Surgical First Assist RN

Where You’ll Work

Founded in 1899, Dignity Health - St. Joseph’s Medical Center is a 355-bed, acute care, nonprofit hospital located in Stockton, California. Serving over 125,000 patients annually, the hospital offers a full complement of services including a Level III NICU, cancer care, heart care, and a family birth center. Additionally, St. Joseph’s Medical Center has been recognized as an LGBTQ+ Healthcare Equality High Performer by the Human Rights Campaign Foundation. It is a Joint Commission-certified Primary Stroke Center and was named one of America’s 250 Best Hospitals by Healthgrades in 2026.

One Community. One Mission. One California 

Job Summary and Responsibilities

As our Surgical First Assist RN, you will help surgical patients across all age populations receive safe, effective, and quality patient-family centered care in the OR and other areas of perioperative services so they can achieve optimal surgical outcomes and a smooth recovery throughout the perioperative continuum.

Every day you will function as an RN First Assistant during operative and invasive procedures, including assessing patients, assisting with tissue dissection and closure, and providing postoperative follow-up. You will be expected to collaborate closely with the surgical team, maintain precise documentation, and ensure patient safety through careful management of instruments and prevention of surgical site infections.

To be successful in this role you must be committed to the delivery of safe, effective, and quality patient-family centered care for all patient populations. This requires a strong working knowledge of performance improvement, licensure, and accreditation requirements, along with active participation in fulfilling the Mission of the Organization and consistent demonstration of its Core Values. You will also possess excellent communication and organizational skills, including proficiency in Microsoft Office, Outlook, and Internet, and demonstrate a strong capacity for teaching, planning, and development to support the Organization's strategic plan and performance improvement initiatives.

• Working knowledge of performance improvement, licensure and accreditation requirements
• Knoweldge of Microsoft Office, Outlook and Internet
• Demonstrate good capacity for teaching, organizing, planning and development
• Possess strong interpersonal communication and customer relation skills
• Possess knowledge of word processing and spreadsheet applications

Job Requirements

Required

• Current California RN License
• BLS through the American Heart Association (AHA)
• ACLS through the American Heart Association (AHA)
• PALS through the American Heart Association (AHA)
• Graduate of an RN School of Nursing
• RNFA or CRNFA certification
• Three (3) years operating room experience as an RN or one (1) year current surgical first assistant experience required
• Minimum fifty (50) core procedures completed within the past 24 months

Preferred 

• Three (3) years operating room experience 
• Prior Ortho and/or Cardio Thoracic experience 
• Bachelor degree in health related field 
• CNOR