Can an FNP work as First Assist?

Specialties NP Nursing Q/A

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Can an FNP work as a first assist with an RNFA license? Is this still within scope of practice? 

Please advise. 

Thank you. 

7 Answers

I do believe you need to take 1st assist certification still, because FNPs do not rotate in surgery during their training.

Specializes in Surgery.

I'm an NP RNFA. I wrote a whole post about it a couple years back. I love it. I was an OR RN prior to entering NP school (FNP) and my intention was to stay in surgery.

It really depends on the rules/laws for nurses governing your state. I practice in Virginia and you do not have to take any courses to be an RNFA there. You can get on the job training and that is enough. 

I work in OR as a circulator in Indiana. I have seen many ortho and general doctors have FNP's work as their first assist, and I am sure those FNPs are not certified as first assist here, some are new graduates. The FNP would come in help when in sterile field, and close the wound in the end. The surgeons would only close the deep tissues, then the rest is closed by the FNP after the surgeons have left the room..

Specializes in Post Acute, Home, Inpatient, Hospice/Pall Care.

I did get to do surgery in my training, not enough for first assist, nor would I want to!  I did get to work with a nurse who was in school for his first assist and it seems pretty involved so I would suspect you need to do that entire training as well. That being said, I don't see why you can't go ahead and do that, good luck!

 

Specializes in CTICU.
On 5/23/2022 at 8:27 PM, Hefziba said:

Hello all, 

Can an FNP work as a first assist with an RNFA license? Is this still within scope of practice? 

Please advise. 

Thank you. 

Depends on your state's practice act and hospital bylaws. If you mean a hospital OR, then technically no, because FNPs aren't trained or educated to work in acute care at all.

Specializes in Vents, Telemetry, Home Care, Home infusion.

In PA,  Nurse Practitioners, Clinical Nurse Specialists and Nurse Midwives (APRNs) can be educated and practice as RN First Assist.  See Delaware County Community Colleges RN First Assist in Surgery Program

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A special section designed for ARNP includes fundamentals of perioperative practice, such as scrubbing, gowning, gloving and instrument review. This enrichment is a continuation of the pre-campus study and perioperative modules. The College has the oldest RNFA Program (since 1985!)  with classes dedicated to and tailored for the APRN. 

 

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