How to become an RN first assistant

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Hello everybody. I am currently in nursing school and am a year away from graduation :yeah:. I am really really interested in becoming an RN surgical first assistant. Does anybody know what the parameters are? How to become one? For example, what certifications are needed, where to start, and how to get there??? Thanks for all the help

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

Need two years experience in the OR, especially scrubbing. CNOR cert is required. If you want to be CRNFA then a BSN is required to sit for exam. Anything I miss to those who know?

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Specializes in Peri-Op.

No need for BSN. An RN with Any bachelors degree will do.

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Definitely research reimbursement issues with the RNFA role. You might want to become an NP/RNFA so you will be able to get better reimbursement for your services. I was going to go that route, but after talking to several RNFA's at my hospital, they said it's really not worth the hassle from a compensation standpoint. One hospital I did work at paid the RNFA's an hourly rate, which I think would be a decent option. They made around $4-5 more per hour than a nurse in the OR I believe, but not 100% sure.

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Go to http://www.rnfa.org/ to learn more about becoming an RN first assistant. aorn.org can also give you more info on RN first assistants.

Basically you need OR experience first, then you have to have two letters of recommendation, and you can finally take the course for certification and later do an internship under a surgeon

A lot of work for a certification that may not net you very much in return...

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Thank you everybody for all your help. Sounds like I'm better off being a scrub nurse and then being a CRNA which was my original plan from the beginning.

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You need to work in the ICU to be a CRNA, not the OR. And your GPA better be at least around a 3.5. Getting into CRNA school is highly competitive, but if that is truly your goal, you will need a strong ICU background.

Thank you everybody for all your help. Sounds like I'm better off being a scrub nurse and then being a CRNA which was my original plan from the beginning.
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Specializes in Operating room..

You don't need a Bachelors degree at all. We have many RN's (ASN) with no Bachelors degree that are RNFA's. Our RNFA's only make $1 more though an hour. Not great incentive.

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Specializes in Peri-Op.

To obtain certification you need a bachelors degree to sit for the test. The vast majority of insurance carriers reimbursement is to CRNFA's. Don't get me wrong, you can be an rnfa without a bachelors but not a crnfa.

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Specializes in Pediatrics.
To obtain certification you need a bachelors degree to sit for the test. The vast majority of insurance carriers reimbursement is to CRNFA's. Don't get me wrong, you can be an rnfa without a bachelors but not a crnfa.

. . . bachelor's in anything or BSN?

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Specializes in Peri-Op.

In anything.

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So from what I am reading from the earlier posts that RNFA is really a waist? My friend who was on the waiting list for nursing school got into a surgical first assistant program and graduated in 2 yrs and is making more money then any of the RN's I know. It would seem that Dr's would want RN's because of their stronger medical background. SFA are basically scrub techs with extra training. Not to knock either profession - but I want to get into OR nursing - and was thinking the RNFA was the way to go. But it seems that maybe taking the program to become a Surgical Assistant is better.

Any thoughts on this? Love to hear it first hand.

Suz

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