Registerd Nurse First AssistantRegistered Nurse First Assistant's (RNFA) is an advanced practice nurse who is a perioperative nurse who is a specialist in the operating room environment. The RNFA status is usually one awarded to a nurse who meets certain criteria and who through training, classroom study and internship acheives a certification as a Registered Nurse First Assistant. As this nursing practice is also governed by individual state nurse practice acts the requirements may vary slightly from state to state. Role of Registered Nurse First AssistantThe RNFA is responsible to the patient and the surgical team to assist, educate and otherwise facilitate an optimal outcome for the patient. The Registered Nurse First Assistant has a role throughout the perioperative continuim. The RNFA role will include but is not limited to:* Comprehensive Patient assessment * Patient Education * Communication with patients, family and other healthcare professionals * Tissue Handling * Providing Exposure * Using instruments * Providing Hemostasis * Suturing * Performing follow up care * Discharge Planning RNFA ReguirementsThe minimum requirements to become a Registered Nurse First Assistant are:* Possess a valid Registered Nurse License in the state you will be a RNFA in. * Be proficent as a circulating and scrub nurse. Usually, a minimum of 2 years experience. * Be a Certified Operating Room Nurse (CNOR) * Participate in an internship with a surgeon in the area of speciality that you will be a RNFA in. * Attend a didactic course resulting in a certificate of education as a RNFA. * Possess other certifications such as Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS). ** I did not find anywhere that a Bachelor or Master's degree were required but the obvious advanced practice nature of the role almost seems to dictate that a nurse be at least Baccalaureate prepared. *** Medicare has a barrier in place that for an RNFA to be re-imbursed for thier practice they must possess a Master's degree. It can be speculated that this advanced practice will evolve just as the nurse practitioner did into a Master's prepared nurse. RNFA ResourcesAssociations
ANA supports RNFA role
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