The RNFA is an expanded role of perioperative nursing and always practices under the direct supervision of the surgeon during the intra-operative phase of the perioperative experience and will not function concurrently as a scrub nurse. The RNFA must have the acquired knowledge, skills, and judgment necessary to assist the surgeon through organized instruction and supervised practice.
- Anticipate the needs of the surgeon
- Handle tissue
- Provide exposure by suctioning, sponging, and retracting
- Assist with positioning and draping the patient
- Proper use of surgical instruments and medical devices
- Suture subcutaneous and/or skin tissues
- Provide hemostasis byapplying hemostatic clamps and/or agents and ligating blood vessels
The RNFA will be utilized in the on-call rotation afte rcompleting the required RNFA course and internship. The RNFA will demonstrate competency as a first assistant in each surgical specialty after their orientation with the surgeons willing to participate as mentors. A competency checklist will be signed by the participating surgeon. The RNFA may be utilized anywhere in the Peri-operative areas according to staffing needs when no tperforming in the assistant role, which may include Circulating, Scrub, or PACU, depending on department need.
QUALIFICATIONS
· Graduateof an accredited program of professional nursing, and must possess a currentlicense as a Registered Nurse from the Ohio Board of Nursing.
· Employeeof Salem Regional Medical Center Peri-operative Department.
· Musthave current certification in Basic Cardiac Life Support and Advanced CardiacLife Support.
· Candemonstrate knowledge regarding the nursing process and its application bycurrent work experience in health care.
· Successfulcompletion of a Registered Nurse First Assistant course approved by an OhioBoard of Nursing provider.
· Musthave experience for at least 24-months in the practice of peri-operativenursing, which includes demonstrated proficiency in peri-operative nursingpractice as both a scrub and circulating nurse.
· Demonstratedknowledge of anatomy, physiology, and operative techniques related to specificoperative procedures in which the Registered Nurse assists.
· Meetsrequirements of statutes and regulations, and follows Salem Regional MedicalCenter and Peri-operative Department policies/procedures.
· Demonstratedability to perform effectively in stressful and emergency situations.
· Demonstratedability to recognize safety hazards in the peri-operative environment andinitiate appropriate preventive and corrective action.
· Demonstratedability to apply the skills unique to RNFA.
· Demonstratedknowledge and skill in applying principles of asepsis and infection control.
· Achievedand maintained current certification in perioperative nursing practice as a CertifiedNurse of the Operating Room (CNOR) title from the Competency and CredentialingInstitute (CCI).
