Revisit: PA or RNFA

[MeiLana]

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 I've searched on both PA and RNFA through this site but most of the threads are anywhere from 5-10 years out of date.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

[MeiLana]

I start on the 12th, too!!! So excited. Congrats!!

[spineCNOR]

Hi MeiLana,

The reality is that most surgeons in private practice will want an assistant who can "pay for themselves", i.e. they want to be able to bill for the assistant's services and therefore cover the salary costs of the assistant. So your best options would be a surgical PA or NP/RNFA, depending on insurance reimbursement in your state. Being an RNFA only would limit you to the OR (which i fine if that is what you want to do). At least one school that I am aware of (UAB School of Nursing) has a distance assessible acute care NP/RNFA option, there may be others.

[CIRQL8]

I know only what I've heard. Some states/insurance companies allow the RNFA to bill like a NP or PA. However, the NP and PA can do H&P dictate and do more pre and post operatively than the RNFA. That is what most surgeons are looking for. But not all.