Assist with Minor Surgical Procedures

Medical Assisting

Materials Included

Text
Video
Anatomy
Simulation
Quiz

Learn how to assist the physician with minor surgery such as irrigating and cleaning a wound, suturing a laceration, or removing a foreign entity or a small growth.

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As a nurse or medical assistant in a doctor's office, you may be asked to assist the physician with minor surgery such as irrigating and cleaning a wound, suturing a laceration, or removing a foreign entity or a small growth. This module explains how to prepare for, and safely assist with, minor surgical procedures. Including both Learn and Test modes, the online simulator offers two scenarios that test your ability to assist with minor surgical procedures. Practice the steps of the procedures as often as you want until you are confident. This module is based on the entry-level competencies for which the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) and Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (ABHES) test the Medical Assistant.

You’ll learn

relevant medical terminology
how to apply the principles of an aseptic technique
how to maintain a sterile field during minor surgical procedures
how to assist the physician during a minor surgical procedure
how to apply a dressing after a minor surgical procedure
to visualize the anatomical structures and components involved in the simulated procedures, using our anatomy illustrations and 3D model
to practice and perfect your skills in assisting the physician during a minor surgical procedure, including the tray setup, draping the area, assisting throughout surgery, applying the dressing, and completing the procedure
correct recording and reporting procedures
much more (see Content Details for more specific information)

Introduction

Step 1 - Preparation

Step 1.1 - Equipment preparation

Step 1.2 - Medical assistant preparation

Step 1.3 - Patient preparation

Step 2 - Drape the surgical site

Step 2.1 - Drape the site with a fenestrated drape

Step 2.2 - Drape the site with square drapes

Step 3 - Assist during administration of anesthetic

Step 4 - Assist during surgery

Step 4.1 - Assist when surgery commences

Step 4.2 - Assist during surgery

Step 4.3 - Assist with completion of the surgery

Step 5 - Apply a dressing

Step 6 - Complete the procedure

Describe pre-procedure considerations for preparing for, and assisting with, surgical procedures.
Describe and demonstrate the preparation for minor surgical procedures.
Understand and apply the principles of an aseptic technique.
Describe common minor surgical procedures and specify the role of the medical assistant in those.
Describe and demonstrate how to maintain a sterile field during minor surgical procedures.
Describe and demonstrate how to assist effectively and correctly with minor surgical procedures.
Describe and demonstrate how to apply a dressing after a minor surgical procedure.
Describe and demonstrate correct post-procedure considerations.
Define and demonstrate correct recording and reporting procedures.
Define and use related medical terminology.
Understand and apply Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) guidelines.
Explain the Patient Privacy Rule (HIPAA), Patient Safety Act, and Patients' Bill of Rights.

The SIMTICS modules are all easy to use and web-based. This means they are available at any time as long as the learner has an internet connection. No special hardware or other equipment is required, other than a computer mouse for use in the simulations. Each of the SIMTICS modules covers one specific procedure or topic in detail. Each module contains:

an online simulation (available in Learn and Test modes)
descriptive text, which explains exactly how to perform that particular procedure including key terms and hyperlinks to references
2D images and a 3D model of applied anatomy for that particular topic
a step by step video demonstration by an expert
a quiz
a personal logbook that keeps track of all the modules the learner has studied and how long