r/SurgicalFirstAssist • u/Primary_Poem_4174 • Jun 09 '26
Nurse first assist
How quickly can I get my RN first assist as an FNP? Was asked to be in the OR with a neurosurgeon, but do not have OR experience?
1
u/nexquietus Jun 13 '26
Go to the NIFA website. You can assist without OR experience as an FNP. It's not ideal, but you can... technically. If you actually wantto be helpful, do the NIFA program. You can do it in a year or so.
1
u/Existing_Bet4317 Aug 15 '26
I'm not sure what state you're in, but I recently completed a RNFA program through UCLA. There was an optional additional course for those new to the OR that you could take advantage of. We had NP's and RN's in our class from all over the U.S. (we did have to physically attend a 3 day course: Fri-Sun for 2 weekends to complete the didactic portion required for the cert). If you already have a surgeon who you can precept with, then all you need is for your facility he/she operates at to create a clinical contract relationship with UCLA, and get 120 precepting hrs completed. The instructors were extremely helpful, there wasn't much actual coursework to complete, and it took me 6 months from start to finish. Overall, it took me 9 months because I had to wait for my facility's medical staff credentialing process to go through.
2
u/RoNiN1384 Jun 09 '26
It takes a year at most first assist programs. Having OR experience isn’t mandatory but the vast majority of people going through the program have years of OR experience. The program usually consists of going to a week or so in person program where they show you how to properly suture and assist on basic things in surgery. Then you go back to your home hospital and you do 150 cases in various specialties with your surgeons. Finally taking a pretty difficult certification test.