From the Editor
This month we’re re happy to announce a new, free continuing education course on the First Assisting role – read on!
In our Student Spotlight, we present Deidre Pearce of Neotsu, OR.
And we’ve collected some useful iPad surgical apps for you, as well as a crop of job listings.
Enjoy!
Julie Lancaster, Editor
FREE Continuing Education Credits!
RNFAs, APRNs and Implementing an RNFA Team
We are offering a new free course to anyone interested in learning more about the First Assisting role, or considering bringing RNFAs into their operating room. Simply send an email to [email protected] with “Free RNFA Course” in the subject line. Please provide the following:
full name
title
email address
address and phone number
name and address of the facility where you work
We will provide you with access to this informative course upon receipt of this information.
Student Spotlight
Name: Deidre H. Pearce
Credentials: RN, BSN, BFA
Student Status: Current student, NIFA’s RNFA program
City and State: Neotsu, OR
Current Job: RN, Surgical Services at Samaritan North Lincoln Hospital a 25-bed critical access facility on the central Oregon coast
Why did you become a nurse? When I graduated a year early from high school, my parents encouraged me to attend a four-year degree nursing school. “You will always have a job,” my mother stated confidently. She was my father’s office nurse; he was a pediatrician. I received my Registered Nurse training and BSN at the University of Portland, Portland, OR. And of course my mother’s supposition was correct; I have always been able to have employment as a Registered Nurse. Not everyone can say that they have a career that they love in the field in which they trained!
Path to RNFA: My decision to pursue the RNFA was based on opportunity and need. I enjoy every aspect of surgical services, from pre-op to recovery room. When one of the two RNFAs relocated to a sister hospital to work with the cardiac team and the other recently became my manager, I saw my chance to not just scrub or circulate on cases, but actually assist the surgeon. Being a seamstress and artist has also been an immediate benefit with beautiful stitches and knots! It is one of the most empowering processes I have undertaken to date.
iPad Apps of the Month All the following apps are available at the Apple store. Click on the name to go there.
Touch Surgery by Kinosis is a mobile surgical simulator for iPhone / iPad that allows you to learn by doing. Click on the link to see screen shots of a variety of surgeries available this app.
Robotic Surgery. From Lehigh Valley Health Network, this iPhone / iPad app teaches students about the field of robotic surgery. It will take you through six user-friendly modules to improve your knowledge.
Safe Surgery is a dedicated iPhone implementation of the WHO Safe Surgery checklist. This digital version includes a progress indicator and feedback after each of the three check moments. From digitalneurosurgeon.com.
And one for the kids:
Dr. Dino – Doctor Game For Kids LITE!
By Joy Preschool Game. Take care of 3 different dinos and help to cure them in various hospital scenes. Cute animations and Dino Stickers as Rewards. Learn about physics and body structure.
Do you have questions about implementing an RNFA team or becoming an RNFA? Our new continuing education course, RNFAs, APRNs and Implementing an RNFA Team, will answer many of your questions. If you need answers more quickly, please see the links below or just call us at 1-800-922-7747. We will be happy to discuss any questions you may have and discuss the benefits to staff, surgeons and administrators of having an RNFA team at your facility.Prerequisites for becoming an RNFASurgical Skills Workshops
Job Front Click here for the RNFA Job postings we’ve collected for you this month!Surgical Continuing Education
NIFA Office Hours