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Health Care Industry

Marketing the RN First Assistant Role

AORN Journal, August, 2000 by Timothy Homan, Althea Dunscombe

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Experience and education. Two years of OR nursing and obtaining CNOR certification provides an extensive knowledge base for the surgical specialty in which a nurse works. Nurses who have achieved these requirements are ready to continue the education process necessary to assume the RNFA role. Completing a program approved by the Certification Board Perioperative Nursing that consists of didactic and supervised clinical learning experience with continued work in the field as an RNFA and meeting all additional requirements allows nurses to sit for the certification examination for a certified RNFA. Because of ongoing changes in health care, astute RNFAs will continue their education. Advanced education provides added value to an individual's services and improves marketability. The clinical nurse specialist or advanced practice nurse roles result in greater autonomy and more variety in the services that can be provided.

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The job description. In addition to budgetary and credentialing concerns, nursing administrators are concerned about job descriptions and continued competence, ability, and judgment. Individuals can help nursing administrators by collaborating on an appropriate job description and evaluation process. Sometimes, the lack of information and time make this process overwhelming to nursing administrators, and they are unwilling to take on the task. Providing a working example with supporting documentation for the RNFA position can help. If nursing administrators believe this is workable, they will support the RNFA position with hospital administrators.

The limits within which nurses in an expanded role may function are described in job descriptions for each clinical and surgical role. When an advanced nurse practitioner is functioning in the RNFA role, a written, mutually agreed-upon framework, known as treatment protocols, is developed for the provision of joint care. This framework and a job description delineate the nurse's realm and boundaries. A job description (Table 2) lists the basic functions, the minimum education and experience qualifications, any special characteristics, and a description of the work.

Table 2

RN FIRST ASSISTANT JOB DESCRIPTION

Minimum qualifications

* Graduate of an accredited school of nursing with current licensure in the state.

* CNOR certification.

* Graduate of an RNFA program accepted by the Certification Board Perioperative Nursing.

* Basic certified life support or advanced certified life support (preferred).

* Clinical nurse specialist and advanced nurse practitioner roles require a master of science in nursing degree and appropriate certification.

* RNFAs are encouraged to sit for the CRNFA examination once they have met requirements for that examination.

Basic intraoperative functions

Assists surgeons or senior residents, working interdependently and under their direction. Functions include, but are not limited to,

* preoperative skin preparation,

* positioning the patient,

* draping the patient,

Health Care Industry

Marketing the RN First Assistant Role

AORN Journal, August, 2000 by Timothy Homan, Althea Dunscombe

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