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ASSET

What is ASSET?

The Australian and New Zealand Surgical Skills Education and Training (ASSET) course replaces the previous UK-based Basic Surgical Skills (BSS) course and provides an educational package of generic surgical skills required by Surgical Trainees in the Australian and New Zealand context. ASSET is a compulsory aspect of Surgical Training and is usually undertaken within the first year of training and can also be undertaken prior to Surgical Training.

Four modules are undertaken over the two and a half day course:

• Basic Surgical Skills 1 (instruments, knots & incisions)
• Basic Surgical Skills 2 (dissection & suturing)
• Musculoskeletal Injury
• Minimal Access Surgery

The emphasis of this course is on small group teaching, intensive hands-on practice of basic skills, individual tuition, personal feedback to participants and the performance of practical procedures.

Experienced surgeons teach at the ASSET course and enable successful transfer of valuable knowledge and skills. Visits by industry representatives also provide for a valuable networking environment.

Who is it for?

• Mandatory skills training course for Surgical Trainees of the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons
• Post-graduate year (PGY) 2+ registered medical practitioners working and training across the range of surgical disciplines

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Value statement

To promote surgical excellence by developing a foundation of safe basic surgical skills and exemplary attitudes in surgical trainees.

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Course objectives

• Become familiar with the different types of common surgical instruments, their construction, fuction, safe and appropriate use, and maintenance
• Learn the principles, applications and practice of tying a variety of common surgical knots
• Learn appropriate selection strategies for surgical sutures and needles, appropriate techniques of use, and specific points of sharps safety
• Gain an understanding of the properties of local anaesthetics and to learn the principles, practical skills and safety issues related to their use
• Develop an understanding of the concept of barriers in surgery, to perform an effective and reproducible method of scrubbing, gowning and closed gloving (Australian College of Operating Room Nurses (ACORN) Standards), and to learn how to establish and maintain a sterile field
• Learn the principles involved in the selection and execution of an incision
• Learn the principles and techniques of suturing
• Learn the principles of the diathermy generator and safe electrosurgery practice
• Consolidate learned skills in an advanced dissection model
• Reconstruct tubes by applying correct instrument, suture and needle selection with correct tissue handling skills
• Demonstrate integration of incision, tissue handling, instrument, suture and needle selection, and suturing/tying skills in a heavy/fascial tissue model
• Demonstrate integration of incision, tissue handling, instrument, suture and needle selection, appropriate suturing and knot tying skills in a delicate tissue model
• Learn and demonstrate wound assessment and management skills
• Understand the principles of fracture immobilisation 

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Course modules

The ASSET course is made up of 14 modules:

• Session 1 – Surgical Instruments
• Session 2 – Knot Tying
• Session 3 – Needles and Sutures
• Session 4 – Standard Precautions: Barriers, Sterile Technique and Safety
• Session 5 – Introduction to Incisions, Local Anesthetic and Excisions
• Session 6 – Suturing – Principles and Practice
• Session 7 – Electrosurgery
• Session 8 – Advanced Dissection and Vessel Management
• Session 9 – Handling and Suturing Tubular and Delicate Structures
• Session 10 – Integrated Tissue Management Exercise: Laparotomy and Fascial Closure
• Session 11 – Extensile Exposure (Incision & Dissection for Surgical Exposure) & Tissue Repair
• Session 12 – Wound Management
• Session 13 – Bone Handling and Plaster Skills
• Session 14 – Principles and Practice of Rigid Endoscopy

Access the course program ( PDF 75kb).

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Course materials

The ASSET course materials include a DVD, suture cards and a copy of the 'Fundamental Skills for Surgery' textbook.  Course participants receive all of these course materials prior to attending an ASSET course. 

The 'Fundamental Skills for Surgery' textbook can be ordered separately by downloading the order form.

Contact ASSET

Australian Trainees

Zoë Denner
Skills Training Department
Division of Education Development and Assessment
Royal Australasian College of Surgeons
College of Surgeons' Gardens
250-290 Spring Street
East Melbourne VIC 3002
Australia

Facsimile: +61 3 9249 1298
Email: asset@surgeons.org

New Zealand Trainees

Rachel Turner
Administration Officer
Royal Australasian College of Surgeons
PO Box 7451
Wellington South
Wellington 6242
New Zealand

Telephone +64 4 385 8247
Facsimile: +64 4 385 8873
Email: asset.nz@surgeons.org

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