SRMC Has an Exciting Opportunity for Qualified Candidates!

Position: Full Time RNFA or CST-FA

Department: Surgery

Shift: 1.0 FTE, Shift Varies

‍PURPOSE

The decision by an RN to practice as a first assistant must be voluntary and deliberate with an understanding of the professional accountability that the role entails. 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.

According to the policy of the Department of Surgery bylaws and perioperative policy, the selection of a qualified assistant for a surgical procedure will be at the discretion of the operating surgeon.

In addition to other intra-operative nursing practice, those unique to the RNFA may include:

1. Anticipate the needs of the surgeon
2. Handle tissue
3. Provide exposure by suctioning, sponging, and retracting
4. Assist with positioning and draping the patient
5. Proper use of surgical instruments and medical devices
6. Suture subcutaneous and/or skin tissues
7. Provide hemostasis by applying hemostatic clamps and/or agents and ligating blood vessels

Those practices may not include:

1. Making the incision
2. Cutting intact tissue
3. Harvesting veins and other tissue
4. Excising organs
5. Independently closing the wound

The RNFA will be utilized in the on-call rotation after completing 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 not performing in the assistant role, which may include circulating, scrub, or PACU, depending on department need.

The Surgery LPN, OR/RR Certified Surgical Technician, or the Certified Surgical Technician-First Assistant, under the direction of the Director of Perioperative Services or his/her designee and the supervision of the surgeon, scrubs on operative procedures.  Performs tasks related to patient care as assigned to non-professional staff under the direct supervision of the RN.  With guidance, these individuals are responsible for the care and safety of the infant, pediatric, adolescent, adult, and geriatric patient population.  This position may also require the employee to perform related duties and activities as assigned by Supervision.

QUALIFICATIONS

RNFA

• Graduate of an accredited program of professional nursing, and must possess a current license as a Registered Nurse from the Ohio Board of Nursing.
• Employee of Salem Regional Medical Center Perioperative Services Department.
• Must have current certification in Basic Cardiac Life Support and Advanced Cardiac Life Support.
• Can demonstrate knowledge regarding the nursing process and its application by current work experience in health care.
• Successful completion of a Registered Nurse First Assistant course approved by an Ohio Board of Nursing provider.
• Must have experience for at least 24 months in the practice of perioperative nursing, which includes demonstrated proficiency in perioperative nursing practice as both a scrub and circulating nurse.
• Demonstrated knowledge of anatomy, physiology, and operative techniques related to specific operative procedures in which the Registered Nurse assists.
• Meets requirements of statutes and regulations, and follows Salem Regional Medical Center and Perioperative Services Department policies/procedures.
• Demonstrated ability to perform effectively in stressful and emergency situations.
• Demonstrated ability to recognize safety hazards in the perioperative environment and initiate appropriate preventive and corrective action.
• Demonstrated ability to apply the skills unique to the RNFA.
• Demonstrated knowledge and skill in applying principles of asepsis and infection control.

• Achieved and maintained current certification in perioperative nursing practice as a Certified Nurse of the Operating Room (CNOR) title from the Competency and Credentialing Institute (CCI).

CST-FA

• High School/GED required.   Graduate from an accredited Surgical Technologist school or Licensed Practice Nursing Program.
• Must be currently certified in Basic Cardiac Life Support and maintain currency of certification.
• Must have the manual dexterity to perform the functions of scrubbing and suturing, the strength and endurance to retract and assist the surgeon.
• Work experience as a Surgical Technician required with a minimum of 1 year of recent work experience.
• Demonstrates knowledge of anatomy, physiology, and operative techniques related to specific operative procedures.
• Certification required within six months of hire.

BENEFITS

· Competitive wages

· Medical/prescription insurance

· Dental insurance

· Vision insurance

· Accident and critical insurance

· Employer paid life insurance

· 403 (b) retirement with employer matching

· Extra weekend/weekday bonuses

· Tuition reimbursement

· Continuing education reimbursement

· Cafeteria discounts

· Employee Assistance Program

· Shift differential