Our Open Heart Registered Nurses (RN) work in collaboration with surgeons and other health care team members to achieve optimal patient outcomes through application of advanced knowledge, judgment, and skills specific to the expanded role of RNFA. First assisting behaviors are further refinements of peri-operative nursing practice and are executed within the context of the nursing process. These behaviors include certain delegated medical functions that can be assumed by the RN who is qualified practice as an RNFA.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Manages preoperative patient care in collaboration with other health care providers, including performing focused preoperative nursing assessments, communicating and collaborating with other health care providers regarding the patient plan of care. • Demonstrates performance of surgical first-assistant techniques including using instruments and medical devices, providing surgical site exposure, handling and/or cutting tissue, providing hemostasis, and suturing. • Manages postoperative patient care in collaboration with other health care providers in the immediate postoperative period and beyond, such as participating in postoperative rounds, assisting with patient discharge planning, and identifying appropriate community resources as needed.  • Completes complex and/or infrequently done procedures proficiently assisting colleagues as needed. Actively identifies opportunities to enhance teamwork. • Evaluates the patient's response to care delivered and the level of outcome achievement. • Applies theoretical knowledge of asepsis, wound healing, infectious diseases process, surgical anatomy and physiology, safety issues and operative techniques for surgical procedures on which he/she assists. • Applies the following skills: principles of aseptic techniques, sutures, preparation of surgical site, draping, retracting, suctioning, hemostasis, dressing application, manual dexterity, knowledge of procedure anatomy, ability to follow directions, anticipate needs of surgeon/procedure and closure. • Prepares and demonstrates the specific uses of all equipment and supplies used for surgical procedures including: sterilizers, electrocautery machines, EKG monitors, fiberoptic equipment, internal stapling devices, pacemaker equipment, orthopedic tourniquets, microscope, air-powered equipment, lasers, specialty beds, hemodynamic monitors, and other specialty equipment.