FAQs
Q: What kind of accreditation do formal RNFA programs have?
A: AORN states, “The RNFA programs should be associated with
schools of nursing at universities or colleges that are
accredited for higher education by an accrediting agency
that is nationally recognized by the Secretary of the US
Department of Education. The registered nursing program
should be approved by a state licensing jurisdiction for
nursing programs at the university, college, or community
college level or by another national or regional agency that
is nationally recognized by the Secretary of the US
Department of Education as a specialized accrediting agency
for nursing programs.”
NIFA's RNFA program meets all these standards
and has been CCI accepted since 1998. NIFA’s RNFA Program
2.0, presented through the College of Southern Nevada (CSN),
awards 3 College Credits recognized by the United States
Department of Education (U.S.D.O.E.).
CSN is accredited
through the Northwest Commission on Colleges and
Universities recognized by the Council for Higher Education
Accreditation (CHEA). In addition, this RNFA Program is
presented through the School of Nursing at CSN, accredited
through the National League for Nursing Accrediting
Commission, Inc. (NLNAC).
Important: There are no accredited stand-alone RNFA programs
in the country (i.e., programmatic accreditation such as
NIFA's CAAHEP accredited
SA program).
Instead, all RNFA programs must be presented through
accredited nursing programs such as NIFA's through the
School of Nursing at the College of Southern Nevada.
Q: How do I get started
in the NIFA RN First Assistant Program 2.0?
A: It's easy! Just call us at 1-800-922-7747, press 1, and
you can enroll over the phone. On the following Monday, not
only will we begin getting you set up for your ONLINE
studies, but we will ship
you the most dynamic
Suture & Tying DVD Set and Practice Lab
ever produced and you can start mastering the surgical
techniques of the nation's top RNFAs. Everything is shipped
Express Mail at no charge.
Q: Is CNOR required for
the RNFA Program 2.0 ? What are the prerequisites?
A: You do not need CNOR to start the program (waived for
APN); however you'll need CNOR before you complete the
program. You must be a perioperative registered nurse with
at least two years of perioperative experience (waived for
APN). Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) or basic cardiac
life support certification (BCLS) is required. Prospects
should be competent in both scrubbing and circulating
(waived for APN). Check the AORN publication, “Standards,
Recommended Practices & Guidelines” for more information.
Q: Can I obtain my CNOR while matriculating through RNFA Program
2.0?
A: Absolutely--approximately half of our perioperative students
do this! The AORN has created a wonderful 30 hour
CNOR Preparation
course using some of the same books as our RNFA Program 2.0.
AORN is so sure you will pass CNOR that they promise a money
back guarantee. (AORN member fee: $199 Non-AORN member fee:
$299). If you add the 98 hours of home studies from your RNFA
program, you can get your CNOR and RNFA concurrently for a total
of only 128 hours of home coursework.
Q: I don't have a BSN.
Can I still enroll in this formal program?
A: AD and Diploma nurses can enroll in this program and
obtain their formal RNFA. You do not need a BSN.
Remember--all 50 states
recognize formal RNFA. (More in next question).
Q: But I thought I needed a
BSN for CRNFA?
A: That is no longer the case.
Effective August 1, 2008,
a bachelor’s degree in any field, along with the completion of
the existing CRNFA eligibility requirements, will be accepted in
order to sit for the CRNFA exam. All other CRNFA exam
requirements, including the requirement of a CNOR or APRN
credential, 2,000 RNFA practice hours, and completion of an
accepted RNFA program, remain unchanged. (If you do not have a
bachelor's degree and absolutely cannot sit for the CRNFA exam,
NIFA has secured an alternative certification--call NIFA).
Good news:
If you don't have a bachelors degree and thus can't sit for
CRNFA,
you would still be considered a formal RNFA by all 50 state BONs
and thus working within your scope
after you graduate from our Program.
CRNFA is voluntary.
Q: My hospital doesn't use or
recognize RNFAs, so why enroll?
A: Recognition of RNFA services is changing
dramaticallythroughout the country. Many states have passed
legislation that requires any private insurance carriers that
has a policy for paying for assisting services to reimburse
RNFAs who have attended a formal program. The AORN is promoting
similar legislation in most major states. This means that the
intraoperative role of RNFA will be more in demand. In addition,
more OR credentialing committees are requiring this formal
status before you can gain practice privileges. Enroll now and
get started immediately toward your formal RNFA credential.
Q: I graduated from nursing
school two months ago, but previously was a surgical
technologist for 11 years. Do I qualify for program eligibility
by virtue of my OR experience?
A: No. A candidate for the program must be a perioperative
licensed Registered Nurse for at least two years and CNOR or
eligible (waived for APN). Please refer to our Program
Prerequisites.
Q: If I am an advanced nurse practitioner without OR
experience, do I qualify to enroll?
A: Previous to enrollment, your competency will be assessed. All
nurse practitioners without OR experience will receive the
AORN Video Library
(if purchased individually, these presentations would cost over
$7,800) at a tremendously reduced fee to ensure their knowledge
of OR fundamentals and aseptic techniques (and much more).
During our Workshops, we provide all NP students an extra class
at the beginning of the week (along with extra reading
assignments pre-class). This extra seminar includes OR protocol,
OR aseptic techniques and other OR basics for non-OR students.
In addition, during the week you will perform as an RNFA and as
a “scrub.”
Q: I am an advanced nurse
practitioner and cannot attain two years perioperative
experience or CNOR. Is it true that this can be waived?
A: The experience prerequisite and CNOR are waived for qualified
advanced practice nurses. However, nurse practitioners must
be certified by the AACN, ANCC, AANP or an accepted national
certification before graduation from the program. Call us
and we will get you the accelerated training you need to become
a valuable member of the OR team.
Q: Why is NIFA's RNFA Program
2.0 a multi-specialty program?
A: Multi-specialty training is a definite benefit in making
hospital employees more marketable and flexible. But what if you
only specialize in one area? All RNFA programs must be based on
the modules of the Core Curriculum for RN First Assistant in
order to award the nationally recognized credential and lead to
national recognition. That means multi-specialty training–there
are no shortcuts. In addition, not taking the road of formal
training could be a detriment to
you and your surgeon in the areas of credentialing,
rights to practice, legally meeting state requirements, and
third party reimbursement denials.
We guarantee that upon graduating, and attending our 6 day or
3 day Workshop, you will be able to work in your own specialty
and in most other specialty areas using legally defensible,
standard techniques utilized by the nation's top RNFAs – or
we'll retrain you for free.
Q: When should I attend my
Workshop?
A: The workshop may be attended at any time convenient for you
two weeks after enrollment and can be finished concurrently with
your home studies. After attending the workshop you will have up
to 12 months to finish the entire program. (Note: NIFA classes
fill very quickly, so call early to reserve a seat).
Q: Do my home studies have to
be completed before attending a workshop?
A: No. You may go to the Workshop as early as two weeks after
enrolling in the program and then complete your studies later.
However, you must complete the 14 Hour Suture & Tying Video Set
and Practice Lab before attending the SutureStar WorkshopTM
and all required NIFA home studies must be completed before
entering your clinical internships.
Q: Isn't the best timefor an RNFA student to learn
surgical techniques during her/his internship with a
surgeon? Why does NIFA promote so many hours of hands-on
training? |
