RN FIRST ASSISTANT - Cardiothoracic - Duke University Hospital

Duke Health

$85K — $100K *
Healthcare
Less than 5 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • BSN required, MSN preferred.
  • Graduate of an accredited school of Nursing.
  • Completion of RNFA or CSFA program in line with AORN standards.
  • Minimum of 3 years of experience in Perioperative Nursing required.
  • Current or compact RN licensure in North Carolina; BLS certification required.
  • Successful completion of the CNOR exam is mandatory.
  • RNFA certification must be obtained within two years of employment or CSFA certification accepted if hired prior to 2/1/26.

Responsibilities

  • Manage preoperative patient care collaboratively with healthcare providers.
  • Assist surgeons during surgeries by providing exposure, hemostasis, and suturing.
  • Write preoperative and postoperative orders according to established protocols.
  • Participate in postoperative rounds and assist with discharge planning.
  • Educate and train surgical residents and staff as needed.
  • Provide leadership and direct the perioperative team, as necessary.
  • Ensure continuity of care throughout the perioperative phase.

Benefits

  • Supports professional growth through ongoing education and training opportunities.
  • Provides a structured work schedule with specific shifts (6am-4:30pm, Monday - Friday).
  • Includes participation in a collaborative healthcare team environment.
  • Offers a dynamic role with hands-on involvement in patient care across all age groups.
  • Potential for leadership opportunities within the surgical team.
Full Job Description
Occ Summary

The Certified Registered Nurse First Assistant will support the continuity of care for Perioperative patients. The scope of practice includes preoperative patient care management, intraoperative surgical first assisting and postoperative patient care management. The role will help expedite surgical productivity, support the education of surgical residents, 2nd assist where needed, and first assist the Surgeons when surgical Residents are not available. The RNFA will provide patient care for all ages and/or provide leadership and direction to the perioperative team where needed.

Shift:6am-4:30pm Monday - Friday. Call, weekends, and rotating holidays depending on unit needs.

Work Performed

To provide preoperative patient management in collaboration with other health care providers, including, but not limited to: preoperative evaluations, communicate/collaborate regarding the patient plan of care, writing preoperative orders according to established protocols; intraoperative surgical first assisting, including, but not limited to using instruments/medical devices, providing exposure, handing and/or cutting tissues, providing hemostasis, and suturing; postoperative patient management in collaboration with other health care providers in the immediate postoperative period including, but limited to writing postoperative orders/operative notes according established protocols, participating in postoperative rounds, and assisting with discharge planning. To provide a qualified CRNFA to the operating surgeon during the operative procedure and comprehensive nursing management of care during the Perioperative phase. The CRNFA does not concurrently function as the Scrub Nurse.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

CRNFA must have sound clinical knowledge of technologyand treatment applications; must also possess skills to educate/train staff, and complies with AORN education standards for the CRNFA;, and a demonstrated knowledge of the surgeries in which the CRNFA participates. Must have sound clinical OR skills (scrubbing and circulating) and have excellent interpersonal skills and organizational capability.

Level Characteristics

CRNFA must have sound clinical knowledge of technology and treatment applications; must also possess skills toeducate/train staff, and complies with AORN education standards for the CRNFA;, and a demonstrated knowledge of the surgeries in which the CRNFA participates. Must have sound clinical OR skills (scrubbing and circulating) and have excellent interpersonalskills and organizational capability.

Minimum Qualifications

Education

BSN required, MSN preferred. Must be a graduate of an accredited school of Nursing. Completion of a RNFA (or CSFA program, if hired prior to 2/1/26) that includes didactic and supervised clinical practice, is based on AORN's core curriculum for the RNFA.

Experience

3 years of experience in Perioperative Nursing is required.

Degrees, Licensures, Certifications

Must have current or compact RN licensure in the state of North Carolina. BLS required. Successful completion of the CNOR exam required. Must currently possess RNFA (Registered Nurse First Assist) certification or obtain within two years of employment. CSFA (Certified Surgical First Assistant) certification accepted in lieu of RNFA, if hired prior to 2/1/26.

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