Surgical First Assistant

Surgical First Assistant Introduction

This course serves as an orientation to philosophy, rules, and regulations of the Surgical First Assistant program. An introduction to the legal, ethical, moral and professional responsibilities of the surgical first assistant and the professional skills necessary to fulfill the role will be covered. The essentials of team relationships, stress management, employability skills, and career goals are also studied. Students will also be able to identify and implement basic and workplace safety concepts and occupational hazards.

Surgical First Assistant Pharmacology & Anesthesia

This course is designed to review and enhance an understanding of the preoperative and intraoperative effects of drugs used in surgery. The student will understand the general principles of anesthesia, drugs, methods of administration, and their effects on the patient.

Surgical First Assistant Bioscience

This course is an introduction to the student of various diagnostic testing procedures and basic interpretation such as laboratory values. The course will include wound management techniques, suturing techniques in the operating room, perioperative care of special needs patients, specimen care, fluid and electrolyte balance, and thermal regulation. The student will be required to perform all didactic skills with 100% proficiency.

Surgical First Assistant Equipment & Skills

This course will be an introduction and utilization of specialized supplies and equipment for the surgical environment. Skills of proficiency includes placement of monitoring devices, bladder catheterization, positioning, application of tourniquets, prepping and draping, instrumentation, hemostasis, application of dressings, and drainage systems. The student will be required to perform all didactic skills with 100% proficiency.

Surgical First Assistant Certification Review

The Surgical First Assistant certification review course is designed to assist the first assistant in preparing for the National Board of Surgical Assisting certification exam. The review is self-paced, utilizing several related text. This course serves as an introduction to the first assisting exam questions. It is designed to assist in reviewing multiple exam content in broad functional areas as pre-operative, intra-operative, post-operative, and the basic sciences. ***Students must attend and complete this course prior to completion of the program

Surgical First Assistant Clinical (WBE)

Clinical preceptorship is to provide clinical experience in the surgical environment in basic surgical skills of assisting, under the direct supervision of the surgeon in the area of general surgery, orthopedic, cardiovascular, and peripheral vascular, thoracic, neuro, Ob/Gyn, trauma, ENT, organ procurement/transplant, and pediatric surgery. The student will demonstrate a safe level of practice, and a proficiency evaluation from their preceptor is required upon completion of each rotation.

Surgical First Assistant Advanced Pathology

This course serves as a review of the study of disease processes and the relationship of the processes to the specific types of pathologies associated to body systems.

Surgical First Assistant Advanced Microbiology

This course is designed to provide a review and understanding of the impact of microorganisms in the surgical environment and the risks to the surgical patient. The course will review infection control, immune responses, and standard precautions.

Surgical First Assistant Surgical Specialty

This course includes surgical procedures for surgical specialties such as orthopedic, general, obstetrics/gynecology, genitourinary, ENT, ophthalmic, neuro, thoracic, cardio, peripheral vascular, and trauma. The student will explore and understand relevant anatomy and physiology as it applies to procedures, review diagnostic studies, pre-operative/intra-operative, and post-operative considerations associated with surgical procedures.

Surgical First Assistant Surgical Complications

This course is designed to assist the student recognize and identify complications of surgery and respond with appropriate action.