RN - Registered Nursing First Assist

RN First Assist
Provides direct patient care perioperatively. Uses nursing process as foundation for practice when performing preoperative nursing assessments, intraoperative care, and postoperative evaluation of care delivered to surgical patient. Demonstrates proficiency in perioperative nursing practice and able to perform as scrub, circulator, and first or second assistant roles. Assists surgeon with procedure by carrying out assisting functions that will aide surgeon in assuring outcomes for surgical patient under the direction and supervision of surgeon.
Essential Responsibilities:
Demonstrates proficiency in perioperative nursing practice and able to perform as scrub or circulator preoperatively, intraoperatively, and postoperatively using nursing diagnosis and nursing process to provide care.
Provides individualized nursing care planning on ongoing basis. Evaluates outcomes, and adjusts plan according to patient needs.
Supervises and coordinates activities of other team members and ancillary staff as appropriate.
Participates in education and training of others by acting as teacher, coach and/or preceptor. Participates in peer evaluation process.
Collaborates with health care team (anesthesia, surgeon, scrub and circulating personnel) to assure continuity of care. Plans regimes perioperatively that will provide patient with optional surgical outcome.
Documents nursing process and care activities by using departmental flow sheets/forms, etc.
Demonstrates knowledge and skill in applying principles of asepsis and infection control. Understands principles of wound healing and wound classification system.
Demonstrates ability to recognize safety hazards associated with patients and/or staff and initiates, as appropriate, preventive or corrective actions. Documents all patients care incidents or adverse occurrences, and reports such to supervisory staff.
Participates in department quality assurance monitoring and care evaluation.
Demonstrates technical expertise in use of supplies, equipment and instrumentation required for care delivery.
Participates in inpatient teaching and discharge planning as appropriate.
Practices in compliance with Hawaii Nurse Practice Act, Association of Perioperative Registered Nurse (AORN) standards of practice/position statements, and all organizational, departmental policies, procedures and protocols.
Performs efficiently and effectively in emergency patient care or unit situations.
Demonstrates ability to perform effectively and harmoniously as member of operative team.
Uses interpersonal and communication skills to problem solve, resolve conflicts promote effective interpersonal relationships.
Demonstrates knowledge of surgical anatomy, physiology, operative technique, and knowledge of sequence of events related to specific operative procedures for which RNFA assists.
Provides intraoperative care to surgical patient by demonstrating skill in tissue handling, providing appropriate exposure, using instrumentation skillfully, suturing techniques and assisting with hemostasis.
Assists with operative site verification, patient positioning, skin preparation, and draping procedures.
Demonstrates manual dexterity. Provides hemostasis by use of surgical clips, electrocautery, clamping vessels and tying vessels and suctioning surgical field.
Provides exposure for surgeon by maintaining dry operative field, retracting tissue. Uses retractors and instrumentation with awareness of tissue friability.
Demonstrates ability to close surgical wound, at the direction and supervision of surgeon, by layer (fascia, subcutaneous, and skin tissues) and provides appropriate tissue approximation.
Continues to develop cognitive and psychomotor skills necessary to perform in role of first and second assistant.
Functions within scope of practice of RN First Assist according to legislative, AORN standards of practice/position statements, organizational and departmental standards.
Selects appropriate suture/needle/tie according to tissue or vessel type and surgeon preference. Suturing techniques are efficient and effective.
Assists with surgical site verification, patient positioning, skin preparation and draping procedures.
Handles tissue appropriately to prevent potential injury.
Participates in follow-up care and evaluation of patient condition as appropriate.
Provides retraction by observing operative field at all times, maneuvers instrumentation and surgical field to assure surgeons view.
Provides hemostatis by use of electrocautery, clamping vessels and suctioning surgical field as directed by surgeon. Demonstrates ability to use hemoclips/ligaclips on vessels as directed.
Possesses knowledge of suture types, and basic suturing and knot tying techniques.
Assists with completion of procedure by stabilizing drains, cleaning wound, and applying dressings. Assists with cast application, splints and other immobilization devices as appropriate.
Functions when required as second assistant by holding retractors, providing exposure, and suctioning.
Applies dressings to wounds.
Uses instruments and medical devices at the direction of the surgeon.
Basic Qualifications:
~ Three (3) years experience as a perioperative nurse in scrub and circulating roles.

Education:
Graduate of an accredited school of nursing.
Graduate of an RNFA program that meets the AORN recommended education standards for RNFA programs meeting Competency & Credentialing Institutes criteria of program acceptability.
License, Certification, Registration:
Registered Nurse License (Hawaii)
Nurse Operating Room Certificate
Basic Life Support from American Heart Association
Additional Requirements:
Demonstrated ability to scrub proficiently in two to three surgical services.
Demonstrated ability to function in First Assisting role.
Demonstrated knowledge of and skill in adaptability, change management, interpersonal relations, oral communication, quality management, and teamwork.
Kaiser Permanente