Surgical First Assistant​ Certificate of Credit

Program Overview

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Surgical First Assistant​ Certificate of Credit

Overview

This online Surgical First Assistant Certificate of Credit course is for registered practitioners (Operating Department Practitioners (ODP) or Nurses (RN)) working in a perioperative setting based in the UK, Republic of Ireland or Channel Islands. This course will provide you with the necessary skills and underpinning knowledge to develop and practice enhanced surgical skills within the role of a Surgical First Assistant in line with latest professional guidance and recommendations (PCC 2018).

Course Content

• Legal, Professional and Ethical issues of the SFA role
• Role boundaries, communication and working as part of the surgical team
• Infection control, asepsis and wound care, including principles of microbiology
• Principles of pathology, including disease classification and tissue growth disorders
• Handling of tissue specimens
• Preparation and positioning the surgical patient
• Handling of instruments, tissues and organ manipulation including retraction of superficial and deep tissue following surgical placement and under direct supervision
• Surgical haemostasis and suction
• Male and female catheterisation
• Minimal access surgery skills including camera and instrument manipulation

What You Will Study

• Certificate of credit
• Core modules
  • Surgical First Assistant

Surgical First Assistant

The Surgical First Assistant is a role undertaken by a registered practitioner and now widely accepted as part of the surgical team within the perioperative environment. They provide continuous, competent and dedicated surgical assistance under the direction of the operating surgeon during a surgical procedure, whilst not performing any surgical intervention (Perioperative Care Collaborative, PCC 2018).

This module will provide healthcare professionals working within the perioperative environment, the necessary skills and underpinning knowledge to develop and practice enhanced surgical skills within the role of a Surgical First Assistant.

Competence of the required clinical skills to perform the Surgical First Assistant role, will be achieved through work-based learning with supervision by an appropriately qualified healthcare professional or clinician. A clinical practice portfolio will be required to document learning experiences and competence. Demonstration of competence will be in line with current professional guidance and recommendations.

Module Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this module, you will be able to:

1. Critically analyse professional, legal and ethical issues when performing the role of the surgical first assistant, drawing upon legislation, local and national guidelines, codes of professional practice and relevant contemporary literature and research
2. Critically evaluate the contribution the surgical first assistant plays as a member of the wider surgical team in enhancing patient centred care
3. Demonstrate competence in performing enhanced surgical skills as a Surgical First Assistant

Module Content

• Legal, Professional and Ethical issues of the SFA role
• Role boundaries and team working
• Communication and Teamwork
• Principles of microbiology
• Principles of pathology
  • Basic aetiological classifications of disease
  • Disorders of tissue growth
  • Handling of tissue specimens
• Wound Care
• Surgical and Clinical Skills Acquisition
  • Preparation of the surgical patient
  • Positioning the surgical patient
  • Handling of instruments, tissues and organ manipulation (under direct surgical supervision only)
  • Retraction (superficial and deep tissue) (following placement and under direct surgical supervision only)
  • surgical haemostasis
  • suction
  • Male and female catheterisation
  • Minimal access surgery
  • camera and instrument manipulation

How You Will Learn

This 10-week course is completed entirely through online learning alongside your supervised clinical practice.

Pace of Study

We recommend about 20 hours of study per week to complete this 20-credit module over a 10-week trimester.

Assessment Method

Your competence to perform the role of the Surgical First Assistant will be assessed through:

• Submission of a 3000-word written piece of coursework
• Submission of a clinical portfolio demonstrating practical competence at performing the enhanced surgical skills required for the role of Surgical First Assistant, in line with current professional guidance

You must be supervised in clinical practice and have protected / dedicated time to perform the role of the Surgical First Assistant as part of the surgical team under the supervision of an allocated assessor/ supervisor (determined by your Employer).

As part of the clinical portfolio, you will be required to evidence a log of having undertaken 100 hours performing the role of the Surgical First Assistant under direct supervision, to demonstrate competence of the required skills.

You will need to be allocated an appropriate clinical supervisor, a consultant surgeon, to provide your clinical supervision whilst you undertake Surgical First Assistant duties. You will also be supported by assessors (mentors) who are registered professionals, competent in the skill or the aspect of competency being assessed. The Assessor / Mentor may be a Surgical Care Practitioner, experienced SFA practitioner or theatre educator.

You will also be allocated an academic assessor to support you throughout your module and hold regular tripartite review meetings, with yourself and your employer, to determine progression and completion of competencies being undertaken in the workplace. Note: confirmation of competence is completed by your allocated supervisor/ assessor (mentor) in the workplace.

Student Support and Guidance

Whilst we encourage our students to become independent, life-long learners, we also recognise that offering the right support and guidance will help you to achieve your goals. There is a wealth of support available to you at the University, from your dedicated Personal Tutor and Online Learner Advisor, through to our:

• Library
• Health and Wellbeing Centre
• Careers and Employability Service
• IT Support
• Union of Students
• Develop@Derby for study, personal and employability skills

All these services, and more, are available to you as an online student at the University of Derby.

Who Will Teach You

Nikki Jones-Ball

Programme Leader

Nikki Jones-Ball

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Entry Requirements

You must be able to meet the following criteria to apply for this short course:

• you must be a registered practitioner with current and unrestricted registration with a relevant professional regulatory body (e.g. HCPC or NMC)
• Be employed in a perioperative environment (based in the UK, Republic of Ireland or Channel Islands) for the duration of the course
• Have appropriate experience in performing the scrub role at a competent level within the perioperative environment
• You will hold a degree or Diploma in Higher Education (or equivalent) relevant to your professional qualification
• Evidence of recent study (within the last three years) or ability to study at a degree level. If you are unable to supply evidence to support this, then you will be asked to complete a reflective piece of work related to your experience working in the perioperative environment and this will form part of your application
• Hold a current DBS
• A Supplementary Information Form – to be completed by yourself and your theatre manager / line manager who will confirm their support and your suitability to undertake these extended duties and your ability to meet the learning outcomes for this course

Your manager will need to confirm that:

- You are working in a Perioperative setting in the UK, Republic of Ireland or Channel Islands, and will be for the duration of the course
- You will be provided with dedicated learning opportunities to undertake 100 hours performing the role of the Surgical First Assistant
- You will be allocated an appropriate clinical supervisor who will be a consultant surgeon or a Surgical Care Practitioner who will provide clinical supervision whilst undertaking Surgical First Assistant duties. They will further allocate additional assessors (mentors) to support your training who will be a registered professional who is competent in the skill, or the aspect of competency being assessed who may be a Surgical Care Practitioner, experienced SFA practitioner or theatre educator
- Have access to learning opportunities and a variety of surgical specialities which will include access to laparoscopic surgery

Prior to commencing this course, it is recommended that you have completed, or have arranged to complete, an in-house catheterisation course to ensure local policy is followed whilst completing these associated duties as part of the Surgical First Assistant role.****Please note: Confirmation of named Supervisor and additional assigned assessors (including their support) will be required at the start of module study, by the module leader.

English Language Qualifications

If English is not your first language, an IELTS of 7.0 (or equivalent) in all areas is required.

Fees and Funding

‡2024/25 for new entrants

Starting between September 2024 and August 2025.

| Per 20 credits| Modules| Cost
---|---|---|---
UK | Per 20 credits£875 | Modules1 x 20 credits | Cost£875

2025/26 for new entrants

Starting between September 2025 and August 2026.

| Per 20 credits| Modules| Cost
---|---|---|---
UK | Per 20 credits£925 | Modules1 x 20 credits | Cost£925

About Your Fees

Prices are correct for the year of entry shown. These are subject to annual increase in subsequent academic years.

Flexible Payment Plan Available

• Pay monthly for the course that you are studying

Program Outline

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Degree Overview:

This online Surgical First Assistant Certificate of Credit course is designed for registered practitioners (Operating Department Practitioners (ODP) or Nurses (RN)) working in a UK-based perioperative setting. The program aims to equip participants with the necessary skills and underpinning knowledge to develop and practice enhanced surgical skills within the role of a Surgical First Assistant in line with latest professional guidance and recommendations (PCC 2018). The course emphasizes the development of clinical skills and competencies relevant to the role of the Surgical First Assistant through work-based learning at the place of employment. Participants will be required to document their learning experiences and competence in a clinical practice portfolio, which must include evidence of 100 hours of supervised practice performing the skills associated with the Surgical First Assistant role.

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Outline:

The course is structured as a 10-week part-time program, delivered entirely through online learning alongside supervised clinical practice. The program covers the following core modules:

• Surgical First Assistant: This module focuses on the role of the Surgical First Assistant, including legal, professional, and ethical issues, role boundaries, communication, teamwork, principles of microbiology, principles of pathology, wound care, and surgical and clinical skills acquisition.

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Assessment:

The program utilizes a combination of assessment methods to evaluate participants' competence in performing the role of the Surgical First Assistant:

• Coursework: Participants are required to submit a 3000-word written piece of coursework.
• Clinical Portfolio: Participants must submit a clinical portfolio demonstrating practical competence in performing the enhanced surgical skills required for the role of Surgical First Assistant, in line with current professional guidance.
This portfolio must include evidence of 100 hours of supervised practice performing the role of the Surgical First Assistant.

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Teaching:

The course is delivered entirely online, with participants completing the program through self-directed learning and supervised clinical practice. The program is supported by academics who have a wealth of skills, expertise, and professional credibility related to the Surgical First Assistant role.

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Careers:

The program prepares participants for the role of a Surgical First Assistant within the NHS or independent healthcare sector.

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Other:

• The program is designed to be flexible, allowing participants to study around their own commitments.
• Participants must have access to learning opportunities and a variety of surgical specialties, including access to laparoscopic surgery.
• Prior to commencing the course, it is recommended that participants have completed, or have arranged to complete, an in-house catheterisation course to ensure local policy is followed while completing these associated duties as part of the Surgical First Assistant role.
• Participants will be allocated an appropriate clinical supervisor, a consultant surgeon, to provide clinical supervision while they undertake Surgical First Assistant duties.
They will also be supported by assessors (mentors) who are registered professionals, competent in the skill or the aspect of competency being assessed. The Assessor / Mentor may be a Surgical Care Practitioner, experienced SFA practitioner, or theatre educator.
• Participants will also be allocated an academic assessor to support them throughout their module and hold regular tripartite review meetings, with themselves and their employer, to determine progression and completion of competencies being undertaken in the workplace.
Note: confirmation of competence is completed by the allocated supervisor/ assessor (mentor) in the workplace.