There are several states with regulatory legislation regarding Surgical Assistant practice in the United States. The states are listed below along with references to the bills that created the regulations, and web links to the governmental body that regulates the profession in those states.
- The Surgical Assistant should maintain a working relationship with all members of the operating room team and adjunct hospital personnel based on trust, honesty, confidence and respect.
- The Surgical Assistant should seek input, be willing to accept praise as well as criticism and transform such criticism in a constructive manner.
- The Surgical Assistant must be involved in "self" assessment and evaluation of each surgical procedure that he/she will be required to assist on. The process of formulation clear direction for best utilization of assistant skills should be mandatory for full benefit to patient, surgeon, and other members of the operative team.
- The Surgical Assistant must keep abreast of new technology with respect to surgical intervention and its pertinence to patient management.
- The Surgical Assistant must maintain a quality standard of continuing medical education, as described and set forth by NSAA standards.
- The Surgical Assistant must be aware of the individual requirements or techniques of individual surgeons.
- The Surgical Assistant must have adequate knowledge of basic sciences as required by his/her duties incidental to a particular surgical procedure.
- The Surgical Assistant must be fully aware of his/her position with respect to maintenance of a sterile operative field, and have a working knowledge of the basic principals and concepts of sterilization and infection control.
- The Surgical Assistant will possess a working knowledge of all operating room procedures with respect to attire, infection control, and be familiar with individual requirements and recommended practices of compliance.
- The Surgical Assistant will accept responsibility for his/her integrity with respect to maintenance and compliance, to and of these policies. This will not only promote the individual assistant, but will be of best interest to NSAA.
- The Surgical Assistant must have the ability to anticipate the needs of the surgeon, and other team members, with respect to the requirements of a particular surgical procedure.
- The Surgical Assistant must demonstrate and maintain dexterity sufficient to successful completion of his/her assistant duties on that particular procedure.
- The Surgical Assistant must maintain a professional attitude with respect to the dignity, privacy, and safety of the patient.
- Most of all, the Surgical Assistant must possess the ability to only function within the limits of his/her ability, and within the description of duties provided by his/her employer.
