Do ARNP with First Assist make more money?

[nenalablue]

I am a new grad ARNP and have been thinking of becoming first assist certified as well. Do the first assist ARNPs make any more money then regular ARNPs??? I really like ortho and neuro surgery as that wad my previous background as RN.

I was looking at NIFA classes for First Assist and they run around $6,000 so I want to get some feedback from anyone that is ARNP with First Assist and what do they recommend?

Should I go for it. ?

[scottaprn]

Won't change your reimbursement at all so very unlikely to change your pay.

[jer_sd]

Having first assisting can add extra value to you as an APN. If you work in primary care type position it will not help. However some providers scrub in to assist in procedures and personally bill first assisting fees over and above traditional salary. Or if your contract includes bonuses for rvu production first assisting may add to that.

Medicare does not require a NP complete a RNFA course to bill for first assisting. However this is not included in the NP program and obtaining credentialing is difficult without proof of training or competency. If you will be first assisting make an investment in your self and attend a structured course.

Jeremy

[automotiveRN67]

The question is whether your background was as scrub or not. If you are able to scrub, you can make pretty good money. Most busy surgeons will pay well for someone who is their right hand. Being a nurse practitioner helps, because you can round on patients, do pre-op assessment, and take call. Something RN first assist cannot do.

I am not sure about the billing.

[mommy.19, MSN, RN, APRN]

Many payors reimburse separately for credentialed APRN FA's. Read the statement on the AORN website about APRNs needing to be certified as of a certain date in order to bill and be reimbursed.

[laree22225]

I did NIFA and found it very helpful to learn the skills needed to be competent as a first assist with simple skills that are not heavily taught in NP school. I scrub all vascular cases now as I have cut my surgeons time in half by assisting (now 2 years in) which makes us more productive, earns him more RVU's, and makes a good case to later ask for salary increases based on improved productivity (we have doubled our volumes each year the past 2 years). So directly no it does not help your salary initially, but I have found it does help later on... but is not required to bill medicare and medicaid if you are advanced practice.

[laree22225]

In addition-I had my employer pay for NIFA.

[RosieMommy]

NIFA Course is expensive but it is also a good one. I paid close to $6K from my pocket and have already logged in more than 75 hours of the 130 hours required by NIFA to be eligible to take the CRNFA exam. I have scrubbed for 2 years in major cadio-vascular and thoracic surgeries, which my surgeon supervising physician likes, since I can take better and more informed post-op care for the patient if I was present as an FA during the surgery. Also, as an APRN and FA (non-certified yet), I believe the hospital has billed for my time in the OR and gotten compensated. APRN and CRFNA is some serious credentials. It can only help you earn higher remuneration in the long run as a salaried employee, especially if your services as an FA is billable, which in most cases is, if appropriate justification exists.