spring 2007 volume 13 number 2
Surgical First Assisting
Exam Study Guide Published
In turn, to more efficiently tar-
get areas for review, the overall
design of the study guide also utiliz-
es the three main published content
area of the Job Analysis—perioper-
ative patient care, ancillary func-
tions and basic sciences and subdi-
vides each into smaller topics based
on an NBSTSA breakdown. The four
hour exam has 250 multiple-choice
questions covering a wide range of
areas from preoperative prepara-
tion, intra- and postoperative proce-
dures to anatomy and physiology to
pharmacology, and more.
The study guide consequently
incorporates over 500 review ques-
Last month, the AST Continuing cal First Assisting published by AST, tions and answers that have been
Education Department published the and the 2002 Job Analysis for Sur- designed to reflect all areas of the
first edition of a study guide that was gical Technology and Surgical First surgical first assisting core curricu-
designed to help practitioners who Assisting published by the Nation- lum and the Job Analysis to ensure
wish to take the surgical first assist- al Board of Surgical Technology and that candidates review all topic
ing examination and earn the Certi- Surgical Assisting. Information that areas.
fied First Assistant (CFA ) credential. was drawn from the 2002 Job Anal- In addition to the review ques-
The content for this long-awaited ysis related to the functions and tions, information regarding the
resource was based on two essential responsibilities of the surgical first development of the practice and
reference tools—the second edition assistant is used to design the certi-
of the Core Curriculum for Surgi- fying examination. continued on page 2
spring 2007 ASANEWS 1
, HIV
Surgical First Assisting Exam
Study Guide Published,
continued from page 1
its historical affiliations, preparation
tips, format and scoring explanations,
as well as strategies for test taking, the
NBSTSA detailed list of recommend-
ed topics and core references were also
provided. India has recently introduced a new phase of its five-year National AIDS
The decision to include much of this Control Program (NACP). Decreasing the number of newly acquired
information can be attributed to the HIV infections, improving treatment for those individuals who are
frequently voiced concerns of practitio- infected and offering necessary therapy to more people are the stated
ners who have been away from a class- goals of the program.
room setting and expressed apprehen- Today, the population in India has reached 1.1 billion people, and it is
sions over returning to a testing envi- estimated that .5% to 1.5% are infected with HIV, anywhere from 5 mil-
ronment and feeling unprepared. lion to 15 million. The new five year-program is designed to counteract
Besides addressing the candidates’ the spread of HIV with a budget of $2.6 billion. Nearly 66% of the funds
anxieties related to formalized test- will be targeted to prevention, one-sixth to treatment and the rest allot-
ing, the AST Continuing Education ted to management. Most of the money was donated from other organi-
Department recognized the need to zations outside the country, including the World Bank and other govern-
supply a resource to the graduates of ments, and agencies, such as the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.
the current seven CAAHEP-accredited Currently, India is in the middle of a huge growth boom and there are
surgical assisting programs many challenges about where the increasing revenues will be committed.
Contributing editors to the study Besides HIV, other major health concerns exist, including tuberculosis,
guide are all surgical assisting program influenza and malnutrition. The private health industry is growing rap-
directors: Jeff Bidwell, cst, cfa, csa, idly and competing with the public health needs for financial resources.
surgical technology and surgical assist- The government leaders must reach a decision regarding ways to improve
ing program director, Madisonville public health and the availability of basic health care.
Community College, Madisonville, The apparent shortage of physicians serves to aggravate the lack of
Kentucky; Stacey May, cst, surgical HIV treatment. There are an estimated 60 physicians for every 100,000
technology and surgical assisting pro- people versus 256 physicians per 100,000 people in the United States.
gram director, South Plains College, When considering HIV therapies, the difficult questions focus on how
Lubbock, Texas; and Rebecca Pieknik, to offer treatment to more patients, devising resources for providing
cst, csa, surgical technology and sur- antiretroviral medications, identifying improved protocols for mon-
gical assisting program director, Oak- itoring infected individuals, educating physicians and training more
land Community College, Royal Oak, health care workers. Lastly, a social byproduct of HIV is the stigma and
Michigan. discrimination which must be addressed if treatment will produce long-
Copies of the surgical assisting term success.
examination study guide are avail- Prevention remains the foremost strategy that India has adopted. Pre-
able by calling AST Member Services, vention efforts are being targeted to the same groups as other Southeast
800-637-7433, or by email to Pamaro@ Asian countries, workers in the sex industry, drug users, males with male
ast.org. The cost is $35 for members and sexual partners, as well as truckers and migrant workers.
$45 for nonmembers. Ground shipping Educating people about AIDS prevention is difficult because of the
is $6.50 additional. A limited number number of languages and dialects currently in use. The large number of
will also be available for purchase in languages results in efforts being directed at the national level, but many
New Orleans during conference. of the most effective strategies must be implemented on the local level.
2 ASANEWS spring 2007
Surgical First Assisting
Exam Study Guide Published
In turn, to more efficiently tar-
get areas for review, the overall
design of the study guide also utiliz-
es the three main published content
area of the Job Analysis—perioper-
ative patient care, ancillary func-
tions and basic sciences and subdi-
vides each into smaller topics based
on an NBSTSA breakdown. The four
hour exam has 250 multiple-choice
questions covering a wide range of
areas from preoperative prepara-
tion, intra- and postoperative proce-
dures to anatomy and physiology to
pharmacology, and more.
The study guide consequently
incorporates over 500 review ques-
Last month, the AST Continuing cal First Assisting published by AST, tions and answers that have been
Education Department published the and the 2002 Job Analysis for Sur- designed to reflect all areas of the
first edition of a study guide that was gical Technology and Surgical First surgical first assisting core curricu-
designed to help practitioners who Assisting published by the Nation- lum and the Job Analysis to ensure
wish to take the surgical first assist- al Board of Surgical Technology and that candidates review all topic
ing examination and earn the Certi- Surgical Assisting. Information that areas.
fied First Assistant (CFA ) credential. was drawn from the 2002 Job Anal- In addition to the review ques-
The content for this long-awaited ysis related to the functions and tions, information regarding the
resource was based on two essential responsibilities of the surgical first development of the practice and
reference tools—the second edition assistant is used to design the certi-
of the Core Curriculum for Surgi- fying examination. continued on page 2
spring 2007 ASANEWS 1
, HIV
Surgical First Assisting Exam
Study Guide Published,
continued from page 1
its historical affiliations, preparation
tips, format and scoring explanations,
as well as strategies for test taking, the
NBSTSA detailed list of recommend-
ed topics and core references were also
provided. India has recently introduced a new phase of its five-year National AIDS
The decision to include much of this Control Program (NACP). Decreasing the number of newly acquired
information can be attributed to the HIV infections, improving treatment for those individuals who are
frequently voiced concerns of practitio- infected and offering necessary therapy to more people are the stated
ners who have been away from a class- goals of the program.
room setting and expressed apprehen- Today, the population in India has reached 1.1 billion people, and it is
sions over returning to a testing envi- estimated that .5% to 1.5% are infected with HIV, anywhere from 5 mil-
ronment and feeling unprepared. lion to 15 million. The new five year-program is designed to counteract
Besides addressing the candidates’ the spread of HIV with a budget of $2.6 billion. Nearly 66% of the funds
anxieties related to formalized test- will be targeted to prevention, one-sixth to treatment and the rest allot-
ing, the AST Continuing Education ted to management. Most of the money was donated from other organi-
Department recognized the need to zations outside the country, including the World Bank and other govern-
supply a resource to the graduates of ments, and agencies, such as the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.
the current seven CAAHEP-accredited Currently, India is in the middle of a huge growth boom and there are
surgical assisting programs many challenges about where the increasing revenues will be committed.
Contributing editors to the study Besides HIV, other major health concerns exist, including tuberculosis,
guide are all surgical assisting program influenza and malnutrition. The private health industry is growing rap-
directors: Jeff Bidwell, cst, cfa, csa, idly and competing with the public health needs for financial resources.
surgical technology and surgical assist- The government leaders must reach a decision regarding ways to improve
ing program director, Madisonville public health and the availability of basic health care.
Community College, Madisonville, The apparent shortage of physicians serves to aggravate the lack of
Kentucky; Stacey May, cst, surgical HIV treatment. There are an estimated 60 physicians for every 100,000
technology and surgical assisting pro- people versus 256 physicians per 100,000 people in the United States.
gram director, South Plains College, When considering HIV therapies, the difficult questions focus on how
Lubbock, Texas; and Rebecca Pieknik, to offer treatment to more patients, devising resources for providing
cst, csa, surgical technology and sur- antiretroviral medications, identifying improved protocols for mon-
gical assisting program director, Oak- itoring infected individuals, educating physicians and training more
land Community College, Royal Oak, health care workers. Lastly, a social byproduct of HIV is the stigma and
Michigan. discrimination which must be addressed if treatment will produce long-
Copies of the surgical assisting term success.
examination study guide are avail- Prevention remains the foremost strategy that India has adopted. Pre-
able by calling AST Member Services, vention efforts are being targeted to the same groups as other Southeast
800-637-7433, or by email to Pamaro@ Asian countries, workers in the sex industry, drug users, males with male
ast.org. The cost is $35 for members and sexual partners, as well as truckers and migrant workers.
$45 for nonmembers. Ground shipping Educating people about AIDS prevention is difficult because of the
is $6.50 additional. A limited number number of languages and dialects currently in use. The large number of
will also be available for purchase in languages results in efforts being directed at the national level, but many
New Orleans during conference. of the most effective strategies must be implemented on the local level.
2 ASANEWS spring 2007
