What is First Assistant Nurse?

[SirJohnny]

All:

- Saw a posting for "First Assistant Nurse" on Delphi-Forums the other day. I am new to the profession - just starting 2nd semester of pre-reqs, so bear with me.

- Wondering: What is a First Assistant Nurse?

- What type of education/'schooling requirements are required?

Thanks,

John Coxey

[Marie_LPN, RN, LPN, RN]

Credit to this site for the following: http://www.ga.unc.edu/NCCN/recruitmentandretention/youth/roles/rn1assist.htm

Description

The Registered Nurse First Assistant (RNFA) is a professional care giver who assumes the responsibility for providing technical assistance under the direct supervision and direction of the operating surgeon. The primary patient population is adults, but may provide care to patients of all ages. The RNFA performs the usual functions pertaining to the perioperative experience, but in addition perform a number of intraoperative functions which may include: handling tissue, providing exposure, using instruments, suturing and providing hemostasis. Specific functions and limitations are determined by individual state nursing practice legislation.

Preparation

Registered nurses with 2-4 years of perioperative nursing experience (including operating room circulating and scrubbing experience), Basic Life Support Certification and a certification in operating room (ONOR) nursing are eligible to take a one year Registered Nurse First Assistant course. While not required, certification in Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) is preferred. Though RNFA certification is not mandatory, upon completion of the RNFA course and 2000 clinical hours, the nurse may become RNFA certified by successfully completing the RNFA certification exam administered by the Association of Operating Room Nurses.

Competencies or Skills

Skills required of the RNFA include: knowledge of normal/abnormal anatomy, specific knowledge of surgical procedures, ability to assess, plan, implement and evaluate patients' needs and needs of the surgical team, extensive communication skills, team building skills, surgical assisting and instrumentation skills, and patient education and discharge planning skills.

Opportunities for Employment

RNFA's can be employed by an institution, a surgeon or group of surgeon's, or self-employed as an independent contractor. Others are employed as educators in RNFA programs or as health care administrators ("Registered Nurse First Assistants", 1995). The scope of practice for RNFAs is regulated by the individual state's Nurse Practice Act. The RNFA practices under his or her nursing license and the credentials and practice requirements of his or her facility. The State Board of Nursing can provide a Policy on RNFA's.

Further Information

American Association of Operating Room Nurses, Inc.

2170 South Parker Rd, Suite 300

Denver, CO 80231-5711

Phone: [phone]

Fax: [phone]

Hope that helped some.

[zambezi, BSN, RN]

In our CCU we have two first assists that scrub in on all of the heart cases, they assist with clamping, suctioning, closing, (and probably many other things) etc. They also make rounds, write progress notes and orders, pull chest tubes, etc...