NEWAI Interview PracticeLearn more
  1. Home/
  2. Jobs/
  3. RNFA (Surgery)
WT

RNFA (Surgery)

West Tennessee Healthcare·White Deer, Texas

Full Time·On Site·2-5 yrs·Posted 1 month ago
Practice for this role

About the role

The RNFA provides technical assistance to surgeons during operations, including exposure, hemostasis, and wound closure. They also perform preoperative assessments, patient education, and postoperative care to ensure optimal surgical outcomes.

Category

RN

City

Jackson

State

Tennessee

Shift

12 - Day (United States of America)

Job Description: Summary:

RNFA (Surgery)

As defined by the American College of Surgeons, the first assistant provides aid in exposure, hemostasis, and other technical functions, that will help the surgeon carry out a safe operation with optimal results for the patient.

The RNFA performs, under direct supervision, intraoperative technically advanced functions as stated in the job functions.

Responsible for aiding the professional nurse or physician in providing optimal patient care, addressing age-specific needs, in the assigned single operating room in a surgical assistant capacity or assisting the physician on the floor or clinic as an extender.

The assistant performs these functions during the operation, on the floor, or in the clinic under the direction and supervision of the surgeons and in accordance with hospital policy, appropriate laws and regulations and stated job functions.

Responsible for providing patient care for an assigned shift as scheduled full time or part-time.

Reporting is under the supervision of the Clinical Manager.

The employee is subject to call back, call coverage, and overtime as required by the hospital.

Responsibilities

  • Demonstrates thorough knowledge of principles of asepsis ensuring that proper techniques and practices are maintained, in providing age-specific patient care.
  • Preoperatively perform nursing assessments, educate the patient and offer emotional support.
  • Evaluate the needs of the patient and the surgical team on a continuum, throughout the surgical encounter.
  • Collaborating with the surgeon and other health care professionals for an optimal surgical outcome.
  • Assisting with anesthesiologists when applicable.
  • Assisting with patient positioning, skin preparation, and draping.
  • Providing wound exposure by suctioning, sponging, and retracting.
  • Harvesting of the saphenous vein for grafting purposes under the direction of the operating surgeon.
  • Arterial conduit for grafting purposes under the direct supervision of the physician and only if RN has holds a certificate demonstrating training.
  • During endoscopic procedures, it may advance the rigid endoscope to provide optimal visualization under the direction of the operating surgeon.
  • Providing hemostasis by applying hemostatic clamps, or clips, coagulating bleeding points and ligating bleeding vessels.
  • Surgical wound closure under the direction of the surgeon; may facilitate the closure of the skin layer by proper handling of the tissue with forceps.
  • Suturing fascia, subcutaneous, and skin tissues.
  • Insertion of urethral catheters.
  • Scrubs, gowns and gloves self for surgical procedures.
  • Using and manipulating surgical instruments.
  • Handles and uses instruments correctly and insures their proper functionality and storage.
  • Actively participates incorrect sponge, needle and instrument count.
  • Handling tissue appropriately to reduce the potential for injury.
  • Participates in the proper handling of all lab and tissue specimens according to established protocol.
  • Assumes responsibility for the proper handling of supplies.
  • Selecting and applying the appropriate wound dressings.
  • Assisting in securing drainage systems to tissue.
  • Relieves on cases at or during a change of shift, breaks, or mealtimes, following correct protocol, to ensure continuity of care.
  • Has access and handling of medications deemed necessary for procedures in the operating room.
  • Records progress of patient on Progress Notes which will be countersigned by the physician in the hospital and clinic setting.
  • May accept verbal orders from the physician, recording and then reading back to the physician for confirmation.
  • May be responsible postoperatively for assisting in the safe delivery of the patient to the recovery room; communicating to the appropriate health care personnel and family members; performing follow-up care to evaluate the patient’s condition; performing post-operative activities, which may include removing sutures, chest tubes, drains, and pacing wires; and participating in discharge planning and providing discharge instructions.
  • Performs related responsibilities as required or directed.

Qualifications

Education

Completion of a diploma, associate, or baccalaureate degree in nursing required. Has successfully completed a registered nurse first assistant education program that meets the education standard of the Association of perioperative Registered Nurses for a registered nurse first assistant.

Licensure,

Registration,

CERTIFICATION: Current Tennessee license as a Registered Nurse required. Current Tennessee license as Registered Nurse First Assist required. Current certification in perioperative nursing (CNOR) obtained through the Competency and Credentialing Institute required. Current BLS Certification required. CRNFA (Certified Registered Nurse First Assistant) desired, but not required. This certification is obtained through the National Institute of First Assisting, Inc.

EXPERIENCE: Ability to scrub during surgical cases as acquired through three months of departmental education.

Nondiscrimination notice statement

We are an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, ethnicity, disability, religion, national origin, gender, gender identity, gender expression, marital status, sexual orientation, age, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

Requirements

Candidates must hold a nursing degree and a registered nurse first assistant certificate, along with a current Tennessee RN license. Certification in perioperative nursing (CNOR) and BLS certification are required.

  • associate degree
  • bachelor degree
  • professional certificate
  • Asepsis
  • Suturing
  • Hemostasis
  • BLS certification
  • Patient assessment
  • Patient positioning
  • Surgical instrumentation
  • Surgical assistance
  • Sterile technique
  • Wound closure
  • Perioperative nursing
  • CNOR certification
  • Endoscopic procedures
  • Saphenous vein harvesting

Posting details

Employment type
Full Time
Work arrangement
On Site
Experience
2-5 yrs
Location
White Deer, Texas
Posted
Jun 18, 2026
Application
Employer website
WT

Hiring organization

West Tennessee Healthcare

Public, not-for-profit organization headquartered in Jackson, Tennessee. Anchor hospital is Jackson-Madison County General Hospital with 635 licensed beds, centers of excellence in Women and Children's, West Tennessee Cancer Center, Emergency Services, West Tennessee...

IndustryHospitals and Health Care
TypePublic Company
Size5,001-10,000 employees
Explore employer profile

Stay updated

Get alerts for similar jobs

Be the first to know when more West Tennessee Healthcare roles in White Deer, Texas get posted.

Market context

Texas nursing roles need licensed LVNs

In Texas, nursing roles like this often draw steady demand in dialysis and other patient-care settings because employers need licensed LVN/LPN candidates who can start safely and learn specialized workflows. These positions can be competitive when they require a current license, preferred dialysis experience, and completion of a training program soon after hire. Review the AI-summarized requirements and benefits here to save time, then confirm you meet the license, color-recognition, and training expectations before applying.

More openings at West Tennessee Healthcare

Rad Tech II MRI

1 day ago

RN ASN or BSN (Surgery)

1 day ago

Rad Tech I

1 day ago
View all employer openings
VitalHiresVitalHires
Use casesHighlightsExploreBlogAbout
Sign inSearch Jobs
VitalHires

VitalHires offers free resume tools for healthcare professionals alongside clinical, allied health, and care team job listings.

Explore

StatesTop Hiring CitiesFor EmployersFor CandidatesApply to JobsSalary GuidesHiring CalendarBlog

Top Hiring Cities

View all

Los Angeles

California

3188 live openings

Chicago

Illinois

2434 live openings

Houston

Texas

2401 live openings

Philadelphia

Pennsylvania

2384 live openings

Phoenix

Arizona

2152 live openings

Indianapolis

Indiana

2038 live openings

Atlanta

Georgia

2031 live openings

Dallas

Texas

1982 live openings

Legal

AboutContactEditorial PolicyPrivacy PolicyTerms & Conditions

VitalHires surfaces verified openings from hospital systems, health networks, and clinical employers across the US. Always confirm compensation and credentialing requirements on the employer's official hiring page before applying.

© 2026 VitalHires. All rights reserved.Listings are aggregated from hospital systems, health networks, clinics, and clinical employer hiring pages.