Elevate Your OR Career...
Transition from Circulating Nurse or scrub to first Assistant in surgery with ACE’s Surgical Assistant Program.
Feeling Like a Cog in the Surgery Machine? Why not break free?
As an OR Nurse, you're the unsung hero of the surgical suite – keeping the gears turning smoothly, ensuring patient safety, and managing the organized chaos. But let's face it: sometimes it feels like you're the stage manager, while surgeons get the spotlight. Ever wondered what it's like to step into that spotlight? To be more than just the backbone, but also the hands that directly influence surgical outcomes?
The OR Nurse's Dilemma
NOTE: If you are an LPN or LVN, your qualifications for this program are the same as a Surgical Tech. Click here to discover your outlook for a bright future in surgery.
Transitioning from OR Nurse to First Assistant is like moving from flight attendant to co-pilot. It’s an exciting prospect, but several roadblocks can make the journey seem daunting. We can help remove those roadblocks to make for a trouble-free journey.
- Education Overkill: Imagine being required to earn an engineering degree before letting you drive a car. Overkill – right? If you are an Associate’s Degree Nurse or Diploma Nurse, the baccalaureate degree mandate for entry into a surgical assisting program feels like overkill, especially when your nursing education and experience already speaks volumes.
- Certification Overload: Transitioning from OR Nurse to first assistant can feel like preparing to perform a solo concert, only to be told you must first master multiple instruments before taking the stage. It feels like you’ll never get there and like your years of blood, sweat, and tears mastering your one instrument doesn’t count for anything. The CNOR certification mandate, which demands at least two years of perioperative nursing experience, adds yet another unnecessary layer of complexity and time.
But it doesn’t end there. After successfully graduating from your surgical first assistant program, you must then document another 2,000 hours of first assisting experience before you become eligible to sit for the CRNFA exam.
- The Time Tug-of-War: Balancing work, education, and life can feel almost impossible. The fear of burnout looms large as you try to manage it all.
- Financial Fences: Pursuing further education and certification can seem like paying for a future you’re unsure you can reach. The costs involved can be prohibitive, especially if your employer isn't on board to support you.
These compounded prerequisites can make the path of first assistant training and certification appear unnecessarily arduous. Now imagine another path where a BS degree is welcome but not required. Where the education is affordable and convenient for working OR Nurses. And where you’ll be eligible immediately upon graduation to sit for a recognized and prestigious national certifying exam.
ENTER THE ACE SURGICAL ASSISTANT PROGRAM
Your Bridge to the Surgical Spotlight
If you want to be the cream of the crop when it comes to your OR Performance , the ACE Surgical Assisting is the program for you. Here's how we’ll facilitate your amazing transformation:
1. Online Education
Our nationally approved online surgical assisting program allows you to learn at your own pace. Whether you're a night owl or an early bird, our flexible modules fit your schedule, ensuring you don't have to sacrifice your current job to advance your career.
2. Hands-On Surgical SkillLab
Theory is essential, but practice makes perfect. Our 6-Day Surgical SkillLab provides intensive, hands-on training to meet the elevated set by the American College of Surgeons (ACS). You'll gain the skills and confidence to first assist at a surgeon's level – even perform parts of the surgery when directed by your attending surgeon.
3. Clinical Experience
Our surgical assisting program includes a clinical internship at your current hospital or other local facility, allowing you to apply and hone your newfound skills in real-world OR environment, under the guidance of surgeons you already like working with.
4. National Certification
ACE students qualify to sit for the certifying exam… immediately upon graduating. No waiting to complete 2,000 hours of experience! The exam is administered by the American Board of Surgical Assistants (ABSA) and our OR Nurse graduates earn the prestigious title SA-C (Surgical Assistant – Certified).
Not Just Another way – Your BEST of all possible Choices!
The ACE Surgical Assistant Program is the alternative path that’s superior to more traditional pathsThe ACE Surgical Assistant Program is the alternative path that’s superior to more traditional paths.
- Bachelor’s Degree Not Required: We recognize and honor your nursing education, BS degree or not.
- CNOR Certification Not Required: Your nursing education and OR experience is more than enough. No unnecessary hoops to jump through.
- No 2,000 Hours of Experience: No waiting for 2 or 3 years after graduating to take your certifying exam. By then, your training is no longer fresh in your mind making your certification that much harder to earn.
- Founded in 2002: the ACE Surgical Assistant Program has withstood the test of time.
Founded by Dan Bump: The father of formal Surgical Assistant training that was designed for working OR professionals like you. - Over 300 Hospitals: Well over 300 hospitals from across the country have trusted us with their training needs.
- Over 1,000 First Assistants: We’ve trained over 1,000 students from across a spectrum of qualified medical/surgical disciplines, including OR Nurses.
- Over 2,500 Surgeons: Our adjunct faculty includes over 2,500 board-certified surgeons.
- Approved Training: Our surgical assisting program is approved by the Colorado Department of Higher Education for both in-state and out-of-state students.
- National Certification: Our alumni are eligible to sit for a national certifying exam immediately upon graduation.
Take the Leap: Transform Your Career Today
The journey from OR Nurse to First Assistant is like turning a page to a new chapter in your professional story. Don't let challenges hold you back. Embrace the opportunity to enhance your skills, increase your earning potential, and play a pivotal role in surgical outcomes.
Ready to step into the spotlight? Let's embark on your transformative journey together!
CALL: 720-467-8934 FOR MORE INFORMATION OR CLICK CONTACT US AT THE TOP OF THIS PAGE TO REQUEST MORE INFORMATION.