Registered Nurse First Assistant

Exam

Third-party exam

Education

Degree

Experience

None

Background check

Not reported

REGISTERED NURSE FIRST ASSISTANT<br><br>An RN first assistant, or RNFA, works alongside the surgeon in the operating room providing direct patient care. Nurses need extensive surgical experience and additional training to qualify as first assistants, and many nurses get certification in perioperative nursing or obtain credentials as advanced practice nurses.<br><br>REQUIREMENTS: <br>If the candidate attends an in-state nursing school, the exam eligibility will be communicated to the Board, and the candidate will receive an application packet. If the candidate attends an out of state school, the candidate will use a paper form to verify that the candidate has met degree requirements. The candidate can request an application packet from the Board. Fingerprinting is a required part of the process. Tennessee's vendor for electronic fingerprinting is Identogo. (http://www.identogo.com/). The candidate will also need to register to take the NCLEX-RN (www.vue.com/nclex). The candidate will pay $200. Then the candidate will wait for an ATT which will allow them to schedule. The Tennessee Board will receive official examination results. Once the license has been issued, it can be verified online. An applicant who is unsuccessful on the NCLEX may retake it, but Tennessee does place some conditions and restrictions. After a second failure, the Board may, at their discretion, ask the candidate to take additional steps before retaking the exam. Candidates do need to pass within three years. <br><br>EDUCATIONAL REQUIREMENTS:<br> Graduate from an approved program of practical nursing.<br><br>EXAMINATION REQUIREMENTS: <br>Complete thirty (30) hours of rigorous classroom instruction in automobile auctioneering approved by the commission.<br><br>CONTINUING EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS: <br>Two contact hours of continuing education designed specifically to address controlled substance prescribing practices including the Tennessee Chronic Pain Guidelines.<br><br>RENEWAL:<br> Biennial competency requirements (with each renewal). Each licensee must maintain evidence of compliance for four years from when the requirements are completed. Proper documentation must be produced for inspection and verification within thirty days of a written request by the board. Failure to either complete the continued competence activities or to falsely certify completion may subject the nurse's license to disciplinary action.<br><br>PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS:<br> National Council of State Boards of Nursing, Inc.,<br> 111 E. Wacker Drive, Suite 2900, Chicago,<br> IL 60601,<br> (312) 525-3600,<br> https://www.ncsbn.org/index.htm<br>