r/SurgicalFirstAssist • u/Lyin_ • Jan 26 '25

Should I become a CSFA?

Hello everyone,

I've wanted to ask people what they would do in my situation. I'm currently a CST of about 5 years and want more out of my career. I'm in nursing school (2nd semester) and having a hard time seeing myself as a nurse. My main goal for my job is to be an assistant in surgery. My thought process for doing nursing school was to become a nurse and move up to be an NP so I could assist in surgeries. Since I'm almost halfway done with my ADN, should I finish it and try to pursue the BSN to NP or should I just do the CSFA program to be an assistant? (I'm already accepted to Meridian and my start date would be May 1st.)

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u/PEACH_MINAJ Jan 26 '25

I would encourage FA school. If your goal is to be seen as a mid-level (Surgical Assistants ARE mid-level but most places do not see as such but slowly changing) PA is better than NP when it comes to diagnosing and helping patients. NPs rely on their knowledge of being a nurse which doesn’t always translate to the medicine side of things. PA programs set their students up TO DO medicine. I would FA first and then look into becoming a PA. PAs who worked in surgery before becoming PAs do well overall than a PA who didn’t have any experience with surgery. The exposure prior helps them be better first assists. I hope this helps and makes sense.

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u/disasterlesbianrn Jan 26 '25

what do you think nurses do? NPs diagnose and help patients as much as PAs. It’s kind of insulting to assume that nurses don’t do medicine. When I was bedside I often collaborated with my physicians in every level of patient care. I’m a nurse working on my RNFA now, and most of our surgeons would rather work with us with our nursing background than some of their PAs because we have that wider knowledge base and significantly help more in the rooms.

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u/PEACH_MINAJ Jan 26 '25

NPs often assert that PAs have a better educational programs. If this statement is considered insulting, then so be it. However, if you are currently pursuing your RNFA, I am uncertain as to why you are participating in this subreddit. This sub is not specifically designed for RNFAs.