What exactly does "First Assist" mean?

[Jo Dirt]

My husband is about to undergo a radical nephrectomy. The urologist uses a First Assist. I've heard about First Assists before, but exactly what do they do?

[OR male nurse]

My husband is about to undergo a radical nephrectomy. The urologist uses a First Assist. I've heard about First Assists before, but exactly what do they do?

It means either a surgical tech that's worked there forever that has a certificate that lets them "close" or suture when the surgeon leaves the room. Or it means an RN that's gone to a special school to become a CRNFA. Basically it's a body that stands there and holds a set of retractors and/or a camera and laughs at the surgeons jokes. They make a dollar or so more an hour and do less than the regular ST's and RN's that work in the OR. You'd be better off making sure the surgeon has another surgeon helping or that the surgeon has a PA (physicians assistant)

[Skeletor]

Basically it's a body that stands there and holds a set of retractors and/or a camera and laughs at the surgeons jokes