OR Register Nurse - First Assist
Location: Happy Valley, OR 97015 / Oregon City, OR 97045
Work Schedule: Monday Saturday, 6:45 AM 5:15 PM
The OR Registered Nurse First Assist (RNFA) provides advanced nursing and surgical assistance during the intra-operative phase of surgical care for the Northwest Surgical Services region. The RNFA works collaboratively with surgeons and the healthcare team to assess, plan, direct, provide, and evaluate advanced nursing care throughout surgical procedures.
RNFAs participate in a regional on-call rotation to provide surgical assistance for elective, emergent, and urgent surgical cases.
Key Responsibilities
Perform pre-operative assessment and evaluation and collaborate with the surgical team on the plan of care.
Provide technical assistance to surgeons during operative procedures in accordance with AORN standards, Oregon regulations, licensure, and facility protocols.
Assist with surgical exposure, tissue handling, instrumentation, hemostasis, clamping, cutting, ligating, and suturing as directed by the surgeon.
Function as a surgical assistant across specialties under the direction of the attending surgeon.
Assist with OR room preparation, instrumentation, equipment, ESU, lighting, suction, and sterile-field setup.
Assist with patient transportation, positioning, preparation, draping, and transfer to the operating table.
Provide assistance to anesthesia during induction and participate in pre-operative briefing/time-out processes.
Monitor free-counted items and observe for breaks in sterile technique, taking appropriate action when necessary.
Assist with surgical instrumentation and equipment as requested.
Apply dressings and secure drainage tubes.
Assist with post-operative patient transfer, positioning, room teardown, and turnover.
Review charts for pertinent patient information and communicate effectively with patients, families, and healthcare staff.
Maintain continuity of care through continuous patient reassessment during the intra-operative period.
Support patient education as designated by facility protocols.
Maintain a safe, efficient, and culturally sensitive surgical environment.
Participate in regional on-call coverage for elective, emergent, and urgent surgical cases.
Experience
Minimum 2 years of peri-operative scrubbing and circulating experience in a Kaiser Permanente OR, OR
Minimum 1 year of RNFA experience in or outside of Kaiser Permanente.
Education
Certification of completion from an AORN-recognized RNFA course.
Successful completion of an RNFA program meeting AORN Recommended Education Standards for RN First Assistants and criteria for the CB.PMN acceptance program.
License & Certifications
Active Oregon Registered Nurse (RN) License.
Nurse Operating Room Certificate.
Basic Life Support (BLS).
Meets all qualifications of an RNFA as outlined in the AORN Position Statement.
Must maintain CNOR and RN licensure with required continuing education.
Preferred Qualifications
Minimum 2 years of practice as an RNFA.
CRNFA certification preferred.
ACLS upon hire/transfer preferred.
