RN, First Assistant, Surgery (Per Diem, Day Shift)

Adventist Health•Tulare, CA

About The Position

Adventist Health Tulare is a 108-bed acute care hospital with an emergency department and primary and specialty care services, serving the Central Valley since 2018. The facility is located in Tulare, California, a region offering outdoor recreation, proximity to Yosemite, Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks, and close-knit communities. The RN, First Assistant organizes and facilitates patient care in the Operating Room and coordinates care among the surgeon, anesthesiologist and room staff. The role functions as a first assistant during surgical incision, excision and repair of pathology on procedures for which privileges have been granted, throughout the perioperative period. The position also participates in preoperative assessment and planning for selected surgical patients with the healthcare team and demonstrates expertise in medication, treatment and patient care standards.

Requirements

Completion of an RNFA program that meets AORN standards.
Registered Nurse (RN) licensure in the state of practice.
Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) or Basic Life Support (BLS) certification from an approved vendor per AH policy.
Certified Nurse Operating Room (CNOR) certification.
Basic Life Support (BLS) certification from an approved vendor per AH policy (facility-specific).
AHA-ACLS or ARC-ALS certification (department-specific).
Receive all required vaccinations as a condition of employment and annually thereafter where applicable; medical and religious exemptions may apply.

Nice To Haves

Two years of perioperative nursing experience.
Certified Registered Nurse First Assistant (CRNFA) certification in the state of practice.
PEARS or PALS certification from an approved vendor per AH policy.
Association of perioperative Registered Nurses (AORN) membership.

Responsibilities

Organize and facilitate patient care in the Operating Room and coordinate care among the surgeon, anesthesiologist and room staff.
Function as a first assistant during surgical incision, excision and repair of pathology for procedures for which privileges have been granted.
Participate in preoperative assessment and planning for selected surgical patients in collaboration with healthcare team members.
Perform circulating and scrubbing duties.
Verbally confirm the surgical site and side before induction of anesthesia.
Perform sponge, needle, sharp and instrument counts at appropriate times according to department policy.
Handle and dissect tissues in collaboration with the surgeon; clamp blood vessels, coagulate bleeding points, ligate vessels and perform other procedures in collaboration with the surgeon.
Suture muscle, fascia, subcutaneous and skin tissue in collaboration with the surgeon, and place drains as surgically indicated.
Assist with cannulation and decannulation when indicated.
Assist with transferring and positioning patients, and with prepping and draping them.
Maintain a safe, aseptic environment; correct breaks in aseptic technique; inspect sterile items and maintain sterility during delivery to the sterile field.
Obtain and interpret patient data to determine appropriate diagnostic and therapeutic procedures as needed.
Develop and implement action plans for practice changes to enhance patient outcomes.
Maintain appropriate traffic patterns and personnel around the sterile field.
Apply appropriate sterilization and disinfection methods and parameters.
Observe general Operating Room cleanliness and take appropriate corrective action.
Prepare instruments according to physician preference and the scheduled procedure.
Use surgical-environment knowledge and skills to assist the surgeon.
Document relevant data, including nursing diagnoses, the patient's plan of care, interventions and response, and discharge plan.
Mentor, develop, inspire, educate and lead staff members in the patient care setting.
Identify opportunities to decrease costs and enhance efficiency and cost effectiveness, as applicable.
Perform other job-related duties as assigned.