Registered Nurse First Assist (RNFA)

The Registered Nurse First Assist (RNFA) is a Registered Nurse with specialized operating room and assisting training. Most often, the qualifications for a RNFA include a current RN license, national certification in peri-operative nursing (CNOR), and the completion of a nurse first assistant educational program approved by AORN.

Acceptance into the RNFA course requires the following: RN license in the state of practice, CNOR with 2 years peri-operative experience, proficiency in scrub and circulating role, basic knowledge of anatomy and physiology, and BCLS/ACLS certification.

The RNFA’s role encompasses the entire perioperative experience. The RNFA may be involved in the preoperative patient evaluation, assisting the surgeon intraoperatively, and carie of the patient in the early postoperative/recovery phase. This comprehensive involvement aids to improve operating room efficiency and patient safety in an effort to improve outcomes.

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Physician Assistant
Nurse Practitioner
Registered Nurse
Medical Assistant