First Assist Without An RNFA Program

Hello everyone, I've looked and looked and haven't found an answer to my question. I am wondering if it is possible to be a first assist without going through a first assistant program. I know that sounds like a stupid question but after talking to a first assist following a C-section, she informed me that she had no additional training after BSN. She had been hired by the OB at the womens clinic that performed the surgery. I could be remembering her answer wrong but I would have bet that's what she said. I would love to go through a CRNFA program but there are non in my area. Thanks for any info!

5 Answers

Your chances of getting a job as a first assist without any training is beyond slim to none. Even as an RNFA it is going to be more difficult if you are not an NP.

There aren't any programs in my area either so I attended one a few hours away. My program was distance so I only had to go to campus for a week and the rest was on my own at home - including clinical rotation. I think most programs are set up this way.

Do an RNFA program.

A long time ago, becoming a first assistant meant learning to retract, suction, tie knots, and eventually, with on the job training, close the skin - but the surgeon had to be in the immediate vicinity.

Is there more to it now?

I definitely plan to do one but an additional source of my confusion is within the admission requirements of some CRNFA programs. For example, Rochester School of Nursing RNFA programs lists as an admission requirement a letter of recommendation supporting the applicants proficiency in first assisting. It sounds like one can have RNFA experience before enrollment in one of these programs. RN First Assistant Course | University of Rochester School of Nursing

It says "proficiency in circulating, scrubbing OR first assisting". 99/100 people applying won't have any first assisting experience. That's part of why they're doing the program. You just have to be a periop nurse familiar with acting within those roles.

Specializes in OR, Nursing Professional Development.
A long time ago, becoming a first assistant meant learning to retract, suction, tie knots, and eventually, with on the job training, close the skin - but the surgeon had to be in the immediate vicinity.

Is there more to it now?

Yes. With the advent of robotic surgery, some facilities are allowing FAs to place trocars- in mine, the surgeon must place the first trocar but the first assistant can place additional. FAs also are permitted to fire staplers at my facility as long as the surgeon has verified placement- and it's actually pretty dang impossible for them to fire their own stapler when they're sitting at the control console away from the field. As surgery has evolved, so too has the role of the FA.

-Use of FA as there are non-RN first assistants such as surgical technologists who have attended a first assist program.

I definitely plan to do one but an additional source of my confusion is within the admission requirements of some CRNFA programs. For example, Rochester School of Nursing RNFA programs lists as an admission requirement a letter of recommendation supporting the applicants proficiency in first assisting. It sounds like one can have RNFA experience before enrollment in one of these programs. RN First Assistant Course | University of Rochester School of Nursing

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