Updated: Apr 12, 2024
Location: Placentia
Job Type:
Department: Surgery-PLA
POSITION TITLE: Registered Nurse First Assistant DEPARTMENT: SURGERY
REPORTS TO: Director of Perioperative Services
1. JOB SUMMARY
The Registered Nurse First Assistant (RNFA) under the supervisor of the Director of Surgical Services/ RN Charge Nurse and Surgeon. The RNFA is a periopertive nurse who may function as an assistant to the surgeon in the operating room during surgical procedures. The RNFA performs assistant behaviors to the primary surgeon in the pre-operative, intra-operative, and post-operative period according to standardized hospital policies. S/he provides leadership by working cooperatively with ancillary, nursing, and other patient team personal in maintaining standards for professional nursing practice in surgical setting. In addition to the assisting, responsibilities may include circulating, scrubbing, and other duties. Care is provided to pediatric through geriatric patient populations; acts in the absence of a qualified physician.
II. TECHNICAL SKILLS/JOB SPECIFIC SKILLS/ ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS*
TELEPHONE SKILLS - Demonstrates hospital telephone etiquette by answering the phones promptly, courteously and identifying department and self.
POLICIES/PROCEDURES- Adheres to hospital and department policies and procedures. Demonstrates knowledge and skills to safely and TEAM WORK- Promotes positive co-worker relationships through team work and cooperation. Understands and supports the needs of individuals in other departments and promotes conflict resolution. Shares information, work knowledge and experience with coworkers, physicians and students in a non-threatening manner. Offers assistance and promptly responds to requests.
PRODUCTIVITY -Maintains high productivity and performs efficiently regardless of whether the work volume is high or low. Appropriately prioritizes work activities. Responds to difficult situations with self-control and a positive attitude. Makes decisions independently and knows when to ask for assistance. Exercises good judgment and arrives at sound decisions. Works in a thorough and organized manner while minimizing down time.
Documentation is accurate, complete and legible.
Accountable for keeping self informed of hospital and departmental communication (i.e. checks emails, attend staff meetings, read communication book etc...
Performs and participates in act ivies to achieve Quality goals and to continuously improve Quality performance
Speaks positively about the hospital and co-workers
Oversees patient care tasks to ancillary personnel based on individual competency and scope of practice
Ensures patient safety by assessing and proactively implementing safety measures with specific consideration of patient's functional and developmental age
Ensure that the operation and nursing care follows Medical Center and departmental policies and standards. Keep Manager/ Director informed when difficulties and/or unusual occurrences occur. Provide for allotted meal and break periods for staff
Demonstrate the ability to organize workload, set priorities and use time efficiently to complete work in a manner
Participates in hospital and department meetings as requested.
Collaborates with Purchasing, Materials Management and Biomedical Engineering departments regarding the acquisition, maintenance, repair and tracking of equipment, instruments and supplies
Assists the Director in the maintenance of accurate, current equipment inventory in collaboration with Materials Management.
Demonstrate skill in the use of equipment, including capabilities, limitations, and appropriate/special applications
Assists with positioning, prepping, and draping of the patient. May perform these actions independently, if directed by surgeon
Maintains manual controlled retractors in position set by the surgeon. Anticipates retraction needs with knowledge of surgeon's preferences and anatomical structure
Assist the surgeon during specific procedures. Perform other functions during surgery
Perform procedures in the first assistant role under the direct supervision of the surgeon
Assist with closure of fascia, subcutaneous, and skin. May perform these actions independently, as directed by the surgeon, and assists
Applies electrocautery tip to clamp or vessels in a safe and knowledgeable manner, as directed by surgeon. Sponges and utilizes suction technique to remove fluid from operative site.
Utilizes surgical instruments to clamp bleeding vessels, as directed by surgeon
Maintains knowledge of basic knot tying techniques to include two-handed ties, one-handed ties, and instrument ties
Performs closure of layers by correctly approximating the layers, which provide access to the operative site, and approximating edges when utilizing skin stapler and sutures
Performs intra-operative tissue manipulation by using surgical instruments and suture material: exposing and retracting tissue; o and severing tissue; grasping and fixating tissue screws, staples, and other devices; drilling, reaming, and modifying tissue Assisting the surgeon at the completion of the procedure by affixing and stabilizing all drains; cleaning the wound and applying assisting with the application of cast, splints, and special dressings, and abduction
Demonstrate critical thinking and the ability to provide care in emergency situation and follows established emergency practices Administer medication as directed by surgeon
Remove suture and/or skin staples/clips during intra-operative phase
Maintains and develop preference cards
Contributes to the professional growth of peers, colleagues, students, and other members of the health care team.
