Surgical First Assistant | College of Western Idaho

Skills & Competencies

Skills developed through this program

Auto-populatedfrom O*NET via SOC 29-9093.00

Skills

Active ListeningSpeakingCritical ThinkingMonitoringReading ComprehensionCoordinationService OrientationOperations Monitoring

Knowledge

Medicine and DentistryCustomer and Personal ServiceEnglish LanguageBiologyEducation and Training

Abilities

Oral ComprehensionArm-Hand SteadinessFinger DexterityNear VisionOral ExpressionProblem SensitivitySpeech ClarityWritten ComprehensionVisual Color DiscriminationSpeech Recognition

Tasks

Verify the identity of patient or operative site.
Monitor and maintain aseptic technique throughout procedures.
Cover patients with surgical drapes to create and maintain a sterile operative field.

Technology

Medical softwareSpreadsheet softwareOffice suite softwarePresentation softwareWord processing software

Tools

Anesthesia cartsAngiocathsArgon beam coagulatorsAutomated external defibrillators AEDBlanket warmer cabinetsBlood warming equipmentBody stabilizersC-arm tablesCarbon dioxide CO2 lasersCardiac monitoring equipmentCast cutting sawsCauterizing equipmentCell saversDesktop computersEndoscopic camera/video systems

Work Values

RelationshipsAchievementRecognitionSupportWorking ConditionsIndependence

Career Pathways

Occupations this program prepares you for

Auto-populatedfrom O*NET + BLS

Occupations matched to this program, with median wage, top wage, growth, and openings
SOC	Occupation	Method	Wage	Growth	Openings
Match confidence: medium29-9093.00	Surgical Assistants	title_inference	$60,290 median$102,390 top	+5.14%	130

Program Pathways

Credentials this program stacks toward

No program pathways.

What You'll Learn

Key competencies developed through this program

Auto-populatedfrom NSX Competency Framework

Mastery: developing (Level 2)(based on Associate's Degree)

Patient identity protocols — independently verify patient identity and operative site against surgical records at the start of each procedure with minimal oversight.
Aseptic field integrity — monitor and maintain sterile technique throughout routine surgical procedures, recognizing and correcting minor breaks without prompting.
Sterile operative field — apply and adjust surgical drapes during a variety of routine procedures to sustain consistent sterility throughout the operation.
Patient positioning and padding — coordinate the placement of patients using body stabilizing equipment for common surgical exposures, applying protective padding to prevent nerve or circulatory complications.
Retractors, sponges, and irrigation equipment — manage and deploy during routine procedures to maintain an unobstructed operative field with reduced supervisor intervention.
Wound closure materials — apply sutures, staples, and clips to close skin, fascia, and subcutaneous layers on routine cases following surgeon direction.
Sterile wound dressings — prepare, select, and apply appropriate dressings independently for standard post-operative wounds in a general surgery setting.
Pre-operative case review — discuss with the surgeon the procedure type, operative exposure methods, and patient directives before each assigned case.
Intraoperative problem recognition — identify and report deviations from expected operative conditions such as unexpected bleeding or positioning complications to the surgeon promptly.
Electronic medical records and office software — document surgical assistant activities, patient data, and post-operative notes accurately using hospital information systems.

Program Details

Detailed information about this program

No detailed information available.

Requirements

What you need to earn this credential

No requirements listed.

Financial Aid

Eligible funding programs

No funding information available.

Scholarships

No scholarships listed.