How a surgical assistant can use AI, task by task

I work as a surgical assistant. Part of my job is to monitor and maintain aseptic technique throughout procedures.

Context: The work draws on medicine and dentistry, biology and education and training.
Procedure type: [describe]
Rules: [aseptic technique]

Summarize rules and common breaches. Keep it free of any patient details, add plain-language wording I can use with people, and list the warning signs that mean I should escalate.

I work as a surgical assistant. Part of my job is to pass instruments or supplies to surgeon during procedure.

Context: The work draws on medicine and dentistry, biology and education and training.
Procedure: [type]
Role: [first assist, consult]

Summarize steps and key moments as study notes. Keep it free of any patient details, add plain-language wording I can use with people, and list the warning signs that mean I should escalate.

I work as a surgical assistant. Part of my job is to maintain an unobstructed operative field, using surgical retractors, sponges, or suctioning and irrigating equipment.

Context: The work draws on medicine and dentistry, biology and education and training.
Procedure: [dental, therapeutic]
Instruments: [list]

Summarize set-up, sequence and safety. Keep it free of any patient details, add plain-language wording I can use with people, and list the warning signs that mean I should escalate.

I work as a surgical assistant. Part of my job is to assist members of surgical team with gowning or gloving.

Context: The work draws on medicine and dentistry, biology and education and training.
Procedure: [type]
Role: [first assist, consult]

Summarize steps and key moments as study notes. Keep it free of any patient details, add plain-language wording I can use with people, and list the warning signs that mean I should escalate.

I work as a surgical assistant. Part of my job is to cover patients with surgical drapes to create and maintain a sterile operative field.

Context: The work draws on medicine and dentistry, biology and education and training.
Procedure type: [describe]
Rules: [aseptic technique]

Summarize rules and common breaches. Keep it free of any patient details, add plain-language wording I can use with people, and list the warning signs that mean I should escalate.

I work as a surgical assistant. Part of my job is to obtain or inspect sterile or non-sterile surgical equipment, instruments, or supplies.

Context: The work draws on medicine and dentistry, biology and education and training.
Equipment: [anesthesia machine, therapy unit, monitor]
Manufacturer checks: [paste]

Make a pre-use test sequence and log. Group it by area, say what 'good' and 'bad' look like for each item, and add a short template for writing up what I find.

I work as a surgical assistant. Part of my job is to prepare and apply sterile wound dressings.

Context: The work draws on medicine and dentistry, biology and education and training.
Situations: [cuts, sprains, splints]
Setting: [describe]

Summarize steps and when to escalate. Keep it free of any patient details, add plain-language wording I can use with people, and list the warning signs that mean I should escalate.

I work as a surgical assistant. Part of my job is to coordinate or participate in the positioning of patients, using body stabilizing equipment or protective padding to provide appropriate exposure for the procedure or to protect against nerve damage or circulation impairment.

Context: The work draws on medicine and dentistry, biology and education and training.
Procedure: [describe]
Hazards: [infection, chemicals, radiation]

List PPE needed, donning and doffing order, and common mistakes. Keep it free of any patient details, add plain-language wording I can use with people, and list the warning signs that mean I should escalate.

I work as a surgical assistant. Part of my job is to gather, arrange, or assemble instruments or supplies.

Context: The work draws on medicine and dentistry, biology and education and training.
Session or task: [therapy, sampling]
Equipment: [list]

List prep and calibration steps. Keep it free of any patient details, add plain-language wording I can use with people, and list the warning signs that mean I should escalate.

I work as a surgical assistant. Part of my job is to assess skin integrity or other body conditions upon completion of the procedure to determine if damage has occurred from body positioning.

Context: The work draws on medicine and dentistry, biology and education and training.
Setting: [salon, surgical, clinic]
What I assess: [skin integrity, hair type, scalp]

List what to look for, contraindications, and how to explain findings to clients. Argue the strongest case against my current view and list what extra information would change the decision. I make the final call.

I work as a surgical assistant. Part of my job is to assist in applying casts, splints, braces, or similar devices.

Context: The work draws on medicine and dentistry, biology and education and training.
Situations: [cuts, sprains, splints]
Setting: [describe]

Summarize steps and when to escalate. Keep it free of any patient details, add plain-language wording I can use with people, and list the warning signs that mean I should escalate.

I work as a surgical assistant. Part of my job is to apply sutures, staples, clips, or other materials to close skin, facia, or subcutaneous wound layers.

Context: The work draws on medicine and dentistry, biology and education and training.
Procedure: [type]
Key steps: [describe]

Summarize as study notes with risks and patient education points. Keep it free of any patient details, add plain-language wording I can use with people, and list the warning signs that mean I should escalate.

I work as a surgical assistant. Part of my job is to adjust and maintain operating room temperature, humidity, or lighting, according to surgeon's specifications.

Context: The work draws on medicine and dentistry, biology and education and training.
Equipment: [ventilator, anesthesia, therapy]
Settings: [parameters]

Summarize settings and safety checks as study notes. No patient details. Include the tools, materials and safety steps, the measurements or settings to double-check, and a 3-line template for logging the job. Flag anything to confirm in the manufacturer's manual.

I work as a surgical assistant. Part of my job is to clamp, ligate, or cauterize blood vessels to control bleeding during surgical entry, using hemostatic clamps, suture ligatures, or electrocautery equipment.

Context: The work draws on medicine and dentistry, biology and education and training.
Procedure: [dental, therapeutic]
Instruments: [list]

Summarize set-up, sequence and safety. Keep it free of any patient details, add plain-language wording I can use with people, and list the warning signs that mean I should escalate.

I work as a surgical assistant. Part of my job is to operate sterilizing devices.

Context: The work draws on medicine and dentistry, biology and education and training.
Setting: [OR, procedure room]
Items: [instruments, equipment]

List sterility verification steps. Keep it free of any patient details, add plain-language wording I can use with people, and list the warning signs that mean I should escalate.

I work as a surgical assistant. Part of my job is to monitor patient intra-operative status, including patient position, vital signs, or volume and color of blood.

Context: The work draws on medicine and dentistry, biology and education and training.
Procedure or treatment: [describe]
What I monitor: [vitals, EKG, reactions]

List normal ranges, warning signs, escalation steps, and reassuring phrases for patients. Keep it free of any patient details, add plain-language wording I can use with people, and list the warning signs that mean I should escalate.

I work as a surgical assistant. Part of my job is to discuss with surgeon the nature of the surgical procedure, including operative consent, methods of operative exposure, diagnostic or laboratory data, or patient-advanced directives or other needs.

Context: The work draws on medicine and dentistry, biology and education and training.
Case: [general, no identifiers]
Question: [what you need from colleagues]

Prepare a summary, the question and options. Then play the colleague. Suggest ways to open, phrases to avoid, and how to handle it if things get tense. Then play the other person so I can practice.

I work as a surgical assistant. Part of my job is to assist in the insertion, positioning, or suturing of closed-wound drainage systems.

Context: The work draws on medicine and dentistry, biology and education and training.
Procedure: [type]
Role: [first assist, consult]

Summarize steps and key moments as study notes. Keep it free of any patient details, add plain-language wording I can use with people, and list the warning signs that mean I should escalate.

I work as a surgical assistant. Part of my job is to coordinate with anesthesia personnel to maintain patient temperature.

Context: The work draws on medicine and dentistry, biology and education and training.
Case: [general, no identifiers]
Question: [what you need from colleagues]

Prepare a summary, the question and options. Then play the colleague. Suggest ways to open, phrases to avoid, and how to handle it if things get tense. Then play the other person so I can practice.

I work as a surgical assistant. Part of my job is to remove patient hair or disinfect incision sites to prepare patient for surgery.

Context: The work draws on medicine and dentistry, biology and education and training.
Procedure: [MRI, surgery]
Prep steps: [leads, shaving]

List prep checklist. Keep it free of any patient details, add plain-language wording I can use with people, and list the warning signs that mean I should escalate.

I work as a surgical assistant. Part of my job is to insert or remove urinary bladder catheters.

Context: The work draws on medicine and dentistry, biology and education and training.
Treatment: [type]
Setting: [describe]

List prep, safety checks and documentation. Keep it free of any patient details, add plain-language wording I can use with people, and list the warning signs that mean I should escalate.

I work as a surgical assistant. Part of my job is to assist with patient resuscitation during cardiac arrest or other life-threatening events.

Context: The work draws on medicine and dentistry, biology and education and training.
Topic: [airway, resuscitation]
Setting: [describe]

Quiz me on steps and decision points. Keep it free of any patient details, add plain-language wording I can use with people, and list the warning signs that mean I should escalate.

I work as a surgical assistant. Part of my job is to transport patients to operating room.

Context: The work draws on medicine and dentistry, biology and education and training.
Transfer: [within hospital, between facilities]
Patient needs: [equipment, monitoring, general only]

Make a pre-transfer checklist, handoff points and safety checks. Keep it free of any patient details, add plain-language wording I can use with people, and list the warning signs that mean I should escalate.

I work as a surgical assistant. Part of my job is to postoperatively inject a subcutaneous local anesthetic agent to reduce pain.

Context: The work draws on medicine and dentistry, biology and education and training.
Procedure type: [general]
Agents: [local, general]

Summarize safety checks and monitoring as study notes. Keep it free of any patient details, add plain-language wording I can use with people, and list the warning signs that mean I should escalate.

I work as a surgical assistant. Part of my job is to incise tissue layers in lower extremities to harvest veins.

Context: The work draws on medicine and dentistry, biology and education and training.
Procedure: [type]
Key steps: [describe]

Summarize as study notes with risks and patient education points. Keep it free of any patient details, add plain-language wording I can use with people, and list the warning signs that mean I should escalate.

I work as a surgical assistant. Part of my job is to assist in volume replacement or autotransfusion techniques.

Context: The work draws on medicine and dentistry, biology and education and training.
Product: [blood, fluids]
Setting: [describe]

List verification and monitoring steps. Keep it free of any patient details, add plain-language wording I can use with people, and list the warning signs that mean I should escalate.