Partnerships & Innovation
Registered Nurse First Assistant (RNFA)
The USF Health College of Nursing collaborates with Tampa General Hospital to offer a Registered Nurse First Assistant (RNFA) Program. The purpose of this continuing education program is to enhance the perioperative nurse knowledge base and skills necessary to pursue the position as a Registered Nurse First Assistant (RNFA).
Those who enroll in the program will participate in this tri-phased program. This includes asynchronous education modules (didactic curriculum), an in-person simulation lab (simulation experience) and a hands-on practicum record of preceptor-supervised cases (clinical training).
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The didactic curriculum contains education modules that students will complete asynchronously containing a variety of engaging content. Participants must complete this phase in its entirety before proceeding to the next phase – the simulation experience. Participants will follow the plan of study below:
- Module I: Introduction to Registered Nurse First Assistant Essentials
- Module II: Communication as a Perioperative Team Member
- Module III: Surgical Techniques and Methods
- Module IV: Preoperative Evaluation of the Surgical Patient
- Module V: General Surgery
- Module VI: Minimally Invasive Surgery
- Module VII: Orthopedics - THAs
- Module VIII: Neurology, Head and Spine
- Module IX: Cardiovascular
- Module X: Otolaryngology
- Module XI: Management of the Perioperative Complications
You will earn 45 CEs for the didactic curriculum.
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The simulation experience will be conducted near or at the end of the didactic semester. During this training, the student will be evaluated on the knowledge and skills necessary for safe practice including sterile technique, positioning, and draping, using instruments and medical devices, providing exposure, handling, and cutting tissue, providing hemostasis, and suturing. Attendance at the simulation/cadaver course is not optional. Participants are required to attend this event. Failure to attend will result in dismissal from the program or a delay in graduation as this event occurs once each year. Exceptions may be granted on an individual basis.
Participants will earn 45 CEUs for the simulation experience.
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During clinical training, participants will demonstrate advanced competence in providing a wide range of surgical related procedures as first assistants. The clinical training competence of the program will require the maintenance of a portfolio via www.e-value.net. Participants will be required to maintain and eventually submit a surgical case portfolio as part of the clinical training section. The portfolio is a time-stamped procedure log. The procedure log will include a description of the procedures performed by the participant. All procedures logged must be supervised by a USF-affiliated preceptor at an approved clinical training site.
Participants will earn 45 CEUs for the clinical training.
Accreditation Statement
A maximum of 135 contact hours may be earned by learners who successfully complete this continuing nursing education activity.
USF Health is accredited as a provider of nursing continuing professional development by the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Commission on Accreditation.
Program Information
Prerequisites:
Applicants must have the following:
- A current unencumbered RN License: All applicants must be Registered Nurse with a minimum of one year of perioperative experience when the program starts.
- A minimum GPA of 3.0 on all coursework at the undergraduate level is required.
- All participants must obtain a BSN prior to entering the program from an accredited institution.
- Certification of CPR: BCLS, ACLS (preferred).
- Verification of CNOR or APRN-with OR experience (current or to be obtained before course completion).
- Two Letters of recommendation attesting to the applicant’s experience as an RN and the applicant’s knowledge, judgment and skills specific to perioperative patient care.
Fee: $6,500.00
Location: Hybrid course
Commercial Support:None
Target Audience
Registered Nurses and Advanced Practice Registered Nurses.
Learning Objectives
As a result of participating in this activity, the learner will be able to:
- Analyze and describe perioperative, intraoperative and postoperative patient management.
- Describe methods and demonstrate surgical assisting using instruments and medical devices, providing exposure, handling, and cutting tissue, providing hemostasis, and suturing.
- Interpret and explain written material, including writing postoperative orders and procedure notes according to established protocols.
- Synthesize information from written material and apply the knowledge to various situations.
Program Handbook
More information regarding certification and RNFA standards can be obtained in Program Handbook.
Certification
Certification is not required to function under the Florida State Nurse Practice Act as an RNFA. The program is completed within 2 semesters (1 academic year) which involves web-based classes and on-site Lab components.
Education
Completion of a program that meets the National Assisting at Surgery Certification (NASC) guidelines.
National information
For national information, visit AORN.org.
Testing information
For testing information, visit National Assistants at Surgery Certification (NASC).
Program Director
Marcia Johansson, DNP, APRN, ACNP-BC, FCCM, FAANP
Associate Professor
mjohnasson@usf.edu
Faculty
Nicholas Troeleman, MSM, MS-HCA, BSN, CNOR, RNFA
ntroeleman@tgh.org
Kelly Murphy, MSN, RN, NPD-BC, CCRN-K
kmurphy@tgh.org
Michael Wallingford, MSN, RN, CNOR
mkwallingford@tgh.org
Nicole S. Methvin, BSN, RN, RNFA, CNOR
Program Administration
Ann Joyce, PhD
Associate Director of Continuing Education
ajoyce@usf.edu