NNP and RNFA

core0 · Mar 1, 2009

Just curious-- I read that one of the only thing NNP's can't do is surgery. Could you be an NNP and RNFA and be able to first assist in neonatal surgery?

There is really no such thing as neonatal surgery. Most surgery on neonates is done by pediatric surgeons (or general surgeons if there is no peds surgeon available). Given that your scope would be very limited its pretty unlikely that a surgeon or surgery service would hire you. Consider that you could have the same scope and more with a PNP cert and be able to cover a larger range of services (although if the surgeon does congenital surgery then you have different problems). Or you could come over to the dark side:rolleyes:.

David Carpenter, PA-C

ezxoxo322 · Mar 1, 2009

Ok, thanks. So could I become an acute care pediatric nurse practitioner and first assist as an RNFA?

core0 · Mar 1, 2009

Ok, thanks. So could I become an acute care pediatric nurse practitioner and first assist as an RNFA?

Yes. This is however a very small field and someone with an extensive pediatric RNFA background who then got their PNP would have an advantage for example. I don't know your experience but if you haven't worked in peds surgery it can be very demanding. On the plus side the patients are usually lighter and kids generally get better. On the minus side some of the kids don't get better and they have parents.

Also peds surgery is generally disliked in the OR because of the conditions in the room. Put yourself in an awkward position with everything too close together and then move the OR to the Sahara desert. Thats a good peds case.

David Carpenter, PA-C

cruisin_woodward · Mar 1, 2009

Yes. This is however a very small field and someone with an extensive pediatric RNFA background who then got their PNP would have an advantage for example. I don't know your experience but if you haven't worked in peds surgery it can be very demanding. On the plus side the patients are usually lighter and kids generally get better. On the minus side some of the kids don't get better and they have parents.
Also peds surgery is generally disliked in the OR because of the conditions in the room. Put yourself in an awkward position with everything too close together and then move the OR to the Sahara desert. Thats a good peds case.
David Carpenter, PA-C

LOL you aren't kidding!! It is soooo hot in there. And cramped! And as the first assist, you are holding these little retractors that cause your hands to cramp up...big risk of carpal tunnel.

Just an FYI, most respectable RNFA certification courses require 2 years of OR nursing, in the scrub role to even apply for admission...just something to think of...

SteveNNP, MSN, NP · Mar 3, 2009

I have never heard of an NNP working as an RNFA in neonatal surgeries. You are not trained AT ALL in surgical procedures, unless you call needle decompression and chest tube insertion surgical procedures.

I do know a PNP on our Peds CT surgery service who assists on our open heart cases, but she does not work in the NICU at all, she only consults/rounds on our CT surgery cases. All other neonatal surgeries are handled by Pediatric Surgery, and I doubt they use RNFAs, as there are always dozens of fellows and residents who are being trained in regional centers that do routine pediatric surgeries.