RN First Assistant, Potsdam, NY

Job Title: RN First Assistant
Department: Surgical Services                    
Location: Canton-Potsdam Hospital                          
Hours Per Week: Per Diem
Schedule: 10-hour shifts, 7 am- 5 pm

                          
SUMMARY: Serves as a surgical first assistant by directly assisting the surgeon by controlling bleeding, providing wound exposure, suturing, and other surgical tasks. May provide other advanced assistance such as mobilizing the tissue, positioning the patient, and directing other surgical staff. Possesses a complexity of knowledge, judgment, and skill required to provide cost-effective, quality, and individualized patient care in a rapidly changing technological, economical and social environment. Demonstrates knowledge of principles of growth and development and utilizes the nursing process to meet patient requirements relative to age-specific needs. Maintains effective peer and physician relationships to ensure high quality of patient care and to demonstrate professionalism in practice

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Takes OR call for first assisting.

• Assists the surgeon by providing intraoperative retraction giving exposure and optimum visualization of the surgical site as directed by the surgeon.

• Retracting tissue or organs by the use of the hand, closely observing the operative field at all times.

• Placing or holding surgical retractors in the position set by the surgeon with regard to surrounding tissue.

• Packing sponges into body cavities to hold tissue or organs out of the operative field.

• Managing all instruments in the operative field to prevent obstruction of the surgeon’s views.

• Assists the surgeon by providing intraoperative hemostasis promoting adequate visual assessment and access to the surgical site as directed by the surgeon.

• Aspiration of blood and other fluids from the operative site using suctioning techniques.

• Sponging the wound and utilizing pressure as directed.

• Placing hemostats on other instruments to clamp tissue or bleeding vessels.

• Applying electrocautery tip to clamps or vessels as directed.

• Placing suture ligatures on vessels or tissue as directed.

• Perform knot tying firmly to avoid slipping.

• Uses surgical instruments to perform dissection or manipulate tissue as directed by the surgeon.

• Dissects only those layers required to provide exposure to the operative area as directed.

• Dissects only the superficial tissue of lower extremity veins during cardiac or vascular surgery as directed.

• Grasps and fixates tissue with staples or screws.

• Drills and modifies bone tissue as directed.

• The RNFA will suture tissue and insure homeostasis or wound alignment as directed by surgeon.

• Approximating tissue layers as directed to avoid excess tension or tissue necrosis.

• Uses suture, staples, skin clips or other devices to correctly approximate tissue.

• If not needed during an operation, the first assistant would function in other roles on the CT/RHI team.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Graduation from an accredited School of Nursing required.

• Completion of an RNFA program.

• One year prior experience.

• For those employees who obtained RNFA program certification of completion on or after 1/1/2020 a Bachelor’s degree required.

• Current New York State Registered Nurse License.

• Maintains CNOR credential.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Strong customer service and communication skills.

UNION:

Rochester Union of Nurses & Allied Professionals (RUNAP)

Note: Not all per diem roles are union eligible

EDUCATION:

LICENSES / CERTIFICATIONS: 

BLS - Basic Life Support - American Heart Association (AHA)American Heart Association (AHA)American Heart Association (AHA), RN - Registered Nurse - New York State Education Department (NYSED)New York State Education Department (NYSED)New York State Education Department (NYSED)

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

M - Medium Work - Exerting 20 to 50 pounds of force occasionally, and/or 10 to 25 pounds of force frequently, and/or greater than negligible up to 10 pounds of force constantly to move objects; Requires frequent walking, standing or squatting.

For disease specific care programs refer to the program specific requirements of the department for further specifications on experience and educational expectations, including continuing education requirements.

Any physical requirements reported by a prospective employee and/or employee’s physician or delegate will be considered for accommodations.

PAY RANGE:

$50.00 - $63.50

The listed base pay range is a good faith representation of current potential base pay for a successful full time applicant. It may be modified in the future and eligible for additional pay components. Pay is determined by factors including experience, relevant qualifications, specialty, internal equity, location, and contracts.

Rochester Regional Health is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, and related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, disability, predisposing genetic characteristics, marital or familial status, military or veteran status, citizenship or immigration status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law.