NP First Assist programs

callbabe · Mar 5, 2004

Does anyone know of a first assist program offered for NP's wanting to work in the OR? I work in a private practice with a urologist and we are trying to get me into the OR as his assistant. Any ideas????

Hello, You are considered an advanced pratice nurse. I have worked in the OR for 30 years. I am a RNFA urology is my specialty. I have scrubbed all services from one time to another. Your surgeon boss needs to let you come in and just observe a few cases just to see if you are interested. By the way any program will require a minimum of 2years of perioperative experience. That is pre-op,intraop,and post-op(pacu). A question that I have for you and your boss is who is going to bill for what. Are you salaried. When trained you personnally can bill 30% of you surgeons fees. This is over and above his fees. There is an order of things. In the abscence of a physcian surgeon as a first assistant, the next best thing, is an experienced RNFA. Unless you have a PA,which I compete with.

Pa's can also bill 30% as well as Medicare, which you can to. I Missouri where I am from RNFA's cannot bill for Medicare yet, pending legislation.