Registered Nurse-First Assist; RNFA FTE

Position: Registered Nurse-First Assist (RNFA) FTE 1.0
** FTE/Scheduled Weekly

Hours:

** 1.00 / 40 / 1st Shift (United States of America)
The WHC Surgery Department is looking for a well-rounded OR nurse to join our team. The candidate will need to be able to scrub as well as circulate surgical cases. Operating hours are Monday - Friday with rotating night, weekend, and holiday call. Flexibility with reporting hours in am and pm to accommodate any early or late surgeries
** PRIMARY FUNCTIONS
** 1.
The Registered Nurse First Assistant (RNFA) is a Registered Nurse who works in collaboration with the surgeon and other health care team members to achieve optimal patient outcomes.
2.
Has the necessary knowledge, judgment, and skills specific to the expanded role of RNFA clinical practice.
3.
Intraoperatively practices at the direction of the surgeon.  4.
Does not function as the scrub person or circulator while practicing as the RNFA.
5.
In keeping with Chapter 6 of the Iowa Nursing Practice Act for Registered Nurses, the ANA Scope and Standards of Practice for Nursing and the ANA Code of Ethics for Nursing, the professional nurse assumes  responsibility and accountability for the delivery of nursing care at Waverly Health Center. The Registered  Nurse is responsible for assessing, delegating, and coordinating nursing care based on the patient’s problem  and needs, by initiating the nursing process in the everyday practice of nursing.
6.
Utilizes substantial specialized judgment and skill in providing direct and indirect patient care, observation,  and counsel to patients and family and accepts responsibility for the total nursing care of assigned patients.  7.
Communicates with providers, manager, and/or other healthcare team members about changes in patients’  clinical condition, including results of diagnostic studies and symptomatology.  8.
Assists with the clinical development of other nursing department staff members by serving as both mentor and consultant.
** ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
** 1.
Preoperatively performs a focused nursing assessment in reference to planned procedure.  
• Intraoperatively assesses the patient, wound, and sterile field.  2.
Monitors and assesses patient’s postoperative status to determine progress toward expected outcomes or signs and symptoms of postoperative complications.  3.
Formulates and modifies nursing diagnoses based on relevant patient data throughout the perioperative continuum as applicable to RNFA interventions.  4.
Establishes individualized outcomes in collaboration with the patient, designated support person or health care providers based on the identified nursing diagnoses and applicable to RNFA interventions.

• Analyzes and modifies postoperative patient outcomes compared to baseline nursing assessment.
5.
Selects, analyzes, and interprets relevant data to develop a plan of care based on the nursing process that meets individual patient needs, is age specific, and reflects professionally recognized standards of care.
6.
Applies nursing knowledge as the basis for effective problem solving and decision making when providing perioperative patient care.

• Coordinates and manages patient care throughout the perioperative continuum consistent with RNFA practice.  7.
Functions as first assistant to the primary surgeon during operative or other invasive procedures and throughout the perioperative continuum in accordance with scope of practice, credentials, privileges, education, and experience.

• Uses surgical instruments and equipment safely and correctly.

• Verifies operative procedure, surgical site, and laterality following organizational policy and Universal Protocol.  
• Plans care to minimize wasted supplies and reduce the length of the operative or other invasive procedure.

• Participates in positioning the patient in collaboration with the surgeon, anesthesia professional, and other members of the perioperative team.

• Applies safe tissue handling, dissection, or cutting techniques based on the assessment of tissue location, type, and patient’s health status.

• Performs specialized tissue handling, dissection, or cutting techniques under the direction of the operating surgeon.

• Minimizes the length of the operative or…