BSN required to become an RNFA?

Specialties Operating Room

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I'm in college taking my prereqs for nursing or respiratory therapy. If I go into nursing, I want to go into OR nursing. I found this job posting for an RNFA at one of the area hospitals, and was a little confused about the wording of the requirements-

Requirements: 5 years of Perioperative Nursing practice as both a scrub and circulating nurse Graduate of a school of nursing. Successful completion of a RNFA program that meets AORN recommended education standards for RN First Assistant programs. BSN. Licensed or eligible for licensing in State as RN. CNOR.

I understand that as a new grad, this position probably wouldn't be available to me, but is a BSN necessary to advance to a RNFA position?

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The vast majority of RNFA positions do not require a BSN. Most just require 2 years of scrubbing and circulating.

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Specializes in 2 years school nurse, 15 in the OR!.

Sounds like it's that particular job wants you to have a BSN. Most RNFA's complete a RNFA program, you don't have to have a BSN. None of our RNFA's have a BSN. You definitely have to have circulating/scrubbing experience.

Hope this helps.

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Specializes in O.R., ED, M/S.

To sit and take the certification test you must have your BSN. If you have any intentions on billing for your services you have to be cert. If all you want to do is assist then anyone can get their RNFA. Though I think you still have to have your CNOR.

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Specializes in Trauma, ER, ICU, CCU, PACU, GI, Cardiology, OR.

iba4au, Evidently, you seem to be interested in the OR position I commend you for having the passion for this specialty. However, most facilities do not require you to obtain RNFA, then again most definitely you must have circulating/scrubbing experience. Having said that, there's a chance that they might require a CNOR since you don't posses a RNFA. Therefore, if this is truly your calling don't give it another thought go for it get your RN, and at least get your CNOR and later on while your in the field get started with your BSN. Unquestionably, you seem to be undecided on which path to choose nursing or RRT, now this is up to you, no one should make this lifetime decision or influence you in any given way,this must come from your vocation, do it for yourself. Besides that, I have many RRT's that became RN's and vice-versa, Lastly, I would like to wish you the best in all of your future endeavors~ :yeah:

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Specializes in Peri-Op.
To sit and take the certification test you must have your BSN. If you have any intentions on billing for your services you have to be cert. If all you want to do is assist then anyone can get their RNFA. Though I think you still have to have your CNOR.

This is not true. Here is the section from the CCI website. It does not have to be a BSN. You also do not have to be certified to bill for your services. I know 3 local RNFA's and 1 FA scrub tech, they all bill and get paid for their services, the only certified one is the scrub tech. I personally have no desire to get a certification in this. Im CNOR now and am perfectly happy with circulating and occasionally scrubbing. I may feel differently cause I get to manage the dept and run the board though..... :cool:

CRNFA Certification Requirements

  • Requirements: CNOR, bachelor's degree in any field, 2000 hours (first assisting) and completion of a CCI-acceptable RNFA program.
  • Certification: Once you're certified as a CRNFA, the CNOR and CRNFA credentials are merged and recertification for both credentials happens five years after your initial CRNFA certification.
  • Certification period: lasts for five years.

http://www.cc-institute.org/cert_crnf_abou.aspx

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Specializes in Trauma, ER, ICU, CCU, PACU, GI, Cardiology, OR.

argo, Certainly, ib4au, is glad to hear the information you have posted.

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Specializes in O.R., ED, M/S.
This is not true. Here is the section from the CCI website. It does not have to be a BSN. You also do not have to be certified to bill for your services. I know 3 local RNFA's and 1 FA scrub tech, they all bill and get paid for their services, the only certified one is the scrub tech. I personally have no desire to get a certification in this. Im CNOR now and am perfectly happy with circulating and occasionally scrubbing. I may feel differently cause I get to manage the dept and run the board though..... :cool:

CRNFA Certification Requirements

  • Requirements: CNOR, bachelor's degree in any field, 2000 hours (first assisting) and completion of a CCI-acceptable RNFA program.
  • Certification: Once you're certified as a CRNFA, the CNOR and CRNFA credentials are merged and recertification for both credentials happens five years after your initial CRNFA certification.
  • Certification period: lasts for five years.

http://www.cc-institute.org/cert_crnf_abou.aspx

I may have been wrong in the BSN aspect, but you do have to have a BS in something to sit for certification. That is what I meant. I still think you HAVE to be cert to bill medicare patients. Are those individuals independent or do they work with MDs who bill for them? Big difference.

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Specializes in 2 years school nurse, 15 in the OR!.

OK, I have two good friends who are RNFA's. One has her BSN, one doesn't. You do not need your CRNFA to bill for services unless you are working with Medicare/Medicaid. They have a billing company that actually does their billing for them and they do quite well. The one with the BSN is trying to get her CRNFA, but needs so many hours to do this.

Also, years ago I worked with a RN who was a first assist for an orthopedic surgeon. She was excellent and her certification was OPA-C. It was some sort of orthopedic assistant certification. Something changed and she had to go back through a RNFA program in order to keep assisting with him. Even though she was already doing this! I'm not sure exactly, legislature or something changed. This was probably about 2003.

I have seen my friends reimbursement and it is quite well for spine cases. This is also in the state of Texas, it might be different elsewhere.

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