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Overview
EVMS offers a
Graduate Certificate Program and Certificate Program in the
specialized area of surgical assisting.
Since 1981, EVMS has offered an educational program to prepare candidates for a career
in assisting surgeons in the performance of surgical procedures. Surgical
Assistants
(SAs) scrub for operative procedures, assist in the positioning of
patients, and assist in the draping and preparation of the operative
site. During procedures, the SA retracts and exposes the operative
field and assists in securing the best possible exposure of the
anatomical site. With experience, the SA learns to anticipate the
moves and needs of the surgeon. The seasoned SA is an expert in
surgical procedures and surgical techniques.
All graduates have successfully
secured employment. There is a growing demand for dedicated surgical
assistants in hospitals and surgical practices throughout the nation.
Programs
Candidates accepted into our
nationally accredited residential programs (CAAHEP)
complete 22 months of training, which includes 10 months of didactic
instruction and 12 months of clinical training. The two Surgical
Assistant Programs are distinct, including specific admissions
criteria and curricula. After accepting an offer of admission to
either program and matriculating to EVMS, students must complete the
graduation requirements for that program and may not switch between
these two programs.
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With experience, the surgical assistant learns to anticipate the needs of the surgeon as the operative procedure progresses |
All classes during the didactic year
are held on the EVMS campus. While the class schedule varies, courses
are typically held between 7 a.m. and 6 p.m., Monday through Friday.
Second-year clinical rotations are conducted in
regional tertiary facilities including Sentara Norfolk General Hospital,
Sentara Leigh Hospital, Bon Secours DePaul Medical Center, Bon Secours Maryview
Medical Center, Sentara Virginia Beach General Hospital, Sentara Bayside Hospital,
Sentara Obici Hospital, Chesapeake General Hospital, Riverside
Regional Medical Center and Sentara Careplex. Additionally, there are
specific rotations in plastic surgery, vascular surgery, cardiac
surgery, trauma surgery and
orthopedic surgery.
These rotations provide
students with more than 1,500 hours of hands-on practical experience
assisting in surgical procedures. Rotations are
typically conducted during the hours of 7 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., Monday
through Friday. Surgical assistant students are required to attend Grand Rounds with the Department of Surgery, from 8 a.m. - 9 a.m. twice per month, frequently on the first and third Friday of each month.
During the clinical year, Educational Days coincide with Grand Rounds.
Second year students are excused from their clinical sites and take
part in the surgical lecture series and group or individualized study
sessions.
Cost
Tuition for the
2007-2008 academic year is projected to be $10,710 per year. Books and supplies are not included in this fee. Financial aid may be applied for via the EVMS
Financial Aid Office.
Federal financial aid is not available for international students.
Application Procedures
The application deadline for early
acceptance is November 30 for July entry. The final application
deadline is February 1; however, applications are accepted
until student positions are filled.
Candidates must complete the online application,
along with a nonrefundable $60 application fee, three letters of recommendation, a personal narrative statement and official transcripts of all college-level coursework.
Official
transcripts should be mailed to the Director of Enrollment for Health
Professions at the address shown below. If you experience technical
difficulties or related problems in completing your online
application, please contact:
Rose Mwayungu
Director of Enrollment for Health Professions
Attention: Surgical Assistant Programs
Eastern Virginia Medical School
700 W. Olney Road
Norfolk, VA 23507-1607
Tel: (757) 446-7153/7096
Fax: (757) 446-8915
mwayunra@evms.edu
The application review process takes
approximately eight weeks. The Program Director will send letters
to all applicants indicating the determination of the admissions
review committee. Approximately 15 students are admitted in July and
are enrolled for 22 consecutive months. Click
here to access the online application.
Admission Criteria and Policy
Accepted students are required to
sign a Conditions of Acceptance form and submit a $300 fee. They are expected to be in good health to withstand the rigors of the program
and to strictly adhere to all rules and regulations of EVMS, as well
as those of the clinical facilities where they will receive clinical training. All students must possess valid health insurance at all times while enrolled in the program,
through either the school or
private insurance. All applicants must be U.S. citizens or provide evidence
of permanent U.S. residence.
Program Completion Requirements
Prior to graduation from the program, students must have completed all
coursework and clinical components with an overall "B" average.
Clinical evaluations rated as "Satisfactory" or better must have been
received from all clinical sites prior to graduation. Students are
required to submit documentation of the number and types of operative
procedures in which they participated. In addition, all students must
have successfully completed the EVMS exit interview process, which
includes meeting all EVMS financial obligations.
National Surgical Assistant Association
Upon completion of the EVMS Surgical
Assistant Program, graduates are eligible to sit for the National
Surgical Assistant Association's (NSAA) Certification Exam. Graduates
who pass this exam obtain the professional credentials of Certified
Surgical Assistant (CSA). For the past four years, 100% of our
graduates have passed the exam on their first attempt. Additionally, NSAA reports that our graduates post some of the highest scores
nationally.
National Surgical Assistant
Association
2615 Amesbury Road
Winston Salem, NC 27103
1-888-633-0479
http://www.nsaa.net
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