OR Register Nurse - First Assist, Clackamas

POSITION: OR Registered Nurse - First Assist
LOCATION: Happy Valley, OR
WORK TYPE: Onsite
SALARY: $62.40 - $88.11/hr
TYPE: Permanent
CATEGORY: Healthcare
EMPLOYEE STATUS: Regular
JOB LEVEL: Individual Contributor

JOB SUMMARY:
Provides assistance to the surgical team during the intra-operative phase of surgical care for the Northwest Surgical Services region. Works in collaboration with the surgeon and health care team in the performance of surgical procedures, including assessment, planning, directing, providing and evaluating advanced nursing care. All RNFAs will participate in a regional on-call rotation to provide surgical assistance for elective, emergent and urgent surgical cases.

ESSENTIAL RESPONSIBILITIES:

Pre-Operative:
• Performs pre-operative assessment and evaluation
• Collaborates with the surgical team on plan of care
• Reviews chart for pertinent data
• Assists in patient transport to the operating room
• Provides assistance to Anesthesia during induction
• Participates in pre-op briefing time out process
• Assists in patient positioning
• Assists in patient preparation (prepping, catheterization, shaving as necessary)
• Assists in patient draping
• May perform pre-operative patient education as designated

Intra-Operative:
• Provides knowledge-based technical assistance to the surgeon during the operative procedure according to AORN standards, licensure, state regulation and facility/practice protocols
• Functions as an assistant in all surgical specialties at the direction of the attending surgeon
• Handles instruments and medical devices
• Provides surgical exposure
• Handles and/or cuts tissue
• Provides hemostasis, clamps, cuts, and ligates tissue as directed by the surgeon
• Sutures as directed by the surgeon
• Demonstrates RNFA-specific clinical skills
• Assists with room preparation in collaboration with the Circulating Nurse and scrub person
• Brings patient X-rays into room; notifies Charge Nurse or designee if films are not available
• Assists in patient transfer to the operating room table
• Sets up ESU, lights, suction for the sterile field
• Monitors free counted items on the sterile field
• Observes for breaks in sterile technique and takes appropriate action as necessary
• Assists with instrumentation and equipment as requested
• Provides continuous reassessment through the intra-operative period

Post-Operative:
• Evaluates the patient post-operatively according to facility protocols
• Applies dressings and secures drainage tubes
• Assists with patient transfer and positioning post-operatively
• Assists with room tear down and turn over in collaboration with the Circulating Nurse and scrub person
• May perform post-operative patient education as designated

Professional Standards:
• Performs RNFA responsibilities in accordance with the Nurse Practice Act of the State of Oregon, institutional policies and procedures of a leading Healthcare organization, and the AORN Position Statement on RN First Assistants
• Practices within limitations of preparation and experience
• Reviews and updates skills checklist on an ongoing basis as specified by facility policies
• Communicates information so that continuity of care is maintained
• Communicates with patient, family and other staff in a professional and courteous manner
• Obtains and demonstrates the skills and knowledge needed to provide appropriate population-based and culturally sensitive care to patients and families through education, training and experience
• Utilizes knowledge of type of procedure to plan for appropriate set up
• Assists in maintaining a safe environment and promoting efficiency in surgical procedures

BASIC QUALIFICATIONS:

Experience:
• Minimum two (2) years of peri-operative scrubbing and circulating experience in an operating room, OR minimum one (1) year of experience as an RNFA in or outside of a healthcare organization

Education:
• Certification of Completion from AORN-recognized RNFA course
• Successful completion of an RNFA program that meets the AORN Recommended Education Standards for RNFA and criteria for CB.PMN acceptance program

License, Certification, Registration:
• Registered Nurse License (Oregon)
• Nurse Operating Room Certificate
• Basic Life Support certification
• Must maintain CNOR and RN licensure with the required amount of Continuing Education
• Meets all qualifications of an RNFA as outlined in AORN Position Statement

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:
• Minimum two (2) years of practice as an RNFA
• CRNFA certification
• Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) certification upon hire/transfer

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SCREENING QUESTIONS:
1. Can you describe your experience with peri-operative scrubbing and circulating? How many years of experience do you have in these roles?
2. Do you hold current Oregon Registered Nurse licensure and a Nurse Operating Room (CNOR) Certificate? What is the status of your continuing education requirements?
3. Have you completed an AORN-recognized RNFA course and successfully completed an RNFA program that meets AORN Recommended Education Standards? Please describe your RNFA training and certification.
4. Do you currently hold CRNFA certification, or have you worked as an RNFA? If so, for how long and in what settings?
5. Do you hold Basic Life Support certification and Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) certification? Are both current?
6. Describe your experience assisting surgeons in various surgical specialties, including your ability to handle tissue, provide exposure, clamp, cut, ligate, and suture as directed by the surgeon.
7. Are you able to participate in a regional on-call rotation to provide surgical assistance for elective, emergent and urgent surgical cases?