First Assistant Program    

Registered Nurse First Assistant (RNFA)
The RNFA has gone through additional extensive education and training to deliver surgical care.                 The RNFA directly assists the surgeon by controlling bleeding, using instruments/medical devices, handling and cutting tissue, and suturing during the procedure. The RNFA may also be involved with patient care before and after surgery.
  • RNFA Program - Advanced Technical Certificate beginning Spring 2008. NUR2790 RNFA Theory Course is offered completely online.  NUR2790 Lab/Clinical Course is offered online with an onsite one week lab training class during the summer (third week of June each year) followed by clinical externship in your area.

    1. Open Entry Open Exit from November to June Each Year:                                              Accepting Applications year round.                                                                                         Online Theory Course NUR2970 begins in January with NUR2970 L Lab/Clinical Externship beginning in  May.                                                                                               Lab Class June  8th - 13th, 2009 in Panama City for one week.

      Requirements for Application:

      1. General Admission Requirements for Gulf Coast Community College

      2. Proof of current active "unencumbered'" licensure as a registered nurse in the state in which the   clinical internship will be taken.

      3. Verification of certification as one of the following: CNOR or CNOR eligible or APN                                                        (see application packet for further information)

      4. CPR or BCLS current certification; ACLS preferred

      5. 2 letters of recommendation (see application packet)

      6. Prior to clinical component, must submit proof of current personal professional liability insurance for RNFA practice.

       

    2. Application Packet
    3. Registration for Class: Instructions and Syllabus
    4. Call 1-800-850-873-3551 for more information.

 

Information on RNFA

Scope of Practice Issues

  1. AORN Position Statement on the Role of the RNFA
  2. Competency and Credentialing Institute - Identified as an approved course.      

"The RNFA has graduated from a program that adheres to the AORN Standards for RNFA Education Programs, possesses the registered nurse first assistant certification, has completed 12 cases with a credentialed proctor, and has at least 2,000 hours of RNFA experience."

Credentialing as an RNFA in your local institution:                                                                                                                  Credentialing department personnel should consult with their state's Board of Nursing to determine if there is a                definition of the RNFA role or a description of accepted activities within the state's nursing scope of practice.                    The amount of detail in the state's nursing scope of practice varies from no definition to a very detailed definition.                              The California State Board of Nursing rules contain a detailed list of RNFA activities, but in contrast,                                          your state may be similar to Colorado and Delaware, which have no definitive scope of practice or list of activities                        for RNFAs. A third variation is to refer nurses to third-party definitions, as in the case of the advisory opinion from                         the South Carolina Board of Nursing, which states that the activities of the RNFA are defined by AORN's official             statement on RNFAs.

http://www.cc-institute.org/cert_crnf.aspx

 
 

                
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