RN First Assistant - ACC Irvine Operating Room - FT, Days

UC Irvine; Irvine (CA); On-site; USD 95,000 - 125,000; Full time

Job summary

UCI Health in Irvine is seeking an RN First Assistant (RFNA) to work with surgeons across perioperative care, performing advanced assistance under the surgeon’s direction and managing patient care before, during, and after operations.

The RFNA will follow standardized procedures, coordinate with anesthesia and OR staff, and maintain clinical competency, with required RNFA certification and California licensure.

Qualifications

• Successful completion of an RNFA program that meets the AORN standards for RN first assistant education programs and ongoing certification.
• Strong ability to read, write, and verbally communicate effectively in English.
• Must complete the da Vinci system training before assisting with robotic surgery.
• Minimum two (2) years diversified clinical experience as a perioperative RN.
• Minimum one (1) year experience as an RFNA.
• Knowledge of surgical anatomy, physiology, and operative techniques.
• Ability to work effectively in a high‑stress, fast‑paced environment.
• Current unrestricted RN license in California.
• Bachelor of Science in Nursing.
• Ability to work variable shifts including evenings, nights, weekends, and holidays.

Responsibilities

• Provide comprehensive perioperative nursing care and management.
• Perform intraoperative RNFA techniques under surgeon direction.
• Oversee preoperative assessment and postoperative patient management.
• Coordinate care between the surgeon, anesthesiologist, and room staff.
• Maintain adherence to standards and privileges; not acting as circulating or scrub nurse while RNFA.
• Maintain competency and participate in ongoing credentialing and training.

Skills

RNFA program

English communication

Standardized Procedures

Da Vinci training

Perioperative nursing

Critical thinking

Customer service

Organization

Team collaboration

Adaptability

Education

Bachelor of Science in Nursing

Tools

Da Vinci Robotic System

Job description

Who We Are

UCI Health is one of California's largest academic health systems and the clinical enterprise of the University of California, Irvine. Established on July 1, 1976, UCI Health has grown into a 1,461-bed health system that includes UCI Health - Orange, UCI Health - Irvine, four Community Network hospitals and a growing network of ambulatory care centers across Orange and Los Angeles counties. As Orange County’s only academic health systems, UCI Health is home to the only National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer center based in the county, the region’s only American College of Surgeons-verified Level I adult and Level II pediatric trauma center, American College of Emergency Physicians Gold Level 1 Geriatric Emergency Department and a nationally recognized regional burn center verified by the American Burn Association. Powered by UC Irvine, UCI Health serves 5.6 million people across Orange County, western Riverside County and southeast Los Angeles County through excellence in patient care, research and medical education.

Your Role on the Team

Position Summary

The RN First Assistant (RFNA) functions in an expanded perioperative nursing role that works collaboratively with the surgeon and other health care team members to achieve optimal patient outcomes. The RNFA adheres to standardized procedures, directly assists under the surgeon’s direction, and may provide advanced assistance and further refinements of perioperative nursing practice requiring delegated medical functions having completed the advanced training, education, skills, judgment, and RFNA certification. Provides comprehensive care and nursing management and is responsible for the delivery of safe, effective, and quality patient-family centered care through the continuum of perioperative care. Functions as an RNFA during operative and other invasive procedures as defined by the privileges that have been granted. This includes preoperative assessment, intraoperative performance of surgical first assistant techniques, and postoperative patient management of surgical patients in collaboration with the healthcare team members. Coordinates the overall care of patient between surgeon, anesthesiologist, and room staff. Does not perform the function of circulating or scrub nurse while functioning as the RNFA. Maintains practice in accordance with organizational standards, scope of practice, credentials, privileges, experience, education, and competency verification.

Required Qualifications

What It Takes to be Successful

• Successful completion of an RNFA program that meets the “AORN standards for RN first assistant education programs” with continued maintenance of the certification
• Strong ability to read, write, and verbally communicate effectively in English
• Required to work under Standardized Procedures for medical functions and be approved by the IDP and Credentials Committees
• Prior to assisting with robotic surgery, completion of the da Vinci ® system didactic and practical skills training session covering the robotic system components and its proper use is required
• Must possess the skill, knowledge and abilities essential to the successful performance of assigned duties
• Minimum two (2) years diversified clinical experience as a perioperative registered nurse
• Minimum one (1) year experience as a Registered Nurse First Assistant (RFNA)
• Knowledge of surgical anatomy, physiology, and operative techniques relative to operative procedures
• Demonstrated organization, critical and rational thinking, multitasking and ability to synthesize information and think through issues, directions and objectives calmly and logically
• Demonstrated excellent customer service skills
• Demonstrated cognitive, psychomotor, and skills and ability for accountability and responsibility for identifying and meeting the needs of perioperative patients
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively in a high-stress, fast-paced environment
• Demonstrated ability to function independently as a RN in the operating room as needed
• Demonstrated ability to determine appropriate course of action in complex situations
• Demonstrated ability and experience in identifying and meeting the needs of perioperative patients
• Current unrestricted Registered Nurse licensure in the State of California
• Bachelor of Science in Nursing
• Ability to work variable shifts including evenings, nights, weekends, and holidays
• Ability to maintain a work pace appropriate to the workload
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships across the Health System

Preferred Qualifications

• Master's Degree in Nursing or related field
• Current Certified Operating Room/Peri-operative Nursing (CNOR) accredited certification
• Bilingual skills to communicate effectively with patients and families

Licenses And Certifications

• Basic Life Support
• Advanced Cardiac Life Support

Total Rewards

We offer a wealth of benefits to make working at UCI even more rewarding. These benefits may include medical insurance, sick and vacation time, retirement savings plans, and access to a number of discounts and perks. Please utilize the links listed here to learn more about our compensation practices and benefits.

Conditions Of Employment

The University of California, Irvine (UCI) seeks to provide a safe and healthy environment for the entire UCI community. As part of this commitment, all applicants who accept an offer of employment must comply with the following conditions of employment:

• Background Check and Live Scan
• Employment Misconduct*
• Legal Right to Work in the United States
• Vaccination Policies
• Smoking and Tobacco Policy
• Drug Free Environment
• Misconduct Disclosure Requirement: As a condition of employment, the final candidate who accepts a conditional offer of employment will be required to disclose if they have been subject to any final administrative or judicial decisions within the last seven years determining that they committed any misconduct; received notice of any allegations or are currently the subject of any administrative or disciplinary proceedings involving misconduct; have left a position after receiving notice of allegations or while under investigation in an administrative or disciplinary proceeding involving misconduct; or have filed an appeal of a finding of misconduct with a previous employer.

The following additional conditions may apply, some of which are dependent upon business unit or job specific requirements.

• California Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act
• E-Verify
• Pre-Placement Health Evaluation

Details of each policy may be reviewed by visiting the following page: https://hr.uci.edu/new-hire/conditions-of-employment.php

Closing Statement

The University of California is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, protected veteran status, or other protected categories covered by the UC Anti-Discrimination Policy. We are committed to attracting and retaining a diverse workforce along with honoring unique experiences, perspectives, and identities. Together, our community strives to create and maintain working and learning environments that are inclusive, equitable, and welcoming. UCI provides reasonable accommodations for applicants with disabilities upon request. For more information, please contact UCI's Employee Experience Center (EEC) at [e-mail] or at [phone], Monday - Friday from 8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Consideration for Work Authorization Sponsorship

Must be able to provide proof of work authorization