Registered Nurse First Assist (RNFA) - Operating Room
Duke Health
Durham, NC
At Duke Health, we're driven by a commitment to compassionate care that changes the lives of patients, their loved ones, and the greater community. No matter where your talents lie, join us and discover how we can advance health together.
About Duke University Hospital
Pursue your passion for caring with Duke University Hospital in Durham, North Carolina, which is consistently ranked among the best in the United States and is the number one hospital in North Carolina, according to U.S. News and World Report for 2023-2024. Duke University Hospital is the largest of Duke Health's three hospitals and features 1048 patient beds, 65 operating rooms, as well as comprehensive diagnostic and therapeutic facilities, including a regional emergency/trauma center, an endo-surgery center, and more.
At Duke University Hospital, our Operating Room is home to cutting-edge procedures, world-renowned surgeons, and a collaborative perioperative environment that empowers nurses to practice at the top of their profession. We invite you to bring your expertise and passion for surgical care to our RN First Assistant team.
General Description
The Certified Registered Nurse First Assistant (RNFA) plays a critical role in supporting continuity of care for perioperative patients across the preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative phases. As a key member of the surgical team, the RNFA helps optimize surgical workflow, enhance patient safety, and elevate clinical outcomes.
This highly skilled role provides:
- Expert intraoperative first assistance
- Support and education for surgical residents
- Second assist when needed across a variety of surgical specialties
- Leadership and clinical guidance for perioperative staff
- Seamless coordination of care for patients of all ages
In this fast-paced academic environment, RNFAs at Duke have the opportunity to participate in complex and innovative surgical procedures while contributing to an exceptional patient and team experience.
Duties and Responsibilities
The RNFA functions autonomously and collaboratively alongside surgeons, anesthesiologists, residents, and perioperative staff. Responsibilities include:
Preoperative Patient Management
- Conduct preoperative assessments and screenings
- Participate in planning and coordination of individualized care plans
- Collaborate and communicate with the surgical team
- Write preoperative orders according to established protocols
Intraoperative First Assisting
Provide skilled and safe intraoperative assistance, including:
- Using surgical instruments and medical devices
- Providing optimal exposure for the surgical field
- Handling and/or cutting tissues
- Achieving hemostasis
- Suturing and closing incisions
- Anticipating surgical needs to support efficient workflow
Note: The RNFA does not simultaneously function as the Scrub Nurse.
Postoperative Patient Management
- Write postoperative orders and operative notes based on protocol
- Participate in postoperative rounds and clinical evaluation
- Assist with discharge planning and transitions of care
- Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams to support positive outcomes
The RNFA ensures that patients receive comprehensive nursing management throughout the perioperative phase while supporting the mission of high-quality, evidence-based care at Duke.
Required Qualifications
Education
- BSN required; MSN preferred
- Graduate of an accredited School of Nursing
- Completion of an RNFA program based on AORN’s Core Curriculum with supervised clinical practice
Experience
- Minimum of 3 years of perioperative nursing experience required
Licensure & Certification
- Current or compact RN license in North Carolina
- BLS required
- CNOR certification required
- RNFA certification must be obtained within 2 years of employment
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
The ideal candidate will have:
- Strong clinical knowledge of perioperative technologies and procedures
- Demonstrated ability to educate and mentor perioperative staff
- A thorough understanding of the surgical cases in which they assist
- High-level competency in circulating and scrubbing
- Excellent communication, teamwork, and organizational skills
- Commitment to AORN standards and evidence-based practice
Duke is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer committed to providing employment opportunity without regard to an individual's age, color, disability, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, national origin, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, or veteran status.
Duke aspires to create a community built on collaboration, innovation, creativity, and belonging. Our collective success depends on the robust exchange of ideas—an exchange that is best when the rich diversity of our perspectives, backgrounds, and experiences flourishes. To achieve this exchange, it is essential that all members of the community feel secure and welcome, that the contributions of all individuals are respected, and that all voices are heard. All members of our community have a responsibility to uphold these values.
Essential Physical Job Functions: Certain jobs at Duke University and Duke University Health System may include essentialjob functions that require specific physical and/or mental abilities. Additional information and provision for requests for reasonable accommodation will be provided by each hiring department.