RN First Assistant Job Description
The registered nurse (RN) first assistant is considered a perioperative nurse, a nurse who works closely with surgeons in operating room environments. The RN first assistant is a specialized position of heath and patient care.
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Duties
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The RN first assistant aids in patient care before, during and after operations on behalf of a surgeon. This may include running tests, communicating with and educating the patient and his family, providing other care providers with a patient's status and performing small surgical duties such as cutting tissue, handling instruments and suturing.
Skills Required
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This position requires high energy, emotional stability, an eagerness for continuous education and the ability to work long, stressful hours. RN first assistants must be sympathetic, caring and pay close attention to details.
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Education
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RN first assistants are required to possess some form of higher education, whether a bachelor's or master's degree in nursing or a diploma issued through special programs offered in hospitals. Those with bachelor's and master's degrees have greater chances for advancement and higher starting salaries.
Certifications and Licenses
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RN first assistants are required to obtain a general nursing license by the National Council Licensure Examination, pass an exam licensing them as an RN first assistant and be certified as an operating room nurse (CNOR). Other licenses may be required or mandated by the state.
Salary
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According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, in May 2008, registered nurses in general medical and surgical hospitals earned a median annual salary of $63,880. Salary is largely based on specialization and experience.
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References
Resources
- Photo Credit operating room image by Maciej Zatonski from Fotolia.com
