In addition to working as a real-world, full-time RNFA, Dean has been the active SutureStar Workshop Director for NIFA over the past 8 years. Dean has over 28 years of first assisting experience in most all service lines; ‘everything from head to toe.’ At the workshops, Dean’s personal goal is to help every NIFA student master the skills of the nation’s top assistants. Dean is on the Board of Directors for the National Assistant at Surgery Certification (NASC) and is currently Chair of the Pilot Review Committee for the maintenance of the national CRNFA credential. Dean’s talking points will touch-on:

• • • Scrub in/Handwashing
    • Sterile Technique
    • Gowning
    • Gloving
    • Basic draping
    • What are the simple skills of the nation’s top RNFAs
    • How to go from simple skills to expertise levels
    • How to apply those skills in complex settings
    • How to shine for surgeons in all service lines

Dr. Russell is a practicing nurse practitioner in cardiothoracic surgery, a NIFA graduate and now the NIFA APRN RNFA Program Director. His expertise includes complex surgical patient care, invasive acute care procedures including EVH, central line and art lines, chest tubes, thoracentesis, and hemodynamics. John works as an adjunct professor for multiple APRN nursing programs throughout the nation and is the CEO of Skills On Point, LLC, and president of Mission Skills Inc, a public charity for medical training for medical missions.

• • • Introduction to the O.R. as an APRN
    • How your skill levels affect your employment
    • How billing works for procedures and RNFA vs APRN RNFA billing
    • Negotiating your RNFA training based on billing plans

Carissa Homme, PhD, is the Senior Manager of Test Development and Certification at the Competency and Credentialing Institute (CCI) in Denver, Colorado. CCI is a nonprofit certification leader in the perioperative nursing community. Carissa oversees exam development, maintenance, volunteer coordination, and customer care for the CNOR, CSSM, CNAMB, and CNS-CP credentials. Carissa has published and presented at the national level on certification and research topics. She holds both a PhD and MS from the Colorado School of Mines and a BS from the University of Wyoming.

• • Kellie Anderson is the Credentialing & Volunteer Coordinator at Competency and Credentialing Institute (CCI) in Denver, Colorado. CCI is a nonprofit certification leader in the perioperative nursing community. Kellie’s main role is to coordinate volunteers in all stages of test development, as well as assisting in exam development, maintenance, and customer care of the CNOR, CSSM, CNAMB, and CNS-CP credentials. She holds a BSS from the Tennessee Technological University.

• • Julia Johnson is the Executive Director of National Assistant at Surgery Certification (NASC). NASC offers two certifications for RNFAs. RNAS-C certification is for the new RNFA, while CRNFA certification requires 2,000 hours of practice as an RNFA. Julia holds a bachelor’s and master’s degree from the University of Northern Arizona.

    • Benefits from certification
    • Eligibility requirements for RNFA certification
    • Obtaining and maintaining RNFA certification