Registered Nurse First Assistant (RNFA)

Prerequisites for NUR 250  

• Active RN license
• Certified Nurse Operating Room (CNOR), official verification of certification required prior to registering for NUR 252*
• Basic Cardiac Life Support (BCLS) required, Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) recommended
• Letters of perioperative proficiency from nurse manager, educator or surgeon employer
• Individual Malpractice Insurance 
• Immunization validation (MMRV and HBV) and current PPD
• Application deadline for the fall 2013 class is August 1, 2013. Classes begin August 26, 2013.  Applications are available online^PDF and in FLRS 306.

*If you are a nurse practitioner:
Board certified or board eligible advanced practice registered nurse with intraoperative patient care experience must undergo an assessment of clinical skills and knowledge by a perioperative educator. Assessment should include aseptic technique scrubbing, gowning, gloving, creating and maintaining a sterile field and positioning the patient. A complete skills assessment form from the perioperative educator verifying competency in the assessed skills is required.

OR

Board certified or board eligible advanced practice registered nurse without intraoperative patient care experience should complete the basic perioperative orientation course offered by the AORN (Periop 101: A core curriculum). Official verification of successful completion of this course must be submitted prior to registering for NUR 250.

 Program Guidelines

• Maryland Board of Nursing declaratory ruling 94-3, Role of the Registered Nurse in the Expanded Role: Surgical First Assistant
• Association of Operating Room Nurses, Core Curriculum for RNFAs

Program Approval

• This program is approved by the Certification Board of Perioperative Nursing

Objectives

At the completion of the didactic and clinical phases the student will be able to:

• Describe factors influencing the scope of practice for the RNFA
• Discuss how the nursing process applies to RNFA practice activities
• Apply advanced principles of asepsis and infection control
• Identify anatomical landmarks and physiologic considerations in surgical procedures
• Define first assistant activities in relation to surgical technique
• Develop effective communication skills
• Demonstrate the ability to build a collaborative relationship with physicians and other members of the health care team
• Identify concepts of adult teaching and learning as applicable to patient population
• Use the nursing process to plan perioperative care
• Use assessment finding to manage care of the patient during surgical intervention
• Develop a pain management plan based on individual patient assessment
• Demonstrate proficiency in tissue handling, hemostasis, tissue retraction and suturing
• Outline a plan for implementing RNFA role in a practice setting