Covenant Health

Registered Nurse First Assistant, Surgery

Full Time, 80 Hours Per Pay Period, Day Shift

Fort Sanders Regional Overview:

Fort Sanders Regional Medical Center is a 444-bed hospital recognized for pairing clinical expertise with advanced medical technology to deliver exceptional care. As a Joint Commission Comprehensive Stroke Center, we provide leading-edge treatment for stroke recovery. Our facility also offers specialized services in bariatric surgery, robotic surgery, minimally invasive spine procedures, and advanced orthopedic care.

Fort Sanders Regional is part of Covenant Health, East Tennessee’s largest nonprofit health system and a Becker’s “Top 150 Places to Work in Healthcare.” Covenant Health includes nine hospitals and nearly 150 service locations, offering employees a comprehensive benefits package with tuition reimbursement, student loan assistance, certification bonuses, and leadership development programs.

Position Summary:

The RN First Assistant I (RNFA) is a registered nurse with specialized education. The development of specific technical skills enables the RNFA to assist the surgeon with specific intraoperative procedures that are beyond the scope of practice for registered nurses without RNFA education and training. The RNFA may provide direct patient care to patients using the nursing process and intraoperatively functions interdependently with the surgeon and applies knowledge, skill and judgment necessary to assist the surgeon in performing a safe operation that yields optimal results for the patient.

• Collaborates with other health team members to develop, coordinate and implement a perioperative plan of care unique to individual patient needs.
• Maintains the dignity of the patient while assuming the responsibility of patient advocate.
• Skillfully applies principles of asepsis and infection control.
• Has excellent knowledge of surgical anatomy, physiology and operative technique specific to the surgical procedure to work in collaboration with the surgeon.
• Recognizes safety hazards and initiates appropriate preventative and/or corrective actions to ensure a safe environment for the patient and the surgical team throughout the perioperative experience.
• Participates in the performance of positioning, prepping and draping of the patient.
• Preparation and administration of medications perioperatively; as directed by the surgeon and anesthesiologist.
• Provides exposure through appropriate use of instruments, retractors, suctioning and sponging techniques.
• Handles and dissects tissue in collaboration with the surgeon.
• Clamping blood vessels, coagulating bleeding points, ligating vessels and other procedures in collaboration with the surgeon to achieve hemostasis.
• Sutures muscle, fascia, subcutaneous and skin tissue in collaboration with the surgeon.
• Places drains as surgically indicated.
• Application of surgical dressings.
• Possesses knowledge of and works within appropriate regulatory guidelines and legal constraints.
• Practices according to recognized standards of nursing practice and the AORN “Standards of perioperative professional performance.”
• Participates in the orientation of new personnel; serve as educator, mentor, consultant and resource to colleagues and other healthcare personnel.
• Responsible for following through specific work projects or studies assigned by supervisor.
• Analyze and evaluate services rendered to improve quality of patient care given.
• Follows policies, procedures, and safety standards. Completes required education assignments annually. Works toward achieving goals and objectives, and participates in quality improvement initiatives as requested.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

Minimum Education:           

None specified; however, must be sufficient to meet the standards for achievement of the below indicated license and/or certification as required by the issuing authority. Also must have completed a recognized RNFA certification program.

Minimum Experience:         

Five (5) year’s perioperative nursing experience. A Thousand (1,000) hours Surgeon supervised clinical practice in First Assistant Role.

Licensure Requirement:      

Must hold current RN license and current RNFA license. CPR and CNOR certifications are required.