Surgical Assisting

Graduates of the Surgical Assisting program are entitled to an Advanced Technical Certificate in Surgical Assisting and are eligible to sit for the national certification examination administered by the National Board of Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting (NBSTSA). Those students passing the certification exam are allowed to use the title Certified Surgical First Assist (CSFA)

(800) 707-0057

3 West Dry Creek Circle
Littleton, CO 80120

 

The Surgical Assisting program operates under the standards of the Accreditation Review Committee on Education in Surgical Assisting.

303-694-9262

19751 East Mainstreet, Suite #339
Parker, CO 80138

 

The Collin College Surgical Assisting program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs.

(727) 210-2350

9355 - 113th St. N, #7709
Seminole, FL 33775

Graduate outcomes statistics will be updated soon.

PHYSICAL STANDARDS:

1. Ability to bend and stoop; able to stand and/or sit for long periods of time in one location with minimum/no breaks  
2. Ability to lift a minimum of 50 pounds to assist moving patients  
3. Ability to refrain from nourishment or restroom breaks for periods up to 6 hours or more  
4. Demonstrate sufficient visual ability enough to load a fine (10-0) suture onto needle holders with/without corrective lenses and while wearing safety glasses  
5. Demonstrate sufficient peripheral vision to anticipate and function while in the sterile surgical environment  
6. Hear and understand muffled communications without visualization of the communicator’s mouth/lips within 20 feet  
7. Hear activation/warning signals on equipment  
8. Ability to detect odors sufficient to maintain environmental safety and patient needs  
9. Manipulate instruments, supplies and equipment with speed, dexterity and good eye-hand coordination  
10. Ambulate/move around without assistive devices  
11. Able to assist with and/or lift, move, position and manipulate the patient who is unconscious with or without assistive devices  
     

COMMUNICATION/COMPREHENSION STANDARDS:

1. Communicate and understand fluent English both verbally and in writing, including health care information in order to communicate effectively with surgeons and staff to assure patient safety
2. Exhibit social skills necessary to interact effectively with surgeons, patients, families, Co-workers and supervisors of the same or different cultures such as respect, politeness, tact, collaboration, teamwork and discretion  
    

MENTAL/ATTITUDINAL STANDARDS:

1. Possess short and long term memory sufficient to perform tasks such as, but not limited to, mentally tracking surgical supplies and performing anticipation skills intraoperatively  
2. Able to make appropriate judgment decisions  
3. Demonstrate the use of positive coping skills under stress  
4. Demonstrate calm, appropriate and effective responses, especially in emergency situations  
5. Exhibit positive interaction skills during patient, staff and faculty interactions

FIRST SEMESTER (Summer)

CSFA 1371 - Fundamentals and Surgical Safety

CSFA 2371 - Surgical Procedures

CSFA 2472 - Suturing, Knot Tying, Hemostasis, and Wound Healing

HITT 2435 - Coding and Reimbursement Methodologies

 

SECOND SEMESTER (Fall)

CSFA 1172 - Pharmacology and Anesthesia

CSFA 1173 - Principles of Surgical Assisting Lab I

CSFA 1175 - Perioperative Microbiology and BioScience

CSFA 2372 - Operative Anatomy and Pathophysiology I

CSFA 2473 - Surgical Assisting Clinical I

 

THIRD SEMESTER (Spring)

CSFA 1176 - Complications in Surgery

CSFA 2171 - Role Definition, Ethical, Legal, and Moral Responsibilities

CSFA 2173 - Principles of Surgical Assisting Lab II

CSFA 2373 - Operative Anatomy and Pathophysiology II

CSFA 2474 - Surgical Assisting Clinical II(Capstone)

 

TOTAL CREDIT HOURS: 34

Costs are estimated and are subject to change.

 

Tuition:

Collin County Residents: $2,108

Texas Out-of-County Resident: $3,978

 

Books: $190

Uniforms: $60 per set

Drug Screen: $40

Certification Exam: $190

 

Additional financial information can be obtained from the bursar's website.

Collin Bursar Website

The Following documents will also need to be submitted with your application:

If you are a Certified Surgical Technologist (CST):

• Copy of Current CST Certification/Verification
• Copy of AST membership
   

If you are an Operating Room Nurse:

• Copy of current CNOR
   

If you are a Physician Assistant (PA) graduate of an accredited medical school:

• Copy of Master of Science degree
• Current copy of National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA) Certification
   

If you have a Bachelor of Science degree or higher with three years of current surgical assisting operating room experience:

• Copy of Surgical case list – date, type, location, surgeon
   

All applicants will also need to submit:

• Completed SA Program application
• Copy of all transcripts
• Current copy of American Heart Association BLS
• Handwritten, well-developed, one to two-page essay discussing why Surgical Assisting has been selected as a career choice and why attendance at the Collin College program is desired.
• Two letters of recommendation from physicians that can attest to your character and aptitude in the surgical setting. The letters will need to be directly submitted from the surgeon to Program Director Donna R Smith, DRSmith@collin.edu

 

Completed applications will need to be submitted via email to:
Donna R Smith, Director of Surgical Professions
drsmith@collin.edu

(972) 548-6854

Donna Smith

Director of Surgical Professions

Email: DRSmith@Collin.edu

Office: (972) 548-6854

 

Christopher Scott
Professor/Clinical Coordinator of Surgical Assisting
Email: ChrisScott@Collin.edu

Office: (214) 491-6260