COVID-19 Update: On-site face-to-face credit classes and labs will be held as shown in the 2020 Fall Class Schedule. The first day of the Fall Semester is Monday, Aug. 24, 2020.
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  • Surgical First Assist.
    94% Graduate Employment/Transfer rate
    That's right! Ninety-four percent of SCC's 2019 graduates found work or continued their education.
    Placement
     Health Sciences Building Walk Through.
    Health Sciences Building Walk Through. 
    Surgical First Assist.
    94% Graduate Employment/Transfer rate
    That's right! Ninety-four percent of SCC's 2019 graduates found work or continued their education.
    Placement
    Surgical First Assist.
    94% Graduate Employment/Transfer rate
    That's right! Ninety-four percent of SCC's 2019 graduates found work or continued their education.
    Placement
     

Surgical First Assist

  •  Estimated Cost: $3,035

    Program Length: 2 semesters

    Locations: Online + Labs

    Start Term(s): Fall

    Awards Offered: Cert

    Program Description

    If you are a certified surgical technologist and have at least 3 years experience and want to explore career options in the field, the Surgical First Assisting program is just right for you. You must hold a current NBSTSA certification in Surgical Technology in order to enroll. Your role on the surgical team is to carry out a safe operation with optimal results for the patient.

    The program is online with five evenings of lab practice. You are required to travel to the Lincoln campus to complete the lab portion. While you will be taking your classes online, you will be required to have the  midterm and final exams proctored. At the end of the program, you will earn a Certificate in Surgical First Assisting ,  and sit for your national certification exam before graduation.

    Our Surgical First Assisting program expands career opportunities for certified surgical technologists. The surgical first assistant is a highly skilled professional, trained and educated to function as a valuable and integral part of the surgical team. You will be a successful surgical first assistant if you:

    • are able to execute the responsibilities of the program regarding attendance, assignments and record keeping
    • possess the ability to multitask efficiently
    • have the endurance to stand an entire shift if needed
    • are able to work efficiently with your hands
    • are detail oriented and able to work on a team
    • are able to communicate effectively (both verbal and written)
    • understand problem sensitivity (ability to tell when something is wrong or likely to go wrong)
    • have a strong commitment to patient safety
    • must be able to make decisions based on the use of logic and analytical skills

    Follow the steps on the Admission Checklist to complete your application.

    Admissions Resources:

    Learn more about the Surgical First Assisting profession by completing this Professional Awareness Activity.

    A surgical first assistant provides aid in exposure, hemostasis and other technical functions to help the surgeon carry out a safe operation with optimal results for the patient. You will work in the operating room of a hospital, surgery center, specialty center, doctor’s office, or labor and delivery. Employment of surgical first assistants is projected to grow 31.2% from 2017-2027 according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. You can expect an average starting salary of $24.88 per hour. Career options include:

    • Surgical First Assistant
    • Clinical Preceptor
    • Private Scrub for a Surgeon
    • Surgical First Assistant Clinical Instructor or Program Director

    The Southeast Community College Surgical First Assisting program has accreditation pending by:

    Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs
    25400 U.S. Highway 19 North, Suite 158
    Clearwater, FL 33763
    727-210-2350
    mail@caahep.org

    Southeast Community College is a State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement Institution. As a State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement Institution, we are unable to offer online or distance courses to students in the following states/areas: California and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.

    The Surgical First Assist program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP). Students completing this program will sit for the National Surgical First Assisting Certification exam. This is a national certification and is accepted in all 50 states. Privileges may vary by state, depending on each state’s laws and guidelines.
    Cynthia Kreps, CST/CSFA, BS
    Surgical First Assist Program Director
    8800 O Street
    Lincoln, NE 68520
    402-437-2797
    ckreps@southeast.edu
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