Job Description

This position is responsible for functioning as an advanced practice Registered Nurse First Assistant (RNFA) within perioperative services, providing expert intraoperative surgical assistance and contributing across the perioperative continuum of care.

The role is responsible for functioning as a first assistant to the surgeon during surgical incision, excision, repair of pathology, and wound closure throughout the perioperative period for procedures within granted privileges. This position requires advanced clinical judgement, technical expertise, and accountability in supporting complex surgical procedures while working collaboratively with surgeons and the multidisciplinary team.

The RNFA demonstrates a high level of autonomy in the intraoperative environment and contributes to pre-operative assessment, intraoperative management, and post-operative patient care. The role also provides general and specialized direct and indirect patient care through evidence-based nursing practice for surgical patients of all ages.

This role aligns with international advanced practice surgical assisting roles, including Certified RN First Assistant (USA) and Surgical Care Practitioner (UK).

PRIMARY JOB DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Promotes the mission, vision, and values of the organization.
• Provides advanced, competent and ethical care within legal and professional standards of practice as applicable to the RNFA role.
• Participates and contributes to preoperative assessment and planning for selected surgical patients, applying advanced clinical judgement in collaboration with the perioperative team.
• Recognizing safety hazards and initiating appropriate preventative and corrective actions;
• Provides optimal surgical exposure through advanced use of instruments, retractors, suctioning, and sponging techniques.
• Performs tissue handling and dissection in collaboration with the surgeon, applying knowledge of anatomy and surgical principles.
• Assists with hemostasis, including clamping, ligating and coagulating vessels, and performs additional procedures within scope of practice in collaboration with the surgeon.
• Performs wound closure, including suturing muscle, fascia, subcutaneous tissue, and skin.
• Placing drains as surgically indicated.
• Assisting with cannulation and decannulation procedures, if indicated.
• Contributes to postoperative patient management and continuity of care in collaboration with the interdisciplinary team.
• Serves as an educator, mentor, consultant, and expert resource to colleagues and other health care professionals in relation to RNFA activities.
• Functions as a senior clinical resource within the perioperative team and enhances multidisciplinary collaboration and team performance.
• Maintains regulatory, licensure, credentialing, and privileging requirements relevant to advanced RNFA practice.
• Completes and maintains RNFA-specific competencies.
• Pursues ongoing professional growth related to both perioperative nursing and RNFA practice and participates in a professional organization.
• Acts as a patient advocate and maintains privacy and confidentiality of all appropriate information.
• Responsible for completing charge capture education and in-service training for their Institute within CCAD. When charges are not captured automatically the nurse will complete within Epic in real time, Perioperative Services within 24 business hours

QUALIFICATION & EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS

• Fulfill the requirements of Registered Nurse
• Bachelor’s degree in Nursing or equivalent qualification (minimum three (3) year curriculum) in Nursing from an accredited program is required
• Certified RN First Assistant (CRNFA) certification or international equivalent is required:

-Surgical Care Practitioner (SCP) qualification (United Kingdom)

-Advanced Practice Registered Nurse in perioperative services with postgraduate education

and demonstrated extended scope in surgical assisting (Australia)

-Registered Nurse First Surgical Assistant (RNFSA) practicing at advanced level with

postgraduate qualification and validated extended scope (New Zealand)

All equivalencies must be supported by formal education, documented clinical competency and organizational credentialing.

• Valid and current national license is required
• Basic Life Support (BLS) certification is required
• Expert knowledge of surgical anatomy, physiology, and operative technique
• Minimum two (2) years perioperative services experience as a Registered Nurse First Assistant or equivalent in appropriate setting is required. Caregivers who have successfully completed the RNFA training program through CCAD are exempt from this requirement, provided they have a minimum of two (2) years of perioperative Registered Nurse experience.

Preferred

• Master of Science – Surgical Care Practitioner
• Certified Nurse, Operating Room (CNOR) certification
• Certified RN First Assistant (CRNFA) certification