Reimbursement
Every year, the AORN Salary Surveys have
shown how obtaining your formal RNFA status helps you
financially. Below is an excerpt from 2009:
(Below is taken from the NIFA RNFA
testimonial
page)
We recently asked our graduates if having their RNFA has
helped them during these hard economic times. While some
experienced downsizing, you can imagine how pleased we were to
see that over 70% of the responses were extremely positive.
 I
can answer that having become an RNFA has DEFINITELY helped with
my position in the OR during this economy. I am so much more
valuable because they can put me wherever there is a need,
whether it be circulating, scrubbing or RNFAing. In fact, we
have had a couple of people quit because they were unable to get
enough hours (our OR has really slowed down, but I am always
busy) and I overheard our charge nurse talking to the OR
director about how it would REALLY hurt to have the FAs quit
because they can be used in so many ways! Ahhhh... job security!
Anyway, I am thankful every day that I took that next step to
RNFA."
Laurie Van Epps, NIFA RNFA Graduate
I
will have to say, yes, definitely.
I am working PRN as an OR circulating nurse, and as an RNFA with
3 spine surgeons when needed... Forest Park Medical Center in
Dallas has been very gracious in letting me work when I can,
even letting me clock out to first assist, then clock back in to
circulate. This is also an advantage for them as well.
Of course, I would like to first assist full time, but this
has been working out great.”
Connie Loop, NIFA RNFA Graduate
 Funny
you should ask. My job here has
increased in hours. Due to
decreases in nursing positions
our cases run longer into the
afternoon and the night. I
started a breast reduction at
5pm the other day because we
couldn't get started in the OR
earlier, but I was idle for two
hours in the afternoon. Other
services are asking for my
assistance, especially general
and ortho. As I am an OR
employee not a service employee
it makes switching easier. I was
hired for the Plastic dept from
the periop dept but frequently
work for other services esp.
when we do combo
cases,(plastics/gen or plastics/ortho.
If anything I feel my job is
more secure.”
Thomas
LeBlanc, NIFA RNFA Graduate
Personally,
in a private world of plastic
surgery, things are actually
good in both states and the
reimbursement is second best
(after spine) if I did not have
my RNFA I would not have a
job now. Getting this education
has opened the door of job
opportunities for me. There were
at least 5 agency/full-time
jobs that I could have had with
excellent pay and
benefits.... There continues
interest from other states... It
has been actually very
amazing, way better that I have
expected, even in this economy.”
Iveta
Everingham, NIFA RNFA Graduate
Being
an RNFA allows me to go assist
on surgeries on my own patients
and bring in more revenue. I am
planning to start delivering
babies again soon, too, I hope
(I stopped for a few years
because of family situations),
so I will get to do more
c-sections while I am in labor
and delivery. It just rounds out
the whole patient care cycle and
makes me more valuable to the
doctors I work for. Also I can
explain things in the office
better to patients.”
Stephanie
Beasley, CNM, NP, NIFA RNFA
Graduate
Absolutely!
It has contributed to my job
security. In our facility RNFA's
are being utilized for almost
all cases (general, peds, ortho,
spine, and robotics) and it
greatly improved our surgeon's
satisfaction.”
Rommel Ducasi, NIFA RNFA
Graduate
I
do think that my abilities of a
RNFA does help with my job
security because I help to
shorten the operation time
sometimes as much as a couple
hours on the surgery. I also
feel that my Doc really does
like the fact that when we are
at the hospital that he does not
have to worry that they may not
have everything that they need
and that he does not have to
deal with these kind of problems
because I try to stay on top of
these issues. I really do feel
that a RNFA does have better job
security due to the fact that
they can do more things than a
RN."
Sandie Speed, NIFA RNFA Graduate
Yes.
There are times when I am used
to first assist and also stay
late to help a surgeon... I
think one of the things that
make me more marketable is that
I can wear so many hats...scrub, circulate,
first assist, precept, and
charge nurse. Thanks for the
question.”
Peggy
Schlomer, NIFA RNFA Graduate
With
fewer residents available to
assist with cases, the RNFAs are
very busy. Because the RNFAs can
scrub, circulate, and assist,
the charge nurse has more
flexibility in making
assignments."
Joanne
Niwa, NIFA RNFA Graduate
Read more testimonials at
www.rnfa.org/testimonials.html
|
