A Principles of Surgical Assisting course gives an overview of the duties surgical assistants perform on a daily basis. With this course, students will know the proper technique for positioning patients before surgery, skin preparation and appropriate markings for surgical procedures. Prospective surgical assistants will also learn the proper procedures to assist physicians and nurses with tissue handling, suctioning, suturing and dressings in a surgical setting.
Students in an Applied Surgical Assisting Concepts course will learn the basics of patient care by understanding the techniques associated with surgical and laboratory procedures. Concepts learned in this course include catheterization, knowing how to read laboratory results, EKG, advanced pharmacology concepts, diagnostic testing and how to cover specific wounds. Handling operative emergencies are also covered, as well as handling critically ill patients during various surgeries.
Special Topics in Surgical Assisting explores the legal and technical aspects of the medical field and the role surgical assistants play in the industry. After completing this course, students will have covered the elements of legal issues in the medical field, an introduction to billing and coding, and legislation associated with medical rules and ethics.
A Surgical Anatomy course investigates the structure of the human body and the various functions associated with the body. Through the use of dissection of multiple body parts, including the abdomen, head, neck and pelvis, students will learn how to properly dissect body parts through demonstrations and lectures.
This area of the surgical assisting program will give students the opportunity to apply the skills they learned in their courses in a real-world setting by going into clinical trials with real patients. With the help of a clinical instructor, students will be able to practice their abilities through certain areas of practices that students are interested in pursuing, including orthopedic GYN/GU plastics, reconstructive surgeries, ENT and cardiothoracic cases. After clinicals, students are able to apply for the certification exam to become a licensed surgical assistant.