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My LER
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  1. Programs
  3. Surgical Assistant

Surgical Assistant

Old Dominion University

Post-Baccalaureate CertificateCIP: 51.0909

Become a contributor for free to openly demonstrate student outcomes, industry alignment & eligibility criteria.

No description available.

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Program Pathways

Credentials this program stacks toward

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Program Details

Detailed information about this program

No detailed information available.

Requirements

What you need to earn this credential

No requirements listed.

Financial Aid

Eligible funding programs

No funding information available.

Scholarships

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Locations

Where this program is offered

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Related Programs

Programs related to this one

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Skills & Competencies

Skills developed through this program

Auto-populated·from O*NET via SOC 29-9093.00

Skills

Active ListeningSpeakingCritical ThinkingReading ComprehensionMonitoringCoordinationOperations MonitoringService OrientationTime ManagementInstructingLearning StrategiesWritingActive Learning

Knowledge

Medicine and DentistryEnglish LanguageEducation and TrainingCustomer and Personal ServiceBiologyPsychology

Abilities

Oral ComprehensionNear VisionOral ExpressionProblem SensitivitySpeech RecognitionArm-Hand SteadinessSpeech ClarityWritten ComprehensionFinger DexterityVisual Color DiscriminationSelective AttentionManual DexterityInformation OrderingPerceptual SpeedWritten ExpressionDeductive ReasoningInductive Reasoning

Tasks

  • Verify the identity of patient or operative site.
  • Monitor and maintain aseptic technique throughout procedures.
  • Cover patients with surgical drapes to create and maintain a sterile operative field.
  • Maintain a proper sterile field during surgical procedures.
  • Count sponges, needles, and instruments before and after operation.
  • Scrub arms and hands and assist the surgical team to scrub and put on gloves, masks, and surgical cl
  • Schedule surgical procedures for patients.
  • Transport patients to and from the operating room.
  • Prepare course materials, such as syllabi, homework assignments, and handouts.
  • Keep abreast of developments in the field by reading current literature, talking with colleagues, an
  • Evaluate and grade students' class work, assignments, and papers.

Technology

Medical softwareWord processing softwareData base user interface and query softwareSpreadsheet softwareOffice suite softwarePresentation softwareElectronic mail softwareCloud-based data access and sharing softwareGraphics or photo imaging softwareComputer based training softwareCalendar and scheduling software

Tools

Anesthesia cartsAngiocathsArgon beam coagulatorsAutomated external defibrillators AEDBlanket warmer cabinetsBlood warming equipmentBody stabilizersC-arm tablesCarbon dioxide CO2 lasersCardiac monitoring equipmentCast cutting sawsCauterizing equipmentCell saversDesktop computersEndoscopic camera/video systemsAdjustable height instrument tablesAir driver drillsAnesthesia machinesAutoclavesAutologous blood recovery systemsAutotransfusion systemsBlood/fluid warmersCardiac leg wedgesCardiovascular stentsCavitronsCentral venous cathetersChest drains3D movement analysis systemsAgar slidesAutomated ESR analyzers

Work Values

RelationshipsAchievementRecognitionSupportWorking ConditionsIndependence
Career Pathways

Occupations this program prepares you for

  • Surgical Assistants29-9093.00
  • Surgical Technologists29-2055.00
  • Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary25-1071.00
What You'll Learn

Key competencies developed through this program

Auto-populated·from NSX Competency Framework

Mastery: proficient (Level 3)(based on Post-Baccalaureate Certificate)

  • Patient safety verification — autonomously execute and troubleshoot pre-operative identity and site-marking protocols across a full range of surgical specialties in high-volume operating room environments.
  • Advanced aseptic technique — sustain and restore sterile conditions across complex, prolonged procedures, coaching junior staff on sterility standards without surgeon prompting.
  • Complex operative field draping — design and execute sterile draping configurations for non-routine or minimally invasive procedures, adapting to unexpected changes in surgical approach.
  • High-risk patient positioning — lead the positioning of patients with complex anatomical or vascular considerations, selecting specialized stabilizing equipment to prevent injury across diverse procedure types.
  • Multi-instrument field management — simultaneously coordinate retractors, suction, irrigation, and sponge counts during complex surgical cases to maintain continuous operative exposure and patient safety.
  • Multi-layer wound closure — perform closure of skin, fascia, and subcutaneous layers using sutures, staples, and clips across varied anatomical sites and wound complexities with autonomous clinical judgment.
  • Specialized wound dressing application — select and apply advanced dressings, including negative-pressure and antimicrobial options, based on wound assessment for complex post-operative patients.
  • Surgeon case consultation — engage surgeons in substantive pre-operative discussion of consent, diagnostic data, exposure methods, and patient advance directives to align operative planning.
  • Intraoperative critical thinking — anticipate and resolve non-routine intraoperative complications, such as equipment failure or unexpected anatomy, with independent decision-making in the operating room.
  • Cross-functional team coordination — synchronize activities among anesthesia, nursing, and surgical teams during complex procedures to optimize patient outcomes and workflow efficiency.

Some details on this page are auto-populated from public workforce data sources: O*NET (opens in new tab), BLS (opens in new tab), College Scorecard (opens in new tab), DOL Training Provider Results (opens in new tab), NSX (opens in new tab). Provided in partnership with LER.me Career Intelligence.

Student Outcomes

Performance metrics for this program

Auto-populated·from Scorecard + DOL
Completion Rate
Not reported
Placement Rate
13%