Registered Nurse First Assist

Join our surgical team as a Registered Nurse First Assistant (RNFA) and play an essential role in providing safe, high-quality care throughout the perioperative experience. Working alongside surgeons and the interdisciplinary surgical team, the RNFA provides advanced clinical support during operative procedures while helping ensure exceptional patient outcomes.

This role is ideal for an experienced perioperative nurse who thrives in the operating room, values teamwork, and is ready to use advanced surgical skills in a highly collaborative environment.

Why Nurses Choose This Role

• Work directly alongside surgeons as an integral member of the surgical team
• Utilize advanced perioperative and first-assisting skills
• Participate in a variety of surgical procedures and specialties
• Collaborate closely with surgeons, anesthesia providers, nurses, and other clinical professionals
• Make a direct impact on patient safety and surgical outcomes
• Work in a team-focused environment committed to quality and excellence

Facility: Kernersville Medical Center | Location: Kernersville, NC | Position Type: Full-Time | Work Schedule: Monday–Friday, 6:45 AM–3:15 PM, Day Shift

As a Registered Nurse First Assistant, you will provide direct assistance to the surgeon throughout operative procedures while supporting safe and effective perioperative care. Responsibilities may include:

• Assist the surgeon during operative and invasive procedures within the RNFA scope of practice
• Provide surgical exposure through appropriate use of instruments, retractors, and other techniques
• Assist with tissue handling, hemostasis, suturing, wound closure, and other surgical techniques as permitted by scope of practice and organizational policy
• Perform preoperative patient assessments and contribute to the development of the perioperative plan of care
• Anticipate the needs of the surgeon and surgical team throughout procedures
• Collaborate with surgeons, anesthesia providers, perioperative nurses, surgical technologists, and other members of the interdisciplinary team
• Maintain sterile technique and promote compliance with infection-prevention and patient-safety standards
• Monitor and advocate for patient safety throughout the perioperative process
• Assist with postoperative evaluation, documentation, and continuity of care as appropriate
• Follow established clinical standards, policies, procedures, and regulatory requirements

• Education:4 Year / Bachelors Degree, required.  Graduate of an accredited school of nursing program; B.S. in Nursing or related field preferred.
• Experience: Two years, required.  Perioperative RN experience.
• Licensure/Certification: 
  • Current RN licensure in appropriate state.
  • CNOR through the Certification Board of Perioperative Nursing, required.
  • Completion of Novant Health's credentialing process, required.
  • Advanced Cardiac life Support (ACLS) certification, Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) certification, preferred.

Additional Skills/Requirements (required):

• Promote the mission, vision, and values of the organization.
• Assess patients at intervals in accordance with facility or health care organization policies and procedures.
• Participate in preoperative assessment and planning for surgical patients specific to RNFA activities (eg, anatomical exposure, wound closure) in collaboration with perioperative team members.
• Develop an individualized perioperative patient plan of care.
• Implement the plan of care by:

• protecting the patient from injury caused by extraneous objects and chemical, electrical, laser, mechanical, and thermal sources.
• participating in accounting procedures to protect the patient from unintended retained surgical items.
• performing interventions necessary to ensure that the patient’s procedure is performed on the correct site, side, and level.
• assisting with management of the patient’s specimens as necessary.
• communicating the patient’s current status to relevant parties throughout the continuum of care.
• administering medications safely and correctly.
• performing interventions to maintain the patient’s wound and tissue perfusion at or above baseline levels.
• performing interventions to maintain the status of the patient’s genitourinary, gastrointestinal, musculoskeletal, endocrine, respiratory, cardiovascular, and neurological systems and fluid, electrolyte, and acid-base balances at or above baseline levels.
• performing interventions to ensure the patient is at or returned to normothermia at the conclusion of the immediate postoperative period.
• performing interventions to protect the patient from surgical site infection.
• assessing the knowledge level of the patient or designated support person.
• providing education regarding the expected psychosocial response, nutritional management, medication management, pain management, wound management, and expected responses to the operational or invasive procedure.
• involving the patient or designated support person actively in decisions affecting his or her perioperative care and the rehabilitation process.
• protecting the patients’ rights, dignity, and privacy.
• providing age-specific, culturally competent, ethical care within legal standards of practice; and
• providing consistent and comparable care regardless of the setting.
• Function as an RN first assistant during operative and other invasive procedures by
• providing exposure through correct use of instruments, retractors, suction, and sponging techniques.
• handling and dissecting tissues in collaboration with the surgeon.
• clamping blood vessels, coagulating bleeding points, and ligating vessels in collaboration with the surgeon.
• placing drains as directed by the surgeon; and
• suturing muscle, fascia, subcutaneous, and skin in collaboration with the surgeon.
• Follow selected surgical patients postoperatively specific to RNFA activities (eg, postoperative rounding, dressing changes) in collaboration with the interdisciplinary team.
• Evaluate the patient’s progress toward attaining outcomes.
• Transfer care as applicable.
• Delegate tasks according to the state Nurse Practice Act and job descriptions.
• Document nursing care accurately, completely, and legibly.
• Collaborate effectively with other disciplines as applicable.
• Participate in quality review and performance improvement projects.
• Participate in the performance appraisal process.
• Use problem-solving and conflict resolution skills to foster effective work relationships with team members.
• Serve as an educator, mentor, consultant, and resource to peers, colleagues, and others in relation to RNFA activities.
• Maintain regulatory, credentialing, and privileging requirements required for practice as an RNFA.
• Participate in ongoing educational and competency verification activities applicable to RN and RNFA activities.
• Act as a patient advocate and maintain privacy and confidentiality of individuals and health information.

At Novant Health, we believe remarkable care starts with compassion for our patients, our communities, and each other. We value belonging, courage, personal growth, and teamwork, creating a space where everyone is respected, supported, and safe to show up as their full selves.