Revisit: PA or RNFA

Specialties Operating Room

Published

Specializes in OR.

I'm doing a bit of research. I've searched on both PA and RNFA through this site but most of the threads are anywhere from 5-10 years out of date.

What is the current culture/climate regarding going PA or RNFA for surgical purposes? There is a University associated with the (my) hospital that turns out Master's PAs and I figure to just wait and see what the culture is there regarding PAs vs RNFAs and what the pay and respect differences are however, curiosity and the desire to know what I'm getting into has dragged me here....

I read somewhere that as an RNFA, you're only paid for that rate when you're "as needed", not as full time. I've read that RNFAs have to compete with surgical techs to get jobs. I've read that PAs are glorified doctor-wannabes. I've read that RNFAs are over-certified surgical techs and cost too much to employ. I've read that CSTs are cheapest to use, RNFAs can bill at 20% and PAs can bill at 30%. I've also read that medicare won't reimburse at all (in my state) for RNFAs and I don't know how to confirm if that's still the case.

I'd like to know which of these assertions may be true.

Mei

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I'm curious about these opportunities as well. Where I am, we don't use RNFAs. We do have one surg tech first assist, but the rest of our physicians have PAs. I've considered both options, because I want to work in that role in the OR. I think the nursing route is a better fit for my personality, but I wonder if the assisting opportunities will be available to me.

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Specializes in OR.

My concern is "leaving the realm" of nursing, the high cost of PA school while it seems CRNFAs get paid more, but PAs have more flexibility and consistency in work (surgical), so I don't know. I want to find it out, too.

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I'm considering RNFA as well! I've actually seen a lot of positions open online for hospitals in my area. I'm in PA, near Hershey Medical. I've shadowed some of the RNFAs at the the hospital I currently work at, and they are in no way competing with techs. They are employed full time, as well. I hope this helps!! Good luck!

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Specializes in OR.
I'm considering RNFA as well! I've actually seen a lot of positions open online for hospitals in my area. I'm in PA, near Hershey Medical. I've shadowed some of the RNFAs at the the hospital I currently work at, and they are in no way competing with techs. They are employed full time, as well. I hope this helps!! Good luck!

MegJackson -- I was going to PM you but worried as a new member you would not be able to read or respond. I'm not all that far from you (Yay, Hershey Park!!) and I would hope the "way things are done" in your area would be similar here. Could you tell me more about what the RNFAs do and even what you do?

Thanks -- Mei

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That's awesome! Maybe we'll end up working together in the future as RNFAs! It's a small world, especially in the medical field! I'm currently about one month from graduating from York College of PA with a BS in Nursing. I actually just applied for the NCLEX about 2 minutes ago, haha. I'm interviewing at Hershey Med for an OR nurse residency position in about a week! You have to prove competency in the OR scrub and circulator RN positions before advancing to RNFA.

The best way I can explain the RNFA role is that it is about the equivalent of a surgical resident doctor, if you can picture that! The RNFA is assisting the attending physician with making incisions, dissecting, cutting, suturing, etc.. You are operating along with the attending, but not "leading" the procedure, if that makes any sense. Meaning, you are not in charge of making surgical decisions. I think it's a great field because you get the hands-on surgical experience without going to med school or requiring heavy duty , or the additional stress and hours physicians have to take on. Of course it's not a doctor's pay check, but it's still more money than the RN role. I see RNFA positions and personnel in the OR more often than PAs. Actually, I only saw a PA in the OR with us once, but she was a student. I think the demand for PAs is much less than that if the quickly expanding new RNFA role.

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*of

I also see that your interests are trauma/surg/ICU. Definitely the top of my list too! Too funny!

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Specializes in OR.

How did your interview go? When are you scheduled for NCLEX?

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I scored the position! As far as the NCLEX goes, I am registered for the exam. However, you can't schedule the date to test until after you officially graduate. I go to York College of PA, and we officially graduate 12/17/14. How about you?

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Specializes in OR.

I took NCLEX just a few mos ago, thankfully. Hated it, but passed -- you can do it!! I was also offered the position and I'm super excited. I've been reading back on this forum a lot and asking questions in order to prepare. It took our school a few mos to release necessary info to schedule NCLEX, but we were able to go into the student-info-system and request the transcripts be sent ourselves to BON -- it got there much faster. I don't know how your school does it, but you might check with prior graduates to find out what their process was like. A delay in getting NCLEX scheduled might impact a start date -- that's the only reason I mention it. When is your start date? Mine is in Jan. CONGRATS!!!

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PA's are far more in demand than RNFA's from what ive seen.

My OR is always looking for PA's, while ive never actually seen them even looking for an RNFA

One huge difference is PA's can write orders making them incredibly valuable. They can put in preop antibiotics, heparin orders, special anesthetics (ie lipsomal bupivicaine), do discharges, and even post op visits on the floor.

What exactly can an RNFA do thats any special ? Theyre pretty much a scrub nurse that can suture. Although I guess it depends on the states (apparently RNFA have more rights in some states than others?)

An RNFA is certainly much easier/cheaper to become, but I think the PA is the better route.

However you could easily become a surgical NP (which I dont often see either) which practically is the same as a PA

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I start jan 12th! I have the temporary practice permit. I really hope my school gets everything sent out on time. I'm pretty sure I have everything done on my part! The rest is up to them!

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