Follow these steps to be RN first assistant
[Editor’s note: To help our readers, Same-Day Surgery is printing advice in the top 10 areas that receive the most questions at the Center for Nursing Practice, Research, and Health Policy at the Association of Operating Room Nurses (AORN) in Denver. The fifth topic, addressed in this month’s issue, focuses on RN first assistants.]
The RN first assistant (RNFA) role is recognized within the scope of nursing practice by the state nurse practice acts in all 50 states. Registered nurses who are interested in becoming RNFAs should contact their state board of nursing for rules and regulations defining RNFA behaviors in that state.
Next, RNs may read the AORN Official Statement on RN First Assistants.1 The statement gives an overview of AORN’s recommendations for the definition, scope of practice, qualifications, preparation, and establishment of clinical privileges for the RNFA.
RNFAs should have a diversified background in scrubbing and circulating and should have achieved perioperative nursing certification (CNOR). Additionally, RNFAs should complete a formal education program that meets the AORN Recommended Education Standards for RNFA Programs.2 A listing of RNFA program locations and admission requirements can be found in AORN’s Directory of Perioperative Nursing Courses.3
When you are ready to obtain clinical privileges at the facility in which you practice, seek out the medical staff rules and regulations for the RNFA role. Information on the requirements for CNOR and CRNFA examinations may be obtained by contacting the National Certification Board: Periop-erative Nursing Inc., 2170 S. Parker Road, Suite 295, Denver, CO 80231. Telephone: (303) 369-9566.
AORN’s RNFA Specialty Assembly provides useful resources and educational events to its members. For more information or to join the RNFA Specialty Assembly, contact AORN’s Center for Member Services, 2170 S. Parker Road, Suite 300, Denver, CO 80231-5711. Telephone: (800) 755-2676, ext. 1. Fax: (303) 750-3212.
These sources have more information on RNFAs:
• O’Neal M. Clinical Issues. AORN Journal 1994; 60:310-312 . (Note: The information on RNFAs provided here has been summarized from this Clinical Issues column.)
• Johnson CR, Craden MR, Wilson BM, et al. Clinical Issues. AORN Journal 1996; 63:782-787.
• Rothrock JC. The RN First Assistant: An Expanded Perioperative Nursing Role, 2nd ed. Philadelphia: JB Lippincott Co.; 1993.
• Association of Operating Room Nurses, Inc. Core Curriculum for the RN First Assistant. Denver: Association of Operating Room Nurses; 1994.
• The latest federal and state updates on reimbursement can be found in the legislation column of the June 1994 AORN Journal.
References
1. Association of Operating Room Nurses Inc. AORN official statement on RN first assistants. AORN Standards and Recommended Practices. Denver; 1996.
2. Association of Operating Room Nurses Inc. AORN recommended education standards for RNFA programs. AORN Standards and Recommended Practices. Denver; 1996.
3. Association of Operating Room Nurses Inc. Directory of Perioperative Nursing Courses. Denver; 1996.
[Reprinted with permission from AORN Online (http://www.aorn.org/), 1997. AORN Inc., 2170 S. Parker Road, Suite 300, Denver, CO 80231.]
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