RN First Assist

Founded in 1926 Glendale Memorial Hospital and Health Center is a 334-bed acute care nonprofit community hospital located in Glendale California. The hospital offers a full complement of services including its award winning heart center the colorectal surgery institute a gastrointestinal program and is a Los Angeles County approved primary stroke center. The hospital shares a legacy of humankindness with Dignity Health one of the nation’s five largest health care systems. Visit here https://www.dignityhealth.org/socal/locations/glendalememorial for more information.

One Community. One Mission. One California 

• The RNFA acts as a team leader or participant in the quality improvement process. Actively identify areas and explores alternatives to care or practice. Recommends revisions to standards or cost initiatives as needed.
• Evaluates staff on practice delivery and recommends additional education if needed.
• Participates as a team member or leader with any of the CVOR committees, or hospital committees.
• Acts as a mentor or preceptor to new members of the team.
• Actively participates in readying for the JCAHO and STATE survey visits by being able to verbalize the QI process and knowing the standards.
• Collects and interprets complex assessment data, recognizes subtle changes in the patient.
• Formulates an individualized plan of care for the patient with complex needs to achieve desired outcomes.
• Shares data with team and supports team with surgeon. Gets procedure questions asked and helps to set up for correct procedures.
• Acts as a team leader in coordinating the care of the patient, and the team process.
• Collaborates with the health care team and other disciplines to meet the desired outcomes

• 5 Years of Perioperative Nursing practice as both a scrub and circulating nurse, or if less years of experience, 3 recommendations from practicing Surgeons and demonstrated clinical practice.
• Minimal education as required for RN licensure.
• Successful completion of an RFNA program that meets Association of periOperative Registered Nurses (AORN) recommended education standards for RN First Assistant programs.
• Current California license as a Registered Nurse.
• Current American Heart Association BLS and ACLS.
• Meets requirements of statutes, regulations and institutional policies relevant to RN First Assistants.
• Endovein harvesting, radial artery harvesting, or saphenous vein harvesting experience preferred.