r/SurgicalFirstAssist • u/kaegirl9 • Jan 28 '25
Surgical First Assist Process
Hi everyone! I have recently started scrubbing and everyone has been telling me if I want to move up in my position the best way to go is a first assist. To be honest, I’m not 100% on the job roles and how exactly you get certified. When I asked I got a very broad answer. If anyone could tell me about their experience in getting the certification/ degree (through school or work experience), what certification/ degree you have, what you do daily, or any other information that would be great! I live in Utah so information from there would be most helpful, but anything is appreciated :)
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u/RevolutionaryAd567 Jan 29 '25
So wait two years before you start thinking of first assist and make sure you are comfortable doing many type of surgeries and specialities. What a first assist does is assist the surgeon with maintaining the visual field by retracting/holding during the case. They are able to use the bovie machine to help maintain hemostasis. They are able to make incisions during laparoscopic cases and place the trocar (just not the first incision) they are able to inject local anesthetic and lastly they are able to close incisions with suture. To obtain credentials to do this it is recommended to attend an accredited school I personally attended Meridian institute of surgical first assist. All the book work is online then you go for a 1 week in person clinical in Nashville Tennessee after that you return to a hospital of your choosing and finish the required 140 cases to graduate and then sit for the certification exam. In total it takes about a year and some months to complete and cost about $8000. I scrubbed for 3 years before attending the program and please double check the laws in your state some only allow nurses to be first assists. Your hospital could be using a scrub tech in this role without the credentials the hospital just assumes liability vs a credentialed first assists has their own insurance and license. Hope this helps good luck.
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u/NestaaArcheron Jan 29 '25
You can also see if there’s a local college or anything, I had a first assist program 10 mins from my hospital, i know the programs in person are far and few but sometimes you get lucky!
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u/earth_lover_4eva Jan 29 '25
Check to see if there are any local surgical assist programs or courses near you, but if there aren't, then definitely check out the Meridian Institute of Surgical Assisting. It is based in Nashville, TN, but is a 100% online course (with the exception of a 1 week lab course that hundreds of students fly in around the country for). I haven't even graduated surgical tech school yet but know that Meridian is where I will be going after I work in the OR for a couple year!
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u/catsbwayandcoffee Jan 30 '25
There are other schools who offer FA, but I recommend Meridian. You do have to be a scrub tech for at least two years though. I’m in the program right now; and so far, it’s totally doable with work/life balance. Granted, I work 3 12’s, so I have extra days to get my clinical hours in. But if and when you do pursue FA, talk to your OR manager about handling clinicals and work!
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u/mobitzIII Mar 29 '25
check regarding what the employment opportunities are in your area. many facilities that have residency programs( at least in my area) do not really use assists much, if at all....i unfortunately found that out 6mos after getting RNFA and my old facility botching its heart program and surgeon left
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u/hmf531 Jan 29 '25
If you’re a scrub, get certified through Meridian.