Registered Nurse First Assistant, A.T.C

Who is eligible for the REGISTERED NURSE FIRST ASSISTANT CERTIFICATE program?

To be accepted into an RNFA program, the RN must have at least two years of professional nursing experience in the operating room environment and achieved the credential of CNOR (Certified Perioperative Nurse), or possess an advanced practice degree.

Certification is not required to function under the Florida State Nurse Practice Act as an RNFA.  The program is usually a 2 semester program involving both classroom and clinical components.  The nurse may then apply for and complete a national exam to receive the credential (CRNFA) through the National Assistants at Surgery Certification (NASC). 

This program is flexible and offers two entry options to fit your needs:

• If you are an ARNP and have no OR Experience, you enter the online program by completing the NSP2290 Perioperative Nursing Theory Class and then the NSP2090 RNFA Theory Class.
• If you are already an experienced operating room nurse who is CNOR certified or if you are CNOR eligible, you may enter the online program NSP2090 RNFA Theory Class.
  • External college credit of 3 credits is awarded to those certified as a Certified Perioperative Nurse (CNOR).
  • NOTE: You must submit a copy of your active CNOR certificate to complete the requirements for the Advanced Technical Certificate.  If you do not pass the CNOR examination and/or submit your copy of the certificate, you will have to complete successfully NSP2290 course to complete the program.

You can submit college credit for your 2-year licensing cycle and renewal of your CNOR. Our nursing faculty care deeply about your career success and will help you through the rough spots along the way. They are your advocates, and after graduation, your professional colleagues.

WHY CHOOSE GULF COAST STATE COLLEGE TO EARN YOUR REGISTERED NURSE FIRST ASSISTANT CERTIFICATE?

• You will enjoy our location in Florida, providing a wonderful place to learn while enjoying some special time on the beach. Our campus is located on the beautiful St. Andrews Bay, with many great views of the water. Schedule a campus tour to learn more about Gulf Coast State College.
• Gulf Coast State College’s nursing programs also have clinical site agreements with many hospitals and rehabilitation centers in the area, including Gulf Coast Medical Center and Bay Medical Center in Panama City. You learn about the scope of practice, expectations of the surgeon and practice your skills at the on-site lab workshops including: how to make initial incisions, injecting local anesthetics, insertion of trocars, exposing the surgical site, providing hemostasis, manipulation or dissection of tissue, insertion of drains, suturing, and management of the wound.  As required by the AORN standards, the program does require at least a Bachelor's Degree with CNOR eligibility or licensure as an Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioner.  If you do not have your Bachelor's Degree, the college offers a BSN  or other BS degrees which are online and more economical than major universities.
• You will have access to state of the art equipment including a 4-bed OR Suite. You get individualized attention along with virtual and simulated hands on practice in a state college learning environment.
• You have experienced trainers dedicated to optimizing and individualizing your learning experiences according to your needs. This program has been offered since 2008.
• With plenty of time to plan for your lab week, you can complete all the online components during the months before or after the lab week.
• You choose your own surgeon mentor to provide the training and guidance to perfect your surgical techniques such as tissue manipulation and wound closure.
• You can do everything in your home town except the on-site Lab Week.  The on-site lab week is offered in  September or  February for 3-4 days.
• There is an onsite clinical option; come here to complete your cases if you cannot arrange a clinical site or surgeon mentor in your home town.