JobsAdvocate Health

Surgical Assistant - Full Time

Advocate Health · Libertyville, IL

Posted Sep 17, 2026 · We last checked this listing on Sep 20, 2026

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Likely interview questions for this role

Written from this job description, not a generic list. Each one notes what the interviewer is really checking.

Behavioral

Walk me through a complex case where you served as first assist. What was your role during the actual procedure, and how did you anticipate what the surgeon needed next?

whether the candidate has genuine hands-on first-assist experience versus mostly scrub tech work

Tell me about a time a surgeon's preference or technique surprised you mid-procedure. How did you adjust?

adaptability and ability to read individual surgeon preferences in real time

Tell me about a time you had to step in and function as the surgical technologist during a case. How did you juggle both roles?

flexibility to cover scrub duties without compromising the first-assist role, and judgment about when that dual role is appropriate

Tell me about a new surgical tech or surgical assistant you trained or mentored. What did you focus on teaching them first?

willingness and ability to serve as a resource, since the job explicitly requires training others

Describe a moment when a patient started to deteriorate or something went wrong during a procedure. What did you do, and what was the outcome?

composure and clinical judgment under high-stress, life-threatening situations

Technical

How do you approach retracting, suturing, or providing hemostasis differently for a pediatric patient versus a geriatric patient?

whether the candidate actually adjusts technique for the full age spectrum this hospital treats, not just says the right words

Describe your experience maintaining a sterile field. Tell me about a time you noticed a break in sterility and what you did about it.

vigilance around aseptic technique and willingness to speak up even if it slows the room down

What's your process for gathering and checking supplies before a case, especially one you haven't assisted on before?

preparation habits and whether they proactively research unfamiliar procedures rather than winging it

How do you approach positioning and transferring a patient who can't assist with the move, especially given lifting limits and equipment expectations?

knowledge of safe patient handling policy and willingness to use equipment and ask for help rather than risk injury

Situational

You're on call and get a response-time page at 2 a.m. for an emergency case. Walk me through what you do from the moment your phone rings to scrubbing in.

understanding of the 30-minute call response expectation and readiness for off-hours emergencies

A fire alarm goes off mid-procedure and the code requires evacuation. What are you doing in that room in the first sixty seconds?

knowledge of emergency evacuation protocol and ability to stay calm while patient is under anesthesia

This role involves regular exposure to blood, radiation, anesthesia gases, and other hazards. What do you personally do to protect yourself and manage that risk day to day?

realistic acceptance of occupational hazards rather than a rehearsed answer

Tell me about a case that ran long or a schedule that got disrupted by an add-on emergency. How did you handle the shift in plans?

flexibility with changing OR schedules and ability to reprioritize without losing focus

Practice this interview out loud.

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The full job description

As published by Advocate Health.

Department: 37703 Advocate Condell Medical Center - Surgery Room Status: Full time Benefits Eligible: Yes Hou rs Per Week: 40 Schedule Details/Additional Information: Weekend call required, 30 minute response time, holiday call requirement. 0700-1530 Pay Range: $35.50 - $53.25 Scheduled Hours:   Full Time; Day/PM Shifts and rotating call Position Requirements: Certification as Surgical Assistant Previous OR experience as a Surgical Tech highly preferred CPR Certification Certification as Surgical Assistant within 30 days of hire Must be willing to work with exposures to body fluids, waste and chemicals, radiation, hazardous materials, anesthesia gases and life threatening diseases. On-call availability (nights, weekends, holidays) Flexibility to deal with changing environments. Ability to respond quickly to emergencies. Work in a high stress situations. Ability to respond to fire and other codes (e.g., evacuate patients.) This position will need to recognize the needs and behaviors of a variety of age groups of patients treated, i.e., understand child growth and development, normal patterns of adolescent behavior and look for signs of normal aging prior experience with various age groups is preferred. Purpose: Functions as Surgical First or Second Assistant to the surgeon for complex and basic operative or invasive procedures. Responsible for performing a variety of procedures or may specialize in a surgical specialty where appropriate. Performs responsibilities of a Surgical Technologist if required but preferably not at the same time while functioning as a first assist. Accountabilities: • Provide first or second assisting for specified surgical procedures as needed and assigned for patients of all ages. • Participates in the preparatory steps of surgery; assists operating team in gathering supplies, opening room for cases, assists in lifting, transferring, positioning, preparing and draping the patient. • Anticipates and responds to the needs of the Surgeon, by ensuring all required supplies are available for procedures prior to incision, recognizing individual preferences. • Provide assistance in preparation and maintenance of sterile O.R. environment utilizing aseptic techniques. • Ensure that appropriate equipment and supplies are available and functional for the O.R. suite. • Acts as a resource and assists in the training of Surgical Technologists and new Surgical Assistants. Participates in department and facility work teams and assists with special projects as needed. • If position has direct patient care or direct patient contact the following lifting requirement supersedes any previous lifting requirement effective 06/01/2015. Ability to lift up to 35 pounds without assistance. For patient lifts of over 35 pounds, or when patient is unable to assist with the lift, patient handling equipment is expected to be used, with at least one other associate, when available. Unique patient lifting/movement situations will be assessed on a case-by-case basis. Our Commitment to You: Advocate Health offers a comprehensive suite of Total Rewards: benefits and well-being programs, competitive compensation, generous retirement offerings, programs that invest in your career development and so much more – so you can live fully at and away from work, including: Compensation • Base compensation listed within the listed pay range based on factors such as qualifications, skills, relevant experience, and/or training • Premium pay such as shift, on call, and more based on a teammate's job • Incentive pay for select positions • Opportunity for annual increases based on performance Benefits and more • Paid Time Off programs • Health and welfare benefits such as medical, dental, vision, life, and Short- and Long-Term Disability • Flexible Spending Accounts for eligible health care and dependent care expenses • Family benefits such as adoption assistance and paid parental leave • Defined contribution retirement plans with employer match and other financial wellness programs • Educational Assistance Program Note: Eligibility for programs listed above may depend on your FTE or status (e.g., full-time, part-time, per diem, temporary, etc.); please ask a Recruiter for more information during an interview. About Advocate Health  Advocate Health is the third-largest nonprofit, integrated health system in the United States, created from the combination of Advocate Aurora Health and Atrium Health. Providing care under the names Advocate Health Care in Illinois; Atrium Health in the Carolinas, Georgia and Alabama; and Aurora Health Care in Wisconsin, Advocate Health is a national leader in clinical innovation, health outcomes, consumer experience and value-based care. Headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina, Advocate Health services nearly 6 million patients and is engaged in hundreds of clinical trials and research studies, with Wake Forest University School of Medicine serving as the academic core of the enterprise. It is nationally recognized for its expertise in cardiology, neurosciences, oncology, pediatrics and rehabilitation, as well as organ transplants, burn treatments and specialized musculoskeletal programs. Advocate Health employs 155,000 teammates across 69 hospitals and over 1,000 care locations, and offers one of the nation’s largest graduate medical education programs with over 2,000 residents and fellows across more than 200 programs. Committed to providing equitable care for all, Advocate Health provides more than $6 billion in annual community benefits.

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