Apply to the Surgical First Assistant Program

San Juan College's Surgical First Assistant program accreditation:

The Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP)
9355 - 113th St. N, #7709 Seminole, FL 33775
www.caahep.org | 727-210-2350

What students can expect from the program:

Minimum Program Expectation

Students are prepared to be competent entry-level surgical assistants in the cognitive (knowledge), psychomotor (skills), and affective (behavior) learning domains.

Correlate the knowledge of advanced anatomy, physiology, pathophysiology, and microbiology to their role as a surgical assistant.
Demonstrate a safe level of practice and knowledge in their role as a surgical assistant.
Acquire an understanding of the ethical, legal, moral, and medical values related to the patient and the Operating Room team during the perioperative experience.
Correlate the elements, action, and use of medications and anesthetic agents used during the perioperative experience.
Demonstrate safe practice techniques in regard to perioperative routines, patient positioning, exposure of the surgical field, hemostasis, and emergency procedures.
Demonstrate and integrate principles of surgical asepsis as part of the perioperative experience.
Apply knowledge and skills as a professional surgical assistant to address the biopsychosocial needs of the surgical patient.
Perform as a competent entry-level surgical assistant in the cognitive, psychomotor, and affective learning domains.
Value the professional attributes of the Surgical Assistant.

Laboratory Skills, Competencies and Exams

This program has mandatory lab skills, competencies and exams that must be passed prior to going to clinical rotations.

Program Admission Requirements and Selection

Admission to the Surgical First Assistant program is selective. The following criteria are used in the selection process.

Recommendations:

Be a certified Surgical Technologist (CST), (TS-C) or (CORST), Nurse-Operating Room (CNOR) or Physician Assistant-Certified (PA-C) with certification currency, and two years full-time experience or 4,500 clinical hours in the last three years or Graduates from a CAAHEP or ABHES accredited Surgical Technology Program, Nursing or Physician Assistant Program. Preferably an Associate of Applied Science Degree or higher.
Applicants must contact Program Director, Lydell Powell for an advising session at powelll@sanjuancollege.edu or (505) 566-3856 to schedule a meeting. It is required that an applicant attend an advising session prior to admission to the program. Your admission packet will be explained during the advising session.
Submit a completed program application packet by mid-July of each year.

How to Apply

Please make sure you meet all of the minimum eligibility requirements listed above. If at any time you have any questions regarding eligibility or the application process, please do not hesitate to contact us.

Apply to San Juan College. (This step must be completed to be accepted to SJC and properly determine eligibility of courses you have taken.)
Send all official transcripts to San Juan College Admissions
Note: this process may take 3-4 weeks. Please be sure to have your transcripts sent well before the application deadline!
Contact the Surgical First Assistant Program at (505) 566-3856 or at powelll@sanjuancollege.edu to set up an appointment with our Program Director, Lydell Powell, to conduct a review of your eligibility.
Complete and submit an Application packet for the San Juan Surgical First Assistant Program. The application deadline is mid-July of each year.
Contact Program Director Lydell Powell at powelll@sanjuancollege.edu or (505) 566-3856 to schedule an advising meeting. It is required that an applicant attend an advising session within a 12-month period prior to the semester in which you begin the program.

Note: Admission Committees for all Health Science programs have the right to deny admission to any applicant that they feel is unable to fulfill these essential functions as described.

Surgical First Assistant Application