Education
The educational requirements for entry into the field of surgical assisting vary greatly depending on the professional credential obtained by the individual. Non-physician practitioners come from diverse healthcare and medical backgrounds and include such professionals as surgical technologists, physician assistants, registered nurses, and graduates of surgical first assistant training programs.
A description of the educational standards for SFA practitioners follows:
The Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) has established and published guidelines for the profession of surgical first assisting]. Programs which meet these criteria are able to be reviewed and obtain accreditation through CAAHEP, which is the premier accreditation body for allied health education programs. Currently, there are several schools in the United States which offer CAAHEP accredited surgical first assistant training programs. Additional programs are approved by the National Surgical Assistant Association (NSAA) and the American Biological Safety Association (ABSA). These programs typically last between 12 and 24 months and lead to a Certificate of Completion or Associate of Science degree. In addition, the Association of Surgical Technologists (AST) has published the Core Curriculum for Surgical Assisting which must be followed by accredited programs in order to assure consistency in education throughout the nation. Although formal programs for surgical first assisting currently lead to a Certificate of Completion or Associate of Science degree, the AST and the Association of Surgical Assistants (ASA) have both adopted the bachelor’s degree in a field related to surgical technology as the preferred entry level educational model to begin a career as a surgical first assistant. However, the bachelor’s degree is not a requirement for certification, nor is it a requirement for many entry-level positions.
Educational programs for SFAs include courses in the following subject areas:
- Microbiology
- Pathophysiology
- Anatomy and physiology
- Medical terminology
- Advanced surgical anatomy
- Surgical microbiology
- Surgical pharmacology
- Anesthesia methods and agents
- Bioscience
- Ethical and legal considerations
- Fundamental technical skills
- Complications during surgery
- Interpersonal skills
- Clinical application of computers
Non-physician surgical first assistant practitioners (SFAs) are credentialed nationally by the American Board of Surgical Assistants (ABSA), the National Board of Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting (NBSTSA), and the National Surgical Assistant Association (NSAA). Some states, such as Kentucky, Texas, Colorado, Illinois, and Washington DC have additional state certification or licensure requirements. When deciding which professional credential to pursue, the practitioner should consider local legislation, facility policy, and regional practice as some credentials are preferred over others in different parts of the United States. Additionally, local laws and hospital policies may favor or require a specific credential.
Read more about this topic: Surgeon's Assistant
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