I was so nervous before I came to the class, I have never
failed anything before and was worried on what to expect. Kasey made the class challenging and
fun. Thanks for the learning
experience.
Sandie, RN
It was fabulous.
It was hard – the hardest thing I have ever done, but also the
best. I was taught and treated like
an adult. I already felt
comfortable with two handed tying, but now I feel like an expert, ready to
first assist in the true meaning of the words I feel like I will be an asset to
my surgeons.
Tonya, RN
As a fifteen-year veteran of the OR, it has raised my value
to a new height. It has opened my
eyes to new career opportunities and even a sense of autonomy I haven’t
had before. This has been one of
the hardest and most challenging courses I have taken but it has been the most
rewarding and fulfilling. Awesome
class!
Cynthia, RN
I was so anxious on arrival. Kasey is wonderful, she made me feel
very comfortable. She made it so
easy to learn.
Catherine, RN
Awesome! You
come to class not really knowing what to expect, you meet eleven
strangers. By the end of the week
you have a new found confidence in yourself and skills and you have made eleven
new GREAT friends! Would
recommend this class to anyone who is thinking about a career as RNFA...
Tina, RN
It was a great week! A very full week – Kasey was
a great instructor. She is very
knowledgeable on the subject matter.
It was fantastic!
It was a very intense course but the sense of accomplishment was
equal to the level of difficulty. I
really believe I have learned the skills to effectively put them to use
confidently and begin my new career as an RNFA. THANK YOU NIFA!!
P.S. This should
be the only acceptable course.
The hands-on experience was awesome. Small size classes allow you to work
closely to get to know other students.
Had no idea how fun and entertaining this course was going to be.
Course was wonderful.
The hands on experience will really make the leap into real assisting a
little smoother. Helps to reduce
the anxiety level.
I have really enjoyed my experience with NIFA. The surgical skill workshop was
excellent, giving me the skills and confidence to now pursue a rewarding career
in assisting.
This was a very good experience. The instruction made everyone feel
welcome and tried to reassure everyone.
Very comfortable classroom setting – able to work without undo
stress. Questions were answered
promptly.
My experience was awesome. Kasey is absolutely the best instructor
I have ever had. She is a gifted
and humble teacher with expert experience and knowledge beyond what I had ever
expected. She is absolutely
hilarious which made the week so much more memorable. I would do it all over again because I
learned so much in one week. I
highly recommend this course.
Awesome! More
than I expected. Great opportunity
for hands-on practice, new techniques and tricks of the trade shared.
Thank you for this great opportunity.
It was a great course that teaches the basics, as well as
hands on techniques needed for assisting MD’s. It is easy to understand using anatomy,
didactic lectures and then hands on practice (multiple times). It also allows you to know about the
different roles of the MD’s, FA & scrubs.
This was the best hands-on teaching I’ve ever had as a
surgical assistant.
This workshop should be required by all
RN’s and Techs seeking F.A.
The actual hands-on is no comparison to the six days of lecture. I would never have thought I could have
done a TAH cholocyslectomy, colon, triple AAA, ORIF & feel so confident. I see those surgeries in a new light and
look forward to a better career. I
would NEVER recommend a six-day lecture over this workshop! I was very fortunate to have had an
influential, dedicated, intelligent, experienced role model as Kasey Johnston.
This is an excellent course. I have learned more in six days than I have
in 8 years of my nursing career.
This course was so much more than I expected! I’ve been stretched, stroked,
challenged and changed in ways that can only advance my ability to assist in
surgery. Thanks so much –
I’ll highly recommend this class to my peers.
So much info to absorb!
Thanks for stressing preparedness before coming. I go home encouraged and overflowing
with knowledge I have allowed myself to forget and learned what more I need to
acquire. Feel I’ve just
scratched the surface in the field of an RNFA.
Kasey was great and a wonderful instructor. The whole program is well taught out and
presented well. Would recommend
this course to all OR staff.
Kacey Johnson is one of the most outstanding instructors I
have ever had the pleasure of being studying under. I received excellent hands-on training.
Always given positive feedback. Wonderful workshop.
I learned that there are more efficient techniques as taught
by Kasey, this course will help my practice tremendously. My experience was great!! I will take the information I learned
this week and use it to be a more effective RNFA. Great, great week!!!
This course with the hands on workshop was excellent. I am going back to my hospital and will
be using the skills taught at the workshop right away. My confidence has doubled.
I delayed my pursuit of becoming a first assistant because
of the unknown for six years.
Finally I made the decision to advance myself and NIFA has been helpful
every step of the way, every time I contacted them. EXCELLENCE IS CONTAGIOUS.
I learned a lot more than I expected very valuable
knowledgeable and workable information.
I would recommend this class for anyone that was serious about a career
in first assisting. I was an
excellent class. I feel fortunate
to have had such a great instructor.
My experience was fantastic. Everyone seemed an expert in their
area.
John, RN
Course was outstanding.
I learned more than I thought I would. Was nervous at the beginning, of course,
then Kasey put me at easy with her teaching style. Great hands-on practice with
the practical approaches.
Tim, RN
NIFA suturing and tying instructor was exceptional. We were able to cover large areas of
info, completely but rapidly to get the most out of the experience. This was definitely a positive
experience.
Invaluable training!
Hands on exposure of surgical cases from cut to close as SURGEON, first
assistant and SCRUB nurse on simulated patients provided the absolute best
method for visual and tactile learners, and I’m both!! Instructor was PATIENT, knowledge, and
tolerant – always caring for students and building everyone up.
This was an excellent overall experience. I learned at Mach 7 the necessary skills
that will make me very desirable in the OR. Kasey is an excellent instructor. I can’t imagine the class being as
effective without her.
WOW! What an
incredible week. Kasey made
my nerves disappear and made me able to learn the skills needed to perform as
an RNFA confidently. I had an
exhausting but wonderful experience.
I had almost no experience coming into this class, with the
exception of the video and 3 attempts sewing with my boss. Kasey made me believe I could do
this. I feel so much more confident
than on day 1. Everyone has been
helpful, so thanks to John, Kasey, Gary & Jerry
Ms. Kasey J. is a great instructor. She is very knowledgeable. My skills have only gotten better this
week due to her expertise. I came
in knowing little and left knowing a lot.
Thank you, Casey!
NIFA is very challenging, but gives you the resources to
learn each skill and concept whether it be concerning the workshop or book
work. The method of teaching by
repetition ensures that you learn the material. GREAT!
NIFA has always been available and helpful. Everyone has worked with me to obtain my
personal goals “graduation”.
I would encourage anyone to contact NIFA for 1st assisting
interest. Kasey made learning fun!
Awesome!
I’m a beginner with no scrubbing experience, so it was a little
overwhelming, but I’m at the same time glad I’m learning it the
right way, so I have no bad habits to break. I just religiously did my video and felt
mostly prepared, with the exception of not knowing all of the instruments and
how to hand them & receive them.
Thank you Casey, you are the bomb!
This program with the week of “hands-on”
learning is incredible. It is
interesting to say the least, Kasey is informative and makes the class fun.
I enjoyed my time in class. I learned a great deal especially coming
here as a circulator and never scrubbing.
I now have the confidence in myself to scrub as an assistant.
As a nurse practitioner, this class taught me both the
basics and the advanced techniques that I will be using the rest of my
career.
I feel they covered all basics in a short amount of
time. I wish the class lasted two
weeks instead of one.
Heidi, RN
I have not been so challenged for a long time. I am exhausted, but feel such a sense of
accomplishment! Everyone that I
have dealt with at NIFA, has been very helpful and courteous, they all feel
like friends. I have met truly
wonderful people this week and so appreciate the way Kasey built me up day
after day. I would recommend this
program without reservation to anyone who wants to learn, work hard, and enjoy
the week at the same time.
Kasey exceeded my expectations as an instructor. Kasey has a wealth of experience and
knowledge and presents this in a way that is easy to understand. She is easy to relate to and makes a connection
with each student. She incorporates just the right amount of lecture and hands
on training in her workshop. This
6-day workshop was outstanding in every way. Thank you Kasey!
Maggi RN
Out teacher was the best part of the whole class. She made us feel comfortable in every
area of the class and every role we played. Thank you “K.C.” I would recommend NIFA to anyone that
works in the OR, no matter what role they play.
It was an excellent learning experience for me, especially
with the cases and the areas that I don’t get to do most of the time in
my workplace. I really learned a
lot from this program and really enjoyed the learning experience. I shall be looking forward to
NIFA’s assistance for my future professional growth.
The suture and tying videos were excellent. The steps were very clear and easy to
follow. The 6-day course was also
excellent. Kasey did a beautiful
job of explaining the surgical techniques and anatomy. I highly recommend NIFA’s first
assist program.
Mary, RN
This was an awesome experience for me. I have scrubbed for 3 years before
becoming an RN, and felt I learned even more details from the surgical
procedures class than I thought I already knew.
I was hoping the NIFA experience would prepare me for
impressing my surgeons when I return from the workshop….now that the 6
days are over, I am confident that there will be some “ohhing and aweing”!
The skills lab was tremendously helpful. It really boosted my confidence. No amount of book learning can makeup
for actual hands-on practice in a non-threatening, low-stress environment. It really gives you the best spot at
making a good first impression as an assistant. I believe your skills lab is your
greatest asset in an already awesome RNFA program.
Susan, RN
WONDERFUL!
Please work on an advanced course; I would like to participate, sooner
than later.
I felt so comfortable taking this class. I was never made to feel like I
didn’t know things or couldn’t do it. It was very nice to have so much support
throughout the entire course.
I can’t begin to tell you how great this week has
been. I learned so much, in
a very short time. From frustration
at times to satisfaction, the course and of course, the instructor, Kasey is
great. Thanks.
The course is excellent, dynamic, interactive program. Utilizes all principles of learning,
reading, lecture, AV’s, demo and return demos. I loved the workshop, the teacher,
Kasey, made it fantastic. I’m
excited to begin my new career angle!
This is an incredible learning experience. I’ve been in the OR 14 years and
didn’t know the screw went up to palm on suture scissors!! I’ve learned a vast amount in this
time, and my physically retarded tying fingers are now in MENSA!!
The class was fast paced, but was very informative. The instructor was supportive and gave
many opportunities to ask questions and reinforce learning behaviors.
I really enjoyed this course. I feel like I learned a lot of good NIFA
techniques. The things I learned in
this course will be very helpful when I return home to my job. I will be a better nurse.
Kim, RN
I feel that I have gained so much knowledge and skill in
first assisting. I felt that my
learning curve shot up in this 6-day course/skills class. Kasey has tons of knowledge that she has
shared. Her teaching techniques are
awesome. I liked how it all fell
into place. Very privileged
to have Kasey as an instructor.
This course is excellent, what a terrific hands-on
experience and an excellent learning tool.
Thank you so much.
I was amazed at how much I learned and how Casey and my
fellow students helped me to build my confidence.
This experience was extremely positive. The instructor was
supportive, kind, and generally interested in teaching. The guest physician was a real asset, an
extra hand in the class.
The learning experience at NIFA is the beat I was able to
find anywhere. The knowledge I have
gleaned will certainly help me to secure a much better future, for both myself
and my family. Thanks.
The 6-day class was excellent, the hands on training was
priceless. I thought this class was wonderful. I learned so much in just one week. I can’t wait to start my clinical
hours and show my doc’s what I can do.
The class has been a great experience. Our instructor did a wonderful job, she
was very competent and did a great job demonstrative the different
techniques. They were long days but
I fell much more confident after attending the class.
This class is very informative in a non-threatening environment. Hands-on learning in this setting with
open discussions was beneficial to me.
Thanks, Kasey. You’re
great!
NIFA was a wonderful experience. I believe it will help with my
transition from role as a circulator in the OR.
This was an excellent program. The presentation, lectures and
simulators were great and were presented in a way that was encouraging and
caused enthusiasm in the class. The
class size of 12 was perfect.
I loved the information I received in the videos and having
that reinforced in the classroom was very beneficial.
This was an excellent course. Kasey is an excellent instructor with
superior knowledge and experience.
She was extremely helpful & encouraging, giving positive reinforcement
in an otherwise stressful learning experience. I especially appreciated learning
different procedural techniques that are done in different parts of the
country.
Great class. The
staff of NIFA offered a great classroom/lab atmosphere. They were always there to offer
suggestions on ways to improve techniques.
They were always willing to go the “extra mile” to ensure my
comprehension of each topic.
I am so glad that I discovered NIFA. It has opened my eyes to the wonderful
opportunities available to RN’s in the OR. It has been great to review what I
learned 20 years ago in school. It
makes so much more sense to me, now “I can really apply it to my
practice. Thank you so much!
The instructors made a possible “failure” into a
success! The individual attention
and the time they invested in me paid huge dividends in my skills and knowledge
at the end of the course. They
didn’t prepare me to be good at my job, they prepared me to be the
beat. I will always be grateful to
them.
Melissa, RN
When I first called, my thoughts were “oh, no, I
can’t do this”. And I
have been told previously it was a very difficult class! Well, as much as I’m glad
it’s over, I’m not glad it’s over! I’ve had a wonderful week, and
most important I’ve learned so much that will assist me in surgery in the
future. Thank you Kasey and
Jennifer!
I am confident that I have been given the greatest level of
skills to help me be a top-notch (no pun intended) First Assistant. I am thankful to have the tapes and
workbooks to refer to when I step out of this comfort zone!
I was overwhelming, exhausting & completely exciting,
while also being personally fulfilling!
I enjoyed my experience with NIFA. It is a very down-to-earth comfortable
learning environment that made me feel comfortable asking questions and asking
for help. I was also very
impressed with the “open mindedness” and eagerness of the
instructors to learn both methods
and techniques from others!!
My experience was outstanding. I was pleasantly surprised at the
relaxed atmosphere of the clinical lab workshop. Everyone came from different states all
had stories to share, which made me feel like I fit in.
Trang, RN
Excellent class!
This course provided the basic skills and information needed to progress
in the field of assisting. The
information was delivered in a concise, professional manner that madder it
conducive to learning. The
instructors were awesome and kept everybody feeling at ease. This is probably the best course, of
anything, that I’ve ever taken!!
Excellent workshop, I believe the best part was the amount
of “hands-on” time we
were given. I feel I will be able to
do a much better job in the OR.
This was the absolute best workshop that I’ve attended in my 24
years of nursing. Thanks for all
the hard work and time that was put into this workshop.
I have learned more than I thought possible in 6-days. The instructors (Kasey and Jennifer) were
wonderful! They gave me the support
I needed and the encouragement I needed, when I felt like giving up. I feel they have given me a base to
build on in my new role as RMFA.
Stephanie, RN
Great class!
Great instructors! I learned
more that what I thought I would and then some. I came to class with some assisting
ideas and left with loads of new ideas and knowledge.
Jerry was very knowledgeable and patient. I found the course
very informative and helpful.
Well worth the time and money. Thanks!
The 6-day workshop was a wonderful, informative
experience. I needed the feedback
on learned skills and feel I learned so much more than I had expected. I think advanced practice nurses without
or with experience should do a class of their own, although knowledgeable their
lack of surgical skill is a hindrance to others.
Jennifer was great.
She wasn’t there to fail us, she was there to help us. She explained and demonstrated
everything with clarity and for our comprehension. This program has given me a refreshed
understanding of surgery and specifically the duties of both the surgeon and
the assistants. Thank you NIFA, for
giving me this opportunity.
Excellent videos.
The instructors were excellent, they were very supportive of the
students.
Jennifer was excellent.
She took the pressure off the students and allowed them to learn in a
fun environment. If she saw a
problem with a personal technique, she would spend time helping the student
refine that technique. She was
awesome!!
With the use of simulators we received excellent hands-on
training. Everyone at NIFA has been
very helpful. The instructors were
so approachable and easy to talk to.
The instructor radiates enthusiasm and knowledge. It is easy to see how much the
instructor loves here job.
Thank you NIFA.
Kasey was a fabulous instructor. She is extremely knowledgeable, very
approachable with a great sense of humor!
Kasey made this class a pleasure!
She truly cared about our needs and progress. I really enjoyed Friday with Dr.
Larry. Thank you for an
unforgettable, positive learning experience.
My experience was outstanding! I have gained some great skills and not
only knowledge, but also resources for further advancement. I would like to say that Kasey, our
instructor, was absolutely wonderful!!
Her personality is superb as a teacher. Don’t let her get away. NIFA should be proud of the work they
are doing. Thank you.
NIFA has really prepared me for a long safe career in first
assisting. I would highly recommend
it to anyone.
I have thoroughly enjoyed this 6-day workshop! I did not quite know what to
expect and have truly enjoyed every second on it! I can take home everything I’ve
learned and use it right away!
It was well worth the money, time, travel and effort to take this
course. The instructor knows her stuff, she is able to get it across easily,
using humor when necessary and works to make everyone feel at ease. I am so glad I attended the class. Now I wish that I had not waited so long
in my career to be able to learn what I’ve been doing in surgery, as an
assistant, for so many years. You
do not get all this information on the job. So thank you for your wonderful training
program.
I have to say that I was very nervous on the first day of
class, but the instructor put us all at ease. We were then able to concentrate on what
was on the videos and go on from there.
Kasey was readily available for all of us, no matter what the problem or
question, she answered and demonstrated each answer. I highly recommend this program to
others. I enjoyed this type of
learning. We were given basic
directions with the books, workbooks and videos, then shown methodology again
with hands-on practice. We were
able to practice our newly learned skills and techniques. I really wish I’d known about this
program 2 years ago. I’m on
my way now. Thanks!
Wonderful! The
content covered was exactly what I needed to learn. The suture tying video and lab were
excellent. Anatomy was taught in
lecture, as well as during the surgical procedure demonstrations. This was reinforced with active
involvement in 2-3 return demonstrations.
I enjoyed the course!
The videos demonstrated techniques clearly, and information was not
constantly repeated. I was able to
rewind the tapes easily because the tapes did not have a let of extraneous
talking.
This whole week has been truly fascinating to me! As a nurse practitioner with no
OR training, it has opened my eyes to a whole new world! Both the instructors and the other
students in the class were more than wiling to spend extra time with me.
Excellent! The
instructor was an exceptions skills teacher. I’ve worked in the surgical
environment for twenty years and I’ve learned things in this class that
I’ve never seen but would always use. Thanks!
I loved this program.
I cannot believe how much I have learned in just 6-days. The class far exceeded my
expectations. It has changed my
life, and I know that it will be the beginning of something great for me. Now, all I need to do is go home and
keep practicing.
Heidi, RN
The course was very enlightening, I felt like I’ve
become more competent with my skills and have a greater degree of understanding
in tying and suturing techniques and the procedures covered.
This is what OR nursing is all about. This program is rewarding and very
inspiring. I will continue to
encourage everyone to participate in this program.
I had a great experience. Jennifer was wonderful. I will recommend the NIFA course to
everyone. I had a great time
learning the duties of the first assist.
Outstanding class.
The workshop has been amazing.
And the hands-on experience is definitely the way to go. During this short time, my confidence
level has increased dramatically. I
now feel ready to go back to work and go into action. Thanks!!!
Awesome! Better
than I expected. The instructor
taught us so much in 6-days and did it with humor, which prevented
overload. I can’t wait to get
home and move forward. Thank you so
much.
I had a great experience. The instructor was wonderful. I will recommend everyone to the NIFA
experience. I had a great time
learning the duties of the first assist.
This was an excellent course. I have learned a lot that will be
helpful in furthering my career.
The class was small and personal.
The instructor was great. This course is definitely as
good investment.
This course provided excellent hands-on experience with a
very knowledgeable and encouraging instructor. It made me realize the difficulties the
surgeon can have if he has no assist or incompetent assistance. I hope to be more helpful to my doctor
from now on.
I’ve gained a tremendous amount of knowledge about
suture/typing techniques. NIFA did
an outstanding job in teaching “Good Habits”. Our instructor was friendly, pleasant
and very helpful.
The course was excellent. It certainly creates an environment of
learning. I appreciated the time
allotted to practice my skills. I
felt the anatomy class was great. I
think the information given in class will certainly facilitate my knowledge of
anatomy.
This was a great week!
The relaxed atmosphere coupled with the emotional support and
encouragement of highly qualified instructors yielded a wonderful learning
environment and left me with a high degree of confidence in my newly found
abilities. I know I have a solid
foundation to build on and continue with the NIFA program.
Margaret, RN
Now I know why my colleagues told me …
“Don’t take any RNFA course but NIFA’s”! From my first inquiry with David in
November to my class in February, your staff walked me through every step! The classes, course work, instructors,
everything was top notch! Thank you
for a professional and thorough training.
(and it was a lot of fun, too).
This class was excellent, a fantastic program, with
“book knowledge adapted into practical training”, a great
preparation for future work as a FA.
I so much appreciated the “trade secrets”. This gave me a great basis to stand on
for future training.
I didn’t expect to learn very much in such a short
time but by the end of the week, I felt confident in my tying and
couldn’t wait to get back to work and use my new techniques.
This was a very positive experience. I have really enjoyed this week. I feel more confident in my role as a
first assistant.
The instructor was excellent! She explained things very clearly, and
demonstrated superior knowledge of skills.
She works very hear, and does a great job of helping all class
members. I am amazed at how much we
learned this week! I know
I’ll be much better prepared for assisting. The teamwork and support of the other
class members made the experience excellent!
Wonderful!! The
instructor was very knowledgeable in all areas that we discussed (and
more). She made our learning experience
fun and pleasurable. I did not feel
stressed out or rushed. I’ve
learned much information and new skills to help me be the best I can be. Thank you!!
Excellent experience!
I would highly recommend this program to anyone interested in the first
assistant role!
This was a great experience. Jennifer maintained a relaxed atmosphere
but also conducive to learning. I
feel comfortable with the skills required to perform duties of RNFA. I feel I can prove to my surgeon that I
am capable of these duties.
Great program. I
was able to work at my own pace.
Didactic portion was wonderful.
The hands-on experience was great.
The instructor was outstanding.
The demos were clear and the instructors were patient with the
students. I would highly recommend
this class to others. I feel that I
have learned a lot and am confident that I am ready to assist the surgeons that
I work with. Thanks!
NIFA has been very helpful and a very resourceful
organization. I have gained a lot
of knowledge and skills with their help.
It is much easier to learn the skills NIFA teaches before putting them
into practice in the OR. I believe
it helps the surgeons to not have to teach people to assist them in the middle
of a case.
I felt I learned a lot from your program. The modular learning and the clinicals
all fell in together and made much more sense. I feel I have a great knowledge base to
start my FA now and a lot of information to reference. The clinical instructions and
demonstrations from Jennifer were excellent. She was able to answer and the student
were given the opportunity to discuss any question that came up. Thanks again!
I have had a wonderful learning experience with my home
studies and the first assistant workbooks are great. I have learned a great deal at the first
assistant workshop, not only from the wonderful instructor, who is very, very
good but also from the other students and listening to what goes on at their
place of practice.
This experience has humbled me! I now understand the pressure the
surgeon is under during surgery. It
is easy to be critical when watching another person do a procedure, but when
everyone is watching and you are experiencing difficulties, criticism
doesn’t help any situation. I
also understand the surgeons frustration when other team members are not
paying attention. It is very
frustrating.
The class was excellent, it gave me more confidence on how to
do a better closure, and leads me to believe that we must disregard all the
other methods and replace them with the NIFA way.
It was an excellent experience and I learned a lot. I have first assisted for a long time
but learned the accepted universal techniques from NIFA that will benefit me
the most.
The program is challenging, fun and has given me the
confidence to know that I will be a knowledgeable and skillful first
assistant. Our instructor was a
knowledgeable and skillful person.
She has the ability to incorporate fun and enthusiasm into the learning
process. Thank you, for a wonderful
experience that I know will have a great impact on my future.
I have been in hospital administration for a number of years,
and can appreciate the value of the RNFA in supporting the surgical medical
staff and in assuming a leadership role in the operating room. With the right mix it can even increase
your bottom line and improve productivity in the OR.