6-Day Surgical SkillLab^™ The Expert Way

The Surgical SkillLab is ideal for those who need more training in first assisting or those who are ready to advance their medical career to the next level. The lab is perfect for:

• Any Surgical Technician or Operating Room Nurse who may have to first assist in surgery as part of their job description or who, in the course of their duties, may have to surgical first assist when the scheduled first surgical assistant is late or doesn't show up at all.
• Medical Doctors, foreign or domestically trained. Scrub experience preferred but not required.
• Physician Assistants and Nurse Practitioners. Scrub experience preferred but not required.
• Surgical Assistants and RNFA's who have completed a formal training program to first assist in surgery but would like to take the lab as a refresher or to upgrade their surgical skills and knowledge.
• Current students of Surgical Assistant Programs, RN First Assistant Programs, Medical Schools, and Surgical Residency Programs. This hands-on lab would give them a more extensive preparation for a more successful clinical internship.

Surgical SkillLab^™ Details

When you register for the skills lab you will receive:

• A seat in the 6-day Surgical SkillLab
• One-on-one first assist instruction and coaching
• Standard Tuition: $1,895 plus a $100 non-refundable application fee for a total of $1,995
• Seats in each lab are limited to 15 to assure plenty of one-on-one coaching. Obviously, they fill up fast. Register now to reserve your seat.
• Lifetime Access to the lab at no charge.

Call 1-888-221-5992 ask for Sarah. She’ll help you if you still have questions, have problems enrolling online, or if you want to reserve a seat before the lab at your preferred date and location fills up.

Surgical SkillLab^™ Agenda

Day 1: Basic and Advanced Suturing & Tying I

Day 2: GYN Surgery / Principles and Techniques

Day 3: Basic and Advanced Suturing & Tying Techniques II

Day 4: Vascular Surgery / Principles and Techniques

Day 5: Laparoscopy Skills, Microsurgery Skills, and Orthopedic Orientation

Day 6: General Surgery / Principles and Techniques

Day 1 - Suturing & Tying I

• Introductions
• Networking
• GOOD FIRST ASSIST Principles for Refining and Mastering Skills
• Expert Instrument Handling
• Safe Needle Driving
• Two-Handed Tying
• Simple Stitch
• Figure of 8 Stitch
• Tying a Suture Placed by Surgeon
• Simple Running Stitch
• Tying Too Short Strands
• Running Locking Stitch
• Deep Tying - Two Handed
• Flashing Clamp on a Pedicle
• Safe Deep Tissue Needle Removal

Day 2 - TAH/LSO

• Anatomy - Abdominal Wall and Pelvic Structures
• Surgery Demonstration
• Students Are Coached to Perform 2 Full Surgeries - One as the Surgeon and One as the First Surgical Assistant

Day 3 - Suturing & Tying II

• One-Handed Tying
• Horizontal Mattress Stitch
• Vertical Mattress Stitch
• Running Horizontal Mattress Stitch
• Tying to a Loop of Strand
• Running Vertical Mattress Stitch
• Tying a Suture Placed by Surgeon
• Start Two-Handed Tying, End One-Handed
• Deep Tying - One-Handed
• Buried Knot Technique
• Subcutaneous Fat Closure
• The Keys To FAST Suturing
• Plastic Skin Closure
• Suturing the Drain to the Skin
• Free Tying
• Instrument Tying

Day 4 - AAA Repair

• Anatomy - Abdominal Aorta
• Surgery Demonstration
• Students Are Coached to Perform 2 Full Surgeries - One as the Surgeon and One as the First Surgical Assistant
• Discussion: Career Opportunities for First Surgical Assistants and Pursuing Mastery

Day 5 - Skills Potpourri

• Discussion - Orthopedic Terms and Concepts, Plates and Screws
• Anatomy - Femur
• Demonstration - Microvascular Anastomosis and Laparoscopic Skills
• Students Are Coached to Perform 2 Full Microvascular Anastomoses - One as the Surgeon and One as the Surgical First Assistant
• Students Practice Laparoscopic Skills
• Multi-layered Pfannenstiel Wound Closure

Day 6 - Transverse Colon Resection

• Discussion - Colon Cancer
• Anatomy - Colon
• Surgery Demonstration
• Students Are Coached to Perform 2 Full Surgeries - One as the Surgeon and One as the Surgeon Assistant
• Receive Certificate of Completion

Benefits of the Surgical SkillLab^™

The lab was designed to help you succeed immediately as a surgeon assistant. After participating in the lab, you’ll feel confident, competent, and ready to impress during your clinical internship. Students reap the benefits of this tried and true hands-on approach to skill development including:

• Learning Tips and Tricks From Experts
• Getting Pointers to Perform Well From Day 1 On the Job
• Feeling Truly Ready for Surgery with Hands-On Practice
• Repeating the Lab as Needed for Free
• Performing 8 Total Surgeries
• Learning by Proven Teaching Methods

You Get Expert Secrets And Tricks-Of-The-Trade

Only the Surgical SkillLab, The Expert Way gives you the 6 ACE Surgical Assisting secrets that make you perform the expert way even if you never first assisted before. Use these secrets during your clinical internship and, not only will you pass the first assist program with flying colors, you'll be unbeatable!

• Use this secret to apply surgical techniques and assisting behaviors with the comfort and poise of a seasoned professional before the lab is over.
• Apply this principle and you’ll be able to avoid movements during the procedure that disturb your surgeons. They will enjoy a comfort and ease with you that makes you a pleasure to work with.
• This ACE Surgical Assisting technique keeps you out of the surgeon’s way while you are first assisting. The surgeon will never feel like you are invading their territory.
• You are going to learn an effective method for staying ahead of the surgeon and anticipating the next move. You’ll make a big impression. Graduates of other first surgical assistant school programs and even surgeons who first assist really miss the boat on this one.
• Adopt this first assisting behavior and you’ll make the surgery go silky smooth. Surgeons won't want to do any of their cases without you!
• This secret will help you take the pressure cooker environment of surgery in stride. When the pressure is on, you’ll perform with the poise and composure of a master!

Here Just A Hint Of The Extra Success-Building Benefits

You’ll only get these benefits from ACE Surgical Assisting. They are going to make you a superstar in surgery and in life.

• 6 keys help you avoid opportunity-killing mistakes common to assistants with entry-level training. You won't get stuck holding retractors. You'll be suturing, tying, ligating, and assisting in surgery the expert way.
• 4 secrets work like magic to increase suturing speed without sacrificing smoothness, refinement, or safety. Surgeons won’t think they have to do it themselves to get done faster.
• 4 essential trade secrets keep you from harming your patients and you avoid the liability. (Not widely known nor are they taught in other programs).
• Practice this one skill and you'll perform better than 90% of
  all surgical first assistants.
• 4 plastic wound closure techniques produce cosmetic results your surgeons will take credit for. Your reward is financial not just satisfaction for a job well done.
• You only get this skill from a mentor. You get it from ACE Surgical Assisting because a mentor developed the first assist program. Never appear clumsy, nervous, or like you are doing something you shouldn't. You'll be comfortable and confident in
  any situation.
• 5 highly specialized ACE Surgical Assisting teaching methods make retaining skills and knowledge easy and fun.

Sign Up Today for ACE Surgical Assistant Program

Get the hand-on skills practice you need to become an expert surgical first assistant. Register now by completing the form on this page to download the registration packet. Or, download our brochure or ACE First Surgical Assistant School Catalog to get more information about the 6-day Surgical SkillLab program from ACE Surgical Assisting.