Date of Award
1-1-1988
Document Type
Practicum
Degree Name
Master of Science
Department
Center for the Advancement of Education
Advisor
Dr. Joan Horn
Keywords
affiliation agreements, anatomy and physiology, collaborative practices, credentialing, first assistant survey, healing and hemostasis, historical background, instrumentation, microbiologic basis of asepsis, operating room techniques, patient in surgery, perioperative nursing, positioning, providing exposure, registered nurse first assistants, surgical assistants, suturing techniques
Abstract
The evolution of contemporary medical practice over the past 30 years is extraordinary. This researcher has observed medical practitioners with many years of preparation in the role as first assistant to the surgeon. When phrases as "cost effective and cost containment" were verbalized it was obvious radical changes were to be made. As time went by non-physicians were employed as first assistants. These individuals attained certification by going through rigorous training programs for surgical assistants. Registered nurses were assigned to assist the surgeons in surgery. An on-the-job training was taking place. Unfortunately, only the practical application of surgical assisting was being emphasized with little or no theory being taught. This practicum is designed to credential those professionals as first assistants. Appendices include first assistant survey by state, affiliation agreement, RN first assistant study guide, pre/post test, and evaluation tools.