular cases expected starting August (not currently)

Staffing & Ratios

• OR First Assistants ratio: 1:1
• Charge Nurse available 7am - 7pm, may circulate cases if needed
• OR Techs available; techs responsible for room turnover (no aids or housekeeping support)
• Respiratory Therapist (RT) in-house 24/7, manages ventilated patients in OR and PACU
• Pharmacy available 24/7 with Omnicell system

Call Requirements

• Weekend and weeknight call rotations required
• Call shifts:

  • 1 x 12-hour shift per week (possible additional shifts)
  • 1 x 24-hour weekend call shift per month (can be split into 2 x 12-hour shifts)
• Weekday call shifts: 7pm-7am or 7pm-11pm
• Weekend call shifts: 7am-7pm, 7pm-7am, 7pm-11pm, or 7am-7am
• Call response time: 20 minutes (if >20 minutes away while on call, must stay on site)
• Holiday call coverage as needed

Additional Information

• RN scrub in OR is a plus but not required
• No self-scheduling for travelers; block scheduling allowed if it meets unit needs
• No IV team on site
• Telemetry interpretation not required for RNs in OR (anesthesia interprets)
• No floating except occasional outpatient surgery float
• No holiday off guaranteed; holiday call coverage as needed

Summary:
This is a 13-week travel contract for an OR Certified First Assistant with at least 1 year of specialty experience and 2-3 prior travel assignments. The role requires proficiency in orthopedic assistance and multiple certifications (BLS, CSFA, CST). The position involves working in a busy OR with 14 suites, handling a variety of surgical cases except open heart, with weekend and weeknight call rotations. The environment uses EPIC EMR and offers varied shift lengths primarily during day and evening hours.