Registered Nurse - First Assistant

Covenant Health Canada; Camrose; On-site; CAD 61,000 - 84,000; Full time

Job summary

Covenant Health in Camrose, AB, invites applications for a Registered Nurse First Assistant in the Operating Room. You will participate in preop planning and assist the surgeon with exposure, instrument handling, and tissue dissection, while circulating and scrubbing as needed.

The role requires active RN licensure in Alberta, CRNA credentials, and BLS Level C, with strong perioperative nursing experience and teamwork skills to support patient care.

Qualifications

• Graduate of a Registered Nurse program with active CRNA registration.
• Basic Life Support Healthcare Provider, Level C, required.
• Recent perioperative nursing experience and ongoing practice.

Responsibilities

• Participates in call rotation and preoperative planning.
• Assists surgeon in exposure, instrument handling, and dissection.
• Circulates, scrubs, and performs duties in collaboration with the team.
• Recognizes safety hazards and ensures patient safety during procedures.

Skills

RNFA experience

Perioperative nursing

Circulating scrub skills

Interdisciplinary teamwork

Education

CRNA/RN lic Alberta

Tools

Surgical instruments

Job description

Are you looking for a welcoming small city atmosphere? Are you interested in a supportive community environment, diverse clinical experience, strong interdisciplinary collaboration, opportunities for professional growth, work-life balance and a meaningful rural nursing impact?Camrose offers affordable living, access to parks and walking trails, outdoor recreation and community events that support a balanced and family friendly lifestyle.Come join a dynamic, efficient Operating Room Team and help us provide excellence in patient care. The Registered Nurse First Assistant (RNFA) is a perioperative nurse who may function as an assistant to the surgeon in the operating room during surgical procedures. The RNFA performs first assistant behaviors according to ORNAC standards and standardized hospital policies. In addition to first assisting, responsibilities may include circulating, scrubbing, and other duties as assigned.Responsibilities: Participates in the call rotation.Participates in preoperative assessment and planning for selected surgical patients.Recognizes safety hazards and initiates appropriate preventative and corrective actions.Provides exposure through appropriate use of instruments, retractors, suctioning, and sponging.Handles and dissects tissues in collaboration with the surgeon.Clamps blood vessels, coagulates bleeding points, ligates vessels, and performs other procedures in collaboration with the surgeon.Sutures muscle, fascia, subcutaneous, and skin tissue in collaboration with the surgeon.Places drain as surgically indicated.

Description:

The Registered Nurse (RN) participates in nursing assessments and interventions, care planning, implementing prescribed treatments, administering medications, evaluating treatments, and monitoring/documenting treatment progress and patient/resident response. Acting as an advocate, coordinator and liaison for the patient/resident, the RN identifies needs and sets priorities in collaboration with the multidisciplinary team. The RN facilitates patient/resident and family education and discharge planning, and may be required to act in a charge nurse capacity. The RN is responsible for the provision of care in accordance with established standards, and the Mission, Vision, Values, policies and procedures of Covenant Health. This position is covered by the terms and conditions of the UNA Collective Agreement.

• Classification: Registered Nurse
• Union: COV UNA
• Unit and Program: Operating Room
• Primary Location: St. Mary's Hospital
• Multi-Site: At (UNA only)
• FTE: 1.00
• Posting End Date: 09-OCT-2026
• Employee Class: Regular Full Time
• Date Available: 19-OCT-2026
• Length of Shift in weeks: 4
• Shifts per cycle: 19
• Days Off: As Per Rotation
• Minimum Salary: $44.56
• Maximum Salary: $60.98
• Vehicle Requirement: Not Applicable

• Classification: Registered Nurse
• Union: COV UNA
• Unit and Program: Operating Room
• Primary Location: St. Mary's Hospital
• Location Details: As Per Location
• Multi-Site: At (UNA only)
• FTE: 1.00
• Posting End Date: 09-OCT-2026
• Employee Class: Regular Full Time
• Date Available: 19-OCT-2026
• Hours per Shift: 7.75
• Length of Shift in weeks: 4
• Shifts per cycle: 19
• Shift Pattern: Days, Evenings, Nights, Weekends, On Call
• Days Off: As Per Rotation
• Minimum Salary: $44.56
• Maximum Salary: $60.98
• Vehicle Requirement: Not Applicable

Required Qualifications:

Graduate of a Registered Nurse program or recognized equivalent required.Active registration with the College of Registered Nurses of Alberta (CRNA) required.Basic Life Support Healthcare Provider (Level C) required.If you have not practiced as a Registered Nurse within the last five (5) years, completion of the following free courses are also required:1) CRNA Medication Administration Certificate - https://connect.nurses.ab.ca/home/%2Flearning-and-development%2Flearning-modules%2F2) NextGenU Health Assessment Resources Certification - https://courses.nextgenu.org/course/view.php?id=271#section-0

Additional Required Qualifications:

Graduate of a Perioperative Registered Nursing Program. Minimum 3 years current Operating Room Experience. Proficient in perioperative nursing practice as both scrub and circulating nurse with diversified operating room experience. Strong Communication and Interpersonal Skills. Excellent decision making and problem-solving skills. Models professional behavior. Demonstrates ability to exercise critical thinking.

Preferred Qualifications:

Graduate of a certified RNFA program. CNA Certification in Perioperative Nursing CPN(c) is required to practice as RNFA. Current ACLS. RNFA training may be provided to a suitable candidate.

Hiring Requirements

The following must be provided prior to your first day of work:

Security Screening: As a condition of employment, all employees are required to provide a satisfactory Criminal Record Check and to disclose of previous convictions, record suspensions or pardons received for charges of sexual assault or other sexual offences to Covenant Health prior to commencement of any work, including training or orientation shifts.

Be the Difference

Covenant Health invites you to be the difference in people's lives, your career, and your community. Guided by faith-based values, integrity, and compassion, every role contributes to person-centered care and a deeper purpose. Employees are supported through mentorship, education, and growth opportunities, working with inclusive teams that value collaboration and belonging. Together, Covenant Health advances healthcare innovation and shapes a healthier, more compassionate future for Alberta and beyond.

Create and manage profiles for future opportunities.

Covenant Zone, Camrose, St. Mary's Hospital

Covenant Zone, Camrose, St. Mary's Hospital

Covenant Zone, Camrose, St. Mary's Hospital