How to become a Surgical Assistant in Michigan?

Enrollment in an accredited surgical assistant program could be one of the best professional decisions you make. Not only will it lead to a potentially rewarding work opportunity nationwide, but you will also acquire lifelong skills. In addition, joining the classes in the surgical assistant programs in Michigan will indeed stretch your academic limits, so by the time you graduate, you will feel more competent and content with your choice.

Job responsibilities of a surgical assistant –

Without a trained surgical assistant, it isn't easy to perform any surgery. These professionals provide needful assistance to doctors during various surgical operations. From preparing patients for surgery to preparing the operating room and any essential equipment and tools, they can provide the full range of surgical assistance. Even after the surgical process, they may store equipment and tools and transport patients from the operating room. These employees may also be tasked with the following additional duties: –

Going over the surgical procedure with the patient before surgery.
Inserting and removing the IV tubes.
Marking and sterilizing surgical places for the surgeons.
Recording patient’s vital signs.

Steps to become a surgical assistant –

While enrolling in the surgical assistant programs in Michigan, one needs to follow some steps beforehand to pursue becoming a surgical assistant. These are –

Earn an associate’s or bachelor’s degree –

To become a surgical technologist, one needs at least an associate degree in surgical technology or another allied health care field. This degree mostly takes two years to complete. If you are wondering how to become a surgical assistant, you may consider joining a bachelor’s degree in a medical field such as nursing. A bachelor’s degree in surgical technology or a related field typically takes four years to complete. A nursing degree will also help an individual with the next step, i.e., gaining working experience in the surgical setting.

Gain operating room experience –

Many surgical assistants need to have previous experience working in an operating room. The average surgical assistant must have 3-5 years of experience, including working experience as a nursing assistant or an EMT. Apart from this, you may even use some types of military clinical experience to waive the degree requirements of specific surgical assistant programs. Volunteering at hospitals can also count toward the knowledge required to get into surgical assistant programs in Michigan.

Must Read: What Exactly Are The Responsibilities Of A Certified Nursing Assistant?

Completing a surgical assistant program –

Surgical assistant programs usually take 12 to 24 months to complete. Surgical assistance is an advanced medical degree which is why a previous degree and a good amount of experience are required before you enroll in this post-secondary program. Some of the other requirements to enroll in surgical assistant schooling often include the following –

Get CPR and or BLS (Basic Life Support) certifications.
Physical examination.
Up-to-date immunization records.
Computer proficiency.

Earning your surgical assistant certifications –

Three organizations- NBSTSA, ABSA, and NSAA, conduct examinations for certified surgical assistants. Once you have met all the prerequisites, you can sign up to take the certification exam with any one of the organizations.

NBSTSA – The National Board of Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting offers an individual two surgical assistant certifications. These are a certification of surgical technologists (CST) and a certification of surgical first assistants (CSFA).

ABSA – The American Board of Surgical Assistants provides aspirants only one examination and certification in surgical assisting (CSA), which aligns with the CSFA certification but not the CST one.

NSAA – The National Surgical Assistants Association also offers aspirants one exam and CSA certification through the National Commission for the Certification of Surgical Assistants (NCCSA).

So, the above is some information about various surgical assistant programs. If you are looking for an accredited training institute to enroll in one of the accredited surgical assistant programs in Michigan to start your professional journey as a certified surgical assistant, then consult the expert team at Abcott Institute today! Contact (248) 440-6020 now for expert guidance!