How to become an RN first assistant

Specialties Operating Room

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Argo

1,221 Posts

Specializes in Peri-Op.

What do the RNs you know make?

flipflopsRN

23 Posts

Specializes in perioperative.

is it possible to become an RNFA w/ little or no scrub experience? At my hospital circulators do not scrub, only techs scrub...so I have no way to get the scrub experience....

Nightrn12

2 Posts

According to the new AORN position statement on the RN FIRST ASSISTANTs, you do not need a BS if you finish the training for the RNFA before Jan 2020. It also states that you are encouraged to sit for and maintain your CRNFA

The Position statement revision approved by the AORN board of directors was August 2012

Editorial revisions done in 12/2013.

If you are really interested there is a program out there by NIFA RNFA program. Look into this

I am retiring this year and have alway wanted to be a first assist. I have worked in the OR for 42 years.

brighidh

21 Posts

I came online tonight to look for this very topic because an RN in the OR told me recently that he had to have 5 years experience scrubbing before he could pursue RNFA. This was very depressing to me as a nurse who mostly circulates. Do I have a shot at becoming an RNFA without much experience scrubbing? He said NIFA was the certifying body, too.

Specializes in Surgery.

I just completed my certification last month. I'm a FNP/RNFA.. Here's what my program prerequisites were:

-Current RN license

-BLS certification

-CNOR certified or eligible, with CNOR attained prior to completion of course

-APNs are exempt from needing CNOR first

-Must be able to secure own internship at clinical site

-Carry own

I needed 175 hours total with 150 being intraop plus to hand in a portfolio with various written assignments, case logs and finally my surgeons written recommendation. It's a lot of work! But if it's where you really want to be, like me, it's well worth it..

Username:)

14 Posts

What state do you work in and would you mind sharing what your salary is? I'm just trying to get a ball park since theres different ranges of RNFA and RNFA that is an ANP like your self. Which is currently what I am pursuing.

Username:)

14 Posts

I am currently trying to decide which route to purse RNFA. I am a General Internal Oncology Medicine RN with 2 years experience. Any advice which route would be best? I am in the middle of applying for graduate school for NP.

Plan 1: Get my FNP then pursue RNFA? Should I switch in to OR while I'm in school for FNP? Right now I am only qualified to get into FNP due to my current work experience.

Plan 2: Switch to ICU, pursue ACNP, then RNFA? which leaves me with no OR experience. The only reason why I am considering this is in hopes of the ACNP would better prepare me as a RNFA. This route I could start FNP school at first while gaining ICU experience then before graduating switch over to ACNP. Since the first semester or so are the same for all types of NP programs this switch would allow me to switch over with no delays. (I know someone that applied for ACNP but didn't get it because she didn't have ICU experience but the advisor said they will accept her into FNP first and for her to obtain ICU experience and they will switch her over to ACNP when she gets into ICU)

If anyone has any advice, I would gladly appreciate it!

Specializes in Surgery.
What state do you work in and would you mind sharing what your salary is? I'm just trying to get a ball park since theres different ranges of RNFA and RNFA that is an ANP like your self. Which is currently what I am pursuing.

Is this addressed to me? I live in the Boston-area. 120K/yr which is slightly higher than the average for a first year NP, although I am an experienced nurse. I was an OR nurse for quite a while before I pursued NP school.

I knew I always wanted to be involved in something procedural as opposed to outpatient care but I didn't think that I would say directly in the operating room. My OR RN experience is 100% what got me in the door.

I love my job, never thought I'd say that!

PM if you like

Username:)

14 Posts

Is this addressed to me? I live in the Boston-area. 120K/yr which is slightly higher than the average for a first year NP, although I am an experienced nurse. I was an OR nurse for quite a while before I pursued NP school.

I knew I always wanted to be involved in something procedural as opposed to outpatient care but I didn't think that I would say directly in the operating room. My OR RN experience is 100% what got me in the door.

I love my job, never thought I'd say that!

PM if you like

yes!! thank you for replying I wasn't sure how to tag you in the comment to direct the question to you. Due to changes to allnurses.com and I have just now started using allnurses again, I am unable to PM you. But would you be able to foresee any pros and cons of obtaining an FNP vs ACNP to do RNFA?

Specializes in Surgery.

I guess the only plus i see with the ACNP is that you would have more knowledge of inpatient disease processes since FNP education, as you know, is directed towards care of the outpatient. But, you would not be able to care for pediatric patients with the ACNP, correct?

It really comes down to what you want. What is your ultimate goal? What types of cases do you want to be first-assisting in? If it's vascular/cardiac then ACNP may be a good choice. I'd pair that with a PeriOp 101 course offered by AORN. I know one of the local colleges around me offers it, not sure where you live?

If your interest is just to be in the OR assisting with plastics, day surgery general cases or something like that I would go FNP and try to switch to an OR nurse position.

It will be a lot on your plate to take on a new RN role in either ICU or OR and start NP school!

Hope that helped

brighidh

21 Posts

What exactly is ACNP? I'd love to eventually become RNFA, but I'm on cardio/vasc/thoracic team -- which precludes me from scrubbing in. I could swap out to general and scrub in much more easily, in any other specialty, actually, but I want to stay on CVOR. It seems most of the job listings I see want nurses who scrub and circulate. Can't lie that I'd also like to see $100k+ without having to become a CRNA. I've been considering either PA or NP, too, in order to get there. I thought the only option was FNP, though.

Cmsmith7

9 Posts

Hi,

i am a nursing student in an accelerated program. My goal once I graduate is to be a plastic surgeon's nurse. I have worked with her before and the goal is that I can close for her and help her in the OR along with seeing patients. I have talked to serval different instructors and gotten different answers on if this is something I can do with an bsn or if I would need to get some other degree/certificate. Some people I have talked to have said I can't even suture being an rn and another said I could close in the OR. Anyone have any insight to this? Or what my best opinions are to achieve these goals.

Thank you

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