Surgical First Assistant

This module will give you the knowledge and skills to work as a surgical first assistant, providing non interventional assistance to surgeons during operations and delivering safe care to patients. It's a structured and programme, based on the national guidance developed by the Perioperative Care Collaborative (PCC, 2012).

Our Surgical First Assistant level 6 module allows you, as a registered nurse or operating department practitioner, to participate in assisting surgeons during operations.

We anticipate that you'll have two years' post-registration operating theatre experience and be able to demonstrate current experience in the scrub role. This is to ensure that you come to the module with a good understanding of the role of a surgical first assistant.

As a surgical first assistant, you’ll be expected to have the same level of knowledge, skills and expertise as that of the medical practitioner you are replacing; you would be judged against this if a patient made a claim. This module will equip you to practice at the appropriate level.

Once you've completed the course, you'll be in a position to make sure this role is used appropriately in your organisation, reducing the risk to patients and staff and improving safety.