Program Overview

Introduction to the Registered Nurse First Assistant Program

The Registered Nurse First Assistant (RNFA) program, presented by the University of South Florida College of Nursing, is designed to equip registered nurses with the knowledge and skills necessary to excel as first assistants in surgical settings. This program recognizes the crucial role of RNFAs in hospitals and aims to implement evidence-based clinical practices to improve health and wellness.

Program Structure

The RNFA program is structured into three phases:

• The first phase consists of online instruction.
• The second phase involves clinical skills check-offs.
• The third phase requires the completion of clinical hours at the participant's home institution.

Program Details

Accreditation Statement

The University of South Florida Health is accredited as a provider of nursing continuing professional development by the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Commission on Accreditation. A maximum of 50.5 contact hours may be earned by learners who successfully complete this nursing continuing professional development activity.

Prerequisites

Applicants must have the following:

• Current unencumbered Registered Nurse (RN) license: All applicants must be Registered Nurses with a minimum of 2 years of perioperative experience (preferably scrub and circulating experience) when the program starts.
• A minimum GPA of 3.0 on all coursework at the undergraduate level is required.
• All students must obtain a BSN before entering the program from an accredited institution.
• Certification of Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR): Basic Cardiac Life Support (BCLS), Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) (preferred)
• Verification of Certified Nurse Operating Room (CNOR) or Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN) with operating room (OR) experience (current or to be obtained before course completion)
• Two (2) letters of recommendation attesting to the applicant’s experience as an RN and the applicant’s knowledge, judgment, and skills specific to perioperative patient care.

Program Fee and Location

• The program fee is $6,500.00.
• The course is hybrid.

Target Audience

The program is designed for Registered Nurses and Advanced Practice Registered Nurses.

Learning Objectives

As a result of participating in this activity, the learner will be able to:

• Describe the phases of operative patient management.
• Demonstrate methods utilized as a surgical assistant.
• Discuss appropriate documentation that is required according to established protocols.
• Demonstrate the ability to apply knowledge to various situations.

Certification

Certification is not required to function under the Florida Nurse Practice Act as an RNFA. The program is completed within 1 year, which involves online classes and a yearly subscription to AORN.

Education

Completion of a program that meets the National Assisting at Surgery Certification (NASC) guidelines. The RNFA Program is officially recognized by NASC and listed among its acceptable RNFA programs for certification eligibility.

Program Curriculum

Didactic Curriculum

The didactic curriculum is a series of asynchronous online educational modules that students must complete before moving on to the clinical skills check-off phase. It covers topics such as the essentials of being a Registered Nurse First Assistant, communication in the perioperative team, various surgical techniques, preoperative evaluations, and specialized areas like orthopedics, neurology, cardiovascular care, and otolaryngology. Participants will earn 50.5 contact hours for the didactic curriculum.

Clinical Skills Check-off

The clinical skills check-off will be conducted near or at the end of the didactic semester. During this training, the student will be evaluated on the knowledge and skills necessary for safe practice, including sterile technique, positioning, and draping, using instruments and medical devices, providing exposure, handling, and cutting tissue, providing hemostasis, and suturing. Attendance for this component is not optional, and participants are required to attend this event. Failure to attend will result in dismissal from the program or a delay in graduation, as this event occurs once each year. Exceptions may be granted on an individual basis.

Clinical Training

During clinical training, participants will demonstrate advanced competence in providing a wide range of surgical-related procedures as first assistants. The clinical training competence of the program will require the maintenance of a portfolio. Participants will be required to maintain and eventually submit a surgical case portfolio as part of the clinical training section. The portfolio is a time-stamped procedure log that includes a description of the procedures performed by the participant. All procedures logged must be completed with the associated surgeon sponsor at approved clinical training sites across the Tampa Bay region.

Conclusion

The Registered Nurse First Assistant program at the University of South Florida College of Nursing is a comprehensive program designed to equip registered nurses with the knowledge, skills, and competencies necessary to excel as first assistants in surgical settings. With its structured curriculum, clinical training, and emphasis on evidence-based practice, this program aims to contribute to the advancement of healthcare by preparing skilled and knowledgeable RNFAs.