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July 2009 eNews Letter

Testimonials

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Other recommended Surgical Assistant Programs:

Vincennes University

Madisonville Community College

Tulsa Technology Center

"Dear Future Surgical Assistant Student,

Thank you for inquiring about this exciting program! I would like to tell you a few reasons why I love working with NIFA and why I believe you should give this program serious consideration:

NIFA has an unparalleled track record of successfully training over 3300 first assistant students nationwide, with its effective distance learning formats and hands-on labs, and will do the same for you. But, let's even go beyond that. Assisting at the table can be pressure filled and is often driven by politics. You've heard the expression "It's who you know that counts?" If you are considering entering the expanded role of surgical assistant, wouldn't it be great to have connections?

When you associate yourself with NIFA, you are connected with the nation's leader in first assistant education for all disciplines, Surgical Assistants. OR Administrators trust and respect NIFA. NIFA supports them financially on a monthly basis as the only AORN Management Resources Corporate Partner and sole supporter for the monthly AORN Management Connections.

How can our connection with OR Management help you? With our new SA program accreditation and other program offerings, beginning in June of 2009, our programs will be seen every month in the personal emails of over 12,000 OR Managers and 59,000 surgical technologists and perioperative nurses. The banner ad on the front page of www.ast.org is just the beginning of NIFA's supporting the surgical assistant community in a big way. In addition, we are the sole sponsor for OR Management's web site monthly.

This exposure can definitely help you when you need it, not only in the student role, but even as a professional. As an example: Recently, one of our SA250 students was informed by her administrators that she could not log her student cases at her facility because they 'only sign training agreements with licensed students.' NIFA contacted her administrator and reminded her of NIFA's monthly financial support for OR management. Instantly, the connection was made and she replied "Send the Agreement over." The next day, a training agreement for all NIFA SA250 students was signed on behalf of 17 facilities. Those are the kind of connections I love!

If you are like me, you want to assist at the table, not be bogged down in turf issues. For years, too many good assistants have been denied opportunities due to either underlying prejudices or misunderstandings. NIFA's ‘non-partisan’ approach to first assistant education is seriously making a difference that is sure to benefit you. As a member of the NIFA team, you become a part of a Surgical Assistant program that has an actual voice with your hospital administrators. Though, I can't guarantee you problem-free credentialing, associating yourself with NIFA is your first step in the right direction of what can be a 'turf driven' path. With your NIFA connection, you just may quickly find yourself migrating further and further from OR politics and closer to what you love - surgical first assisting.

Not only will SA250's home study, hands-on lab teach you the basic to advanced suturing skills you'll use for life, but we have a current Enrollment Bonus:

Until further notice, when you enroll in SA250, you will be granted a FREE pass to one of NIFA's popular, three day, SutureStarXpress Workshops (not a part of SA250 curriculum). These are held all over the country and offer over 34 hours of simulated surgical training. SA250 students may attend any time after finishing Course 1 of their program. How comprehensive is this Workshop? For three days, you will not only be the assistant, but you will perform cases as the surgeon, from 'cut to close' to completely comprehend and finally master the vital behaviors of a great surgical assistant (or we will retrain you at no charge). During the workshop, you and 15 other students from all disciplines will use well over 3000 sutures.

The icing on the cake? At only $2995 when tuition is paid in full, this program can save you $1000s and all graduates of SA250 automatically qualify to sit for the most recognized Surgical Assistant title in the county, the Certified First Assistant (CFA). We also have a phenomenal payment plan of only $595 down and payments as low as $120.85 a month for a tuition of just $3495. Either route you take, you'll get ahead in this industry for much less.

I hope you a lifetime of success at the table. You can start by filling out the entire “Request for Information” on our home page, enroll, get trained, get certified and get connected!

Sincerely,

Rodney Jensen CST/CFA

NIFA SA250 Program Director

PS: On a personal note. May all program directors take the high road and never diminish another program's worth. By virtue of being CAAHEP accredited, the SA student has the assurance that whatever program they enroll in, they will be receiving a quality education. Lets go beyond the comparisons of one program versus the other and put our energies towards the ultimate goal of what is good for the surgical assistant community as a whole. We need to stand united, not divided, since we have real issues to address to secure our future at the table. I've listed some other great Surgical Assistant programs on the left that we have recommended for years. You can find more at www.caahep.org. All of these programs also deserve your respect and business. Onward!

________________________________________________________________________

SA250 is programmatically accredited by CAAHEP the largest programmatic accreditor in the health sciences field. In collaboration with its Committees on Accreditation, CAAHEP reviews and accredits over 2000 educational programs in twenty (20) health science occupations. CAAHEP is recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA).

Please Read Partial Entrance Requirements Below Before Requesting Information:

Official Transcripts verifying proof of successful completion of basic science (college level) instruction that includes the following courses:

Anatomy and Physiology
Microbiology *
Pathophysiology *
Pharmacology *
Medical Terminology *

*These courses are available online through NIFA (request the Basic Science brochure).

Two Letters of Recommendation, including verification of a working knowledge of operating room fundaments, signed by a surgeon or responsible facility administrator
Provide proof of, and maintain CPR or BLS throughout the entire program... After submitting your 'Request FREE Information' you will receive a eSchool Catalog. View page 6 for all prerequisites:

* Indicates required field

* First:

* Last:

Employment

	Hospital
	Surgeon
	Self-Employed
	other

* Address:

* City:

* State:

* Zip Code:

*Home Phone:

Years in Surgery:

Title:

* Email Address:

Other (define)

* Are you a graduate of a Surgical Technologist Program?

Yes No

* Will you be able to produce Official Transcripts verifying successful
completion of the following courses?

Anatomy and Physiology

Yes No

Microbiology

Yes No

Pathophysiology

Yes No

Pharmacology

Yes No

Medical Terminology

Yes No

* Do you hold the CST title or will be eligible while matriculating through SA250?

Yes No

* If not, do you hold another OR certification (Note: Certification as an SA is not OR certification)

Yes No

Please thoroughly articulate any eligibility concerns you might have or make comments below:

Program is Approved and Regulated by the Colorado Department of Higher Education, Private Occupational School Board. Agents licensed by the Colorado Department of Higher Education, Private Occupational School Board.

NIFA is the sole funder of

REQUEST INFORMATION, GET PROPERLY EDUCATED
AND TRAINED AND START YOUR CONNECTIONS!

'Request For Information'
at bottom of page.

SA250 Program features include:

CAAHEP accredited SA250 Distance Learning Online Program. Students have up to 16 months to complete. However, since there is no waiting for monthly start dates, after initially beginning, if you excel, you could complete in as little 8 months.

1 Day Lab to attend, on a weekend, at the College of Southern Nevada in Las Vegas. (Note: We have scheduled a SutureStarXpress workshop on all the weekends that the 1 Day Labs in Las Vegas.)

All students receive NIFA's popular Suture & Tying Lab for home studies to retain expert wound closure skills at home, for life.

Lifetime Guarantee: If you feel you need even more skills training after graduation, your enrolling, in itself, guarantees your being able to attend any SutureStarXpress 3 Day, Workshop for the rest of your career.

Refund policy: There is no risk when enrolling in SA250. This program offers the most liberal refund policy in the industry.(See page 14 of the School Catalog)

Tuition is only ^$2995 for the entire SA250 Program on an introductory offer, when paid in full. Or you can take advantage of a Payment Plan with a deposit as low as $595 down to start you immediately and monthly installments of only $120.85 ($3495 tuition). Altogether, this program has three affordable Payment Plans for you to choose from.

Testimonials

Our SutureStarXpress Workshops use so much suture, we bought the machines!

Certification Guarantee: NIFA^® guarantees that after graduating SA250 you will pass the CFA^® exam at www.nbstsa.org or NIFA will give you $125 towards a retake.

Last updated June 26, 2009