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

Adventist Health•Tulare, CA

2h•$63 - $86•Onsite

About The Position

Adventist Health Tulare is a 108-bed acute care hospital in California’s Central Valley, with an emergency department and primary and specialty care services. The RN, First Assistant, Surgery organizes and facilitates patient care in the operating room, coordinating care among the surgeon, anesthesiologist, and room staff. The role functions as a first assistant during surgical incision, excision, and repair of pathology throughout the perioperative period for procedures within the associate’s granted privileges. It also participates in preoperative assessment and planning for selected surgical patients with the healthcare team and regularly demonstrates subject matter expertise in medication, treatment, and patient care standards. The position performs circulating and scrubbing duties and supports safe, aseptic, efficient care before, during, and after procedures. It works under minimal supervision and includes documenting care, contributing to practice improvements, and mentoring and educating staff. This is a per-diem, day-shift position. Associates must receive required vaccinations as a condition of employment and annually thereafter where applicable; medical and religious exemptions may apply.

Requirements

Completion of an RNFA program that meets AORN standards.
Registered Nurse (RN) licensure in the state of practice.
CPR or Basic Life Support (BLS) certification from an approved vendor per Adventist Health policy.
Certified Nurse Operating Room (CNOR) certification.
Basic Life Support (BLS) certification from an approved vendor per Adventist Health policy.
AHA-ACLS or ARC-ALS certification.
Ability to perform the described perioperative, first-assistant, circulating, and scrubbing functions.

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 Adventist Health policy.
Association of perioperative Registered Nurses (AORN) membership.

Responsibilities

Organize and facilitate patient care in the operating room, coordinating with the surgeon, anesthesiologist, and room staff.
Function as a first assistant during surgical incision, excision, and repair of pathology for procedures within granted privileges.
Participate in preoperative assessment and planning for selected surgical patients in collaboration with healthcare team members.
Perform circulating and scrubbing duties, including confirming the surgical site and side before anesthesia induction and completing required counts.
Handle and dissect tissues; clamp and ligate vessels; control bleeding; suture tissue; place drains; and assist with cannulation and decannulation when indicated, in collaboration with the surgeon.
Assist with patient transfers, positioning, preparation, and draping, and maintain a safe aseptic environment by applying aseptic technique and correcting breaks in technique.
Inspect sterile items, maintain sterility during delivery to the sterile field, and maintain appropriate traffic patterns and personnel around the field.
Obtain and interpret patient data as needed to determine appropriate diagnostic and therapeutic procedures.
Develop and implement action plans for practice changes that enhance patient outcomes.
Apply appropriate sterilization and disinfection methods and parameters; observe operating-room cleanliness and take corrective action as needed.
Prepare instruments according to physician preference and scheduled procedure, and use surgical-environment knowledge and skills to assist the surgeon.
Document relevant data, including nursing diagnoses, the patient's plan of care, interventions and responses, and discharge plan.
Mentor, develop, educate, inspire, 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.