Surgical First Assistant
Program advisor: Jeff Bidwell
Program Description
As defined by the American College of Surgeons, the surgical first assistant provides aid in exposure, hemostasis, and other technical functions that will help the surgeon carry out a safe operation with optimal results for the patient. This role will vary considerably with the surgical operation, specialty area, and type of facility. Clinical skills performed under direct supervision of the surgeon may include the following:
- Positioning the patient
- Preparing the skin
- Providing visualization of the operative site
- Utilizing appropriate techniques to assist with hemostasis
- Participating in volume replacement or auto transfusion techniques as appropriate
- Utilizing appropriate techniques in closure of body planes
- Selecting and applying appropriate wound dressings
- Providing assistance in securing drainage system to tissue
Available Credentials
Certificate
| Area | Hours to Complete |
Curriculum Guide |
|---|---|---|
| Surgical First Assistant | 16 | Download (RTF) |
Licensure and Accreditation
The Surgical First Assistant Program is accredited through “CAAHEP” The Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Programs. After completing the program graduates are eligible for the CFA or CSA certifying exam. After certification graduates may apply to the Kentucky Medical Board for certification as a Surgical Assistant.
Employment Opportunities
Surgical Assistants are primarily employed by hospitals or by physicians, who often hire the First Assistant as their personal assistant in surgery. Starting salaries often range between $14 and $20 per hour.
Admission Requirements
The following should be submitted to the Office of Admissions for admission to this program:
- Application for admission
(154 K) - High School transcript or GED
- ACT, COMPASS, or ASSET scores
- Transcripts of all previous college work
- Age verification (must be 18 years of age)
The following must be completed before being accepted into the program:
- Certified Surgical Technologist (CST) or Certified Nurse-Operating Room (CNOR) or documented experience in Surgical Assisting.
- Proof of professional liability insurance.($26.00; must be purchased through school)
- Current CPR or BLS certification (copy of certification)
- Acceptable health and immunization records (MMR, TB, Hep-B --copy of employee health records) Depending on the student's selected clinical site, this may include a drug screen if the clinical site requires it prior to clinical rotation.
Additional requirements for online assisted students
Online assisted students must meet the required program admission eligibility requirements and have an approved preceptor at their facility that will agree to perform the following duties:
- Clinical preceptors are responsible for understanding the content and the scope of the students' clinical preparation prior to the clinical practicum. This includes suturing check-offs, positioning check-offs and surgical skills check-offs before the student begins the clinical portion of the program.
- Preceptors shall be responsible for providing clinical Surgical Assistant experience opportunities, evaluating student performance in an on-going manner, informing the program director/coordinator about student performance that is less than satisfactory and attesting to the level of student achievement during each rotation.
Students in the distance program have a couple of options for performing the pre-clinical and clinical evaluations:
-
Students may perform the pre-clinical and program evaluations at the Madisonville Community college by attending a weekend lab or week lab depending on the need of the individual student.
OR - Experienced surgical students may work with their preceptors and video tape the evaluations in order to save the expense of traveling to Madisonville. Example: After receiving approval from the facility the student could elect to perform the positioning evaluation by using an empty OR room and a few volunteer co-workers. The student would perform the positioning skills using a co-worker and clearly explain the position and safety features during the video. The suturing evaluation could be preformed using foam kits or with pigs feet. The student would demonstrate the skill and describe each stitch during the video. (Please avoid taking the pigs feet into the OR.)
Projected Program Cost
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
|
Tuition (KYVC online courses; $121 per credit hour) (Payment broken down into 9 credit hours fall, 7 credit hours spring) |
$1,936 |
| Textbook of Surgery, 17th edition by Courtney Townsend | $100.00 |
| Certification exam | $150.00-$300.00 |
| Liability Insurance (must be purchased through the college) | $21.00 |
| Dr. Shanahan Demonstrated Anatomy DVDs (Recommended) | $80.00 |
| Total Certificate Cost | $2,207 |
Length of Program
Upon completion of program in one academic year, the graduate may sit for the certifying exam for Surgical First Assistant. (The program is flexible and set up for people who work full-time. Several methods / tracts are offered to complete the program.) The Surgical First Assistant program is offered Online Assisted.
Classes Needed
Program Classes:
Fall Semester:
- SUR 280 Surgical Anatomy
- SUR 284 Principles of Surgical Assisting
Spring Semester:
- SUR 282 Perioperative Bioscience
- SUR 295 Surgical First Assistant Clinical
This curriculum guide is for informational purposes only and should not be considered a substitute for the KCTCS Catalog. Students should always choose classes in cooperation with the academic advisor to ensure that all degree requirements are being met.