FNP as a First Assist?

Is this possible? An FNP also functioning as a First Assist (ex: in an outpatient surgery center)?

Would this not be considered acute care or a role only for an acute care NP?

If an FNP can function as a first assist.. in what setting would this be possible?

Thanks!

[eg1014, MSN, APRN, NP]

I have worked with many NPs and PAs that are first assists in the OR. Both large hospitals and outpatient centers. They either work directly for a particular surgeon or cover the needs of the facility working with many surgeons.

Nowhere that I have worked would have allowed cystos to be done without an attending.

Right.. but here we are specifically referring to FNPs. The ones you are referring to are most likely acute care NP's. But I've also seen FNP's in some states who function this way as well.

As others have responded.. looks like it varies from state to state.

[eg1014, MSN, APRN, NP]

Yes this is possible just as it is possible to work as a RNFA without any advanced practice credential. The problem with your question is the (incorrect) assumption that the RNFA is an advanced practice role. Any nurse who is appropriately credentialed as a first assistant can work in that capacity in any setting that will hire them. This is true regardless of any other credentials they may have. For instance, a PMHNP, NNP, CNS, or any other alphabet soup combo could work as an RNFA because doing so is under their RN license and not their APRN license.

Now, if you're thinking about NPs who both first assist and round/care for pts outside the OR (writing post-op orders, following up, etc...), then the most appropriate certification would be acute care. But there's no reason your APRN license would restrict your ability to work in a capacity that does not require such a license.

There was no assumption that the RNFA role is an advanced practice role. I know what the credential is and how the role works when an RN is certified to be a first-assist. I just didn't word the original question correctly and I think it confused many and rightly so, so I apologize for that.

My question was more in line with the latter part of your response, where you're doing cases in the OR (not only as a first-assist, but also doing cases ALONE without the surgeon in the OR for that procedure) and rounding in the hospital and seeing patients in a clinic. I've talked FNPs who do this in some states since I've posted this question, but I believe my state (Georgia) is requiring an acute care certification as an NP to be able to function in this way.

Thank you for your response!