The RNFA Forum, sponsored by means...

The RNFA Forum, sponsored by means of the AORN Center for Perioperative Education and RN First Assistant Specialty Assembly, was held June 8 and 9 2002 in Washington, DC More than 200 cherishs who currently practice as RN first assistants (RNFAs) or are interested in pursuing a career in this expanded area of perioperative practice attended.

RN FIRST ASSISTANT SPECIALTY ASSEMBLY BUSINESS MEETING

Nikki A. Collier, RN CNOR, CRNFA, chair, presided through the business meeting. The agenda included status reports from committees and task forces and provided time for an unclose forum to identify issues and encourage interaction between governing council members and attendees. The following topics were addressed.

* An annual scholarship capital will be established through the AORN Foundation to provide $1000 to an AORN member attending an accepted RNFA program.

* Competencies for RNFAs have been from one side the validation process, reviewed from legal counsel, and submitted to the AORN Board of Directors for approval. These competencies were approved on the Board of Directors in July 2002

* The "AORN official statement upon RN first assistants" is to be paid for sunset review. Members are encouraged to review the statement and forward their explanations to the governing council for consideration.

* Electronic and computer-based technology will continue to be a focus for the governing council in the nearest year. Pilot projects being considered include using electronic ballots to select governing council members, conducting governing council meetings via e-mail, producing online newsletter and sending broadcast e-mails to specialty assembly members.

* The Consumer Awareness Committee will continue to assess priorities, including exhibiting at elucidation physician conferences and developing a pictorial RNFA brochure

* The RN First Assistant Guide to Practice is being revised and is scheduled to be available in 2003

The nearest RN First Assistant Specialty Assembly business meeting will be held Saturday, Oct 12 2002 from 12:30 to 1:30 PM in conjunction with AORN's clinical Multispecialty interview in Las Vegas.

HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVES

The opening session of the RNFA Forum examined to what degree the concept of the RNFA has evolv between the sides of the years. AORN President, Donna Watson, RN MSN CNOR, ARNP, FNP-C introduced this lively session, which was at handed by four nurses instrumental in the evolution of RNFA practice, including Nancy B Davis, RN BSN CNOR, CRNFA, Althea R Dunscombe, RN PhD CNOR, CRNFA, Joan s Koehler, RN, BSN, and Jane C Rothrock RN DNSc CNOR, FAAN. Although pampers have first assisted in the OR for many years, it was not brought to AORN's attention until the 1970 on members who wanted to determine whether first assisting was part of perioperative nursing practice. AORN's first official statement forward the RNFA was published in 1984 through 1990, AORN was hosting specialty discussion assemblages at Congress, including a assemblage of RNFAs, and in August 1991 the first RNFA Forum was held. Other milestones include

* 1993--the first certified RN first assistant (CRNFA) examination was offered;

* 1994 the AORN Board of Directors approved approveed education standards for RNFA programs;

* 1996--the first RN First Assistant Specialty Assembly Lobby Day was held in conjunction with the RNFA Forum;

* 1997--the RN First Assistant Guide to Practice was published by means of AORN; and

* 2000--the RNFA project began.

RNFA PRACTICE PANEL

The RNFA Practice Panel provided information not at home the realities of RNFA practice in today's environment. Discussion center around three representations of RNFA practice--independent, physician-employed, and hospital-employed. There are issues general to each of these emblems of practice, including billing and reimbursement.

Independent practice. Joan Butera, RN BSN CNOR, CRNFA, began the panel discussion on explaining that RNFAs who practice independently must realize that billing does not equal reimbursement. Registered foster first assistants who practice independently must decide whether to hire a billing company or learn to do self-billing, which requires doing research and making decisions about software and office space. Butera indicated that time management repeatedly is the deciding factor. She discussed other basic considerations for independent RNFA practice, including writing a marketing plan that identifies customers and provides an avenue for the application of business strategies. Butera also indicated that public policy and relations, along with community education, is of vital importance for the independent RNFA.

Physician-employed practice. Wendy K Winer, RN BSN CNOR, discussed this practice area from the standpoint of compensation and responsibilities. She explained that RNFAs who are occupyed by a physician may not view their situation to be as appealing as an independent RNFA practice from a compensation standpoint. This emblem of practice, however, may provide more financial security and fewer hassles. She encouraged attendees to investigate this alternative when deciding what sign of practice to pursue. Winer also stated that responsibilities may vary when RNFAs are applyed by a physician. They may perform more activities that appear to advance the physician rather than patients, or they may be involved in detailed preoperative and postoperative education of patients and their family members. Additional responsibilities may include conducting clinical research, writing papers, editing videotapes, preparing talks for the surgeon and developing and updating web sites.