First Assist Certification
Graduates of a surgical assistant program can then become certified surgical first assistants csfas or certified surgical assistants csas.
First assist certification. The american college of surgeons says the ideal surgical assistant is another surgeon. In the late 90s the national institute of first assisting nifa recognized this problem and developed training programs for experienced perioperative registered nurses and nurse practitioners that raised the bar in rnfa training. A certified first assistant also called a certified surgical first assistant csfa is a medical professional who assists surgeons during surgeries. A registered nurse first assistant rnfa is an rn with advanced training in the skills needed to assist in surgery.
Discover where to find an rnfa program see what youll learn and get information on professional certification. Accredited csfa education programs are available at the certificate and associates degree levels that satisfy the training and eligibility requirements to sit for the requisite certification exam. The nbstsas certification program is accredited by the national commission for certifying agencies ncca the accreditation division of the national organization for competency assurance noca and is in compliance with nccas standards for the accreditation of certification programs. Military training professional experience or education in allied health professions such as nursing or physician assisting.
Mastery of surgical skills is the ultimate measure of a successful rnfa. So the ace surgical assistant program sends you into surgery with the same skills a surgeon has. Lengthcurrent caahep accredited programs range from 12 months to 24 months. Surgical assisting is a specialty profession that requires specific training over and above a degree in science nursing physician assisting or another health profession.
That is a high standard that ace takes seriously. Meridian institute of surgical assisting is excited to announce our sfa online program the largest online surgical first assistant program in the united states is now accredited by the commission on accreditation of allied health programs this accreditation was made upon the recommendation of the subcommittee on accreditation for surgical assistants sasa. Certified training programs for this career exist in a variety of options including but not limited to us. You also get the same knowledge set a surgeon brings to the table when first assisting.
Nifa in centennial colorado is the largest aprn first assistant training program in the nation specializing in health care education specific to operating room nurses and aprns since 1995. A first assistant aids a surgeon during each step of the operating process.