RN First Assistant (Per Diem) - Outpatient Neuro

Rochester Regional Health; City of Rochester (NY); On-site; USD 69,000 - 88,000; Part time

Job summary

Rochester Regional Health is seeking an RN First Assistant (Per Diem) for outpatient neuro services at Rochester General Hospital Neurosciences Center. The role involves direct surgical assistance, hemostasis, tissue handling, and positioning under the surgeon’s direction.

The ideal candidate will hold an accredited nursing degree, an RNFA program, and NYS RN licensure with CNOR certification. Per diem shifts cover days, evenings, and nights with on-call responsibilities.

Qualifications

• Graduation from an accredited School of Nursing required.
• Completion of an RNFA program.
• One year prior experience.
• For RNFA certs obtained on or after 1/1/2020 a Bachelor’s degree is required.
• Current New York State Registered Nurse License.
• Maintains CNOR credential.

Responsibilities

• Takes OR call for first assisting.
• Provides intraoperative retraction and exposure as directed by the surgeon.
• Retracts tissue or organs and observes the operative field.
• Positions retractors as directed by the surgeon.
• Handles sponges and maintains a clear operative field.
• Manages instruments to prevent obstruction of the surgeon’s views.
• Provides intraoperative hemostasis and access.
• Removes fluids via suctioning and manages wound care.
• Places hemostats and applies electrocautery when directed.
• Sutures tissues and ensures wound alignment as directed.
• Ties knots firmly and uses instruments to dissect tissue as directed.
• Dissects only necessary tissue layers for exposure.
• Operates in other CT/RHI team roles when not needed in surgery.

Skills

Surgical first assisting

Intraoperative exposure

Bleeding control

Patient positioning

Team coordination

Education

RNFA program

Bachelor's degree (RNFA criteria)

New York RN license

CNOR credential

BLS certification

Job description

Job Title: RN First Assistant (Per Diem) - Outpatient Neuro

Location: Rochester General Hospital Neurosciences Center

Hours Per Week: 0

Schedule: Days/Evenings/Nights 10 or 12 hour on-call shifts

SUMMARY

Serves as a surgical first assistant by directly assisting the surgeon by controlling bleeding, providing wound exposure, suturing, and other surgical tasks. May provide other advanced assistance such as mobilizing the tissue, positioning the patient, and directing other surgical staff. Possesses a complexity of knowledge, judgment, and skill required to provide cost-effective, quality, and individualized patient care in a rapidly changing technological, economical and social environment. Demonstrates knowledge of principles of growth and development and utilizes the nursing process to meet patient requirements relative to age-specific needs. Maintains effective peer and physician relationships to ensure high quality of patient care and to demonstrate professionalism in practice.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Takes OR call for first assisting.


• Assists the surgeon by providing intraoperative retraction giving exposure and optimum visualization of the surgical site as directed by the surgeon.


• Retracting tissue or organs by the use of the hand, closely observing the operative field at all times.


• Placing or holding surgical retractors in the position set by the surgeon with regard to surrounding tissue.


• Packing sponges into body cavities to hold tissue or organs out of the operative field.


• Managing all instruments in the operative field to prevent obstruction of the surgeon’s views.


• Assists the surgeon by providing intraoperative hemostasis promoting adequate visual assessment and access to the surgical site as directed by the surgeon.


• Aspiration of blood and other fluids from the operative site using suctioning techniques.


• Sponging the wound and utilizing pressure as directed.


• Placing hemostats on other instruments to clamp tissue or bleeding vessels.


• Applying electrocautery tip to clamps or vessels as directed.


• Placing suture ligatures on vessels or tissue as directed.


• Perform knot tying firmly to avoid slipping.


• Uses surgical instruments to perform dissection or manipulate tissue as directed by the surgeon.


• Dissects only those layers required to provide exposure to the operative area as directed.


• Dissects only the superficial tissue of lower extremity veins during cardiac or vascular surgery as directed.


• Grasps and fixates tissue with staples or screws.


• Drills and modifies bone tissue as directed.


• The RNFA will suture tissue and insure homeostasis or wound alignment as directed by surgeon.


• Approximating tissue layers as directed to avoid excess tension or tissue necrosis.


• Uses suture, staples, skin clips or other devices to correctly approximate tissue.


• If not needed during an operation, the first assistant would function in other roles on the CT/RHI team.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Graduation from an accredited School of Nursing required.


• Completion of an RNFA program.


• One year prior experience.


• For those employees who obtained RNFA program certification of completion on or after 1/1/2020 a Bachelor’s degree required.


• Current New York State Registered Nurse License.


• Maintains CNOR credential.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

Moderate - Clinical - Moderate clinical roles are patient facing roles that require continual movement, including standing, walking, and lifting 20-50 lbs., along with pushing and pulling medical equipment and assisting with patient positioning. Employees perform frequent bending, twisting, and reaching while completing fine motor tasks in busy or confined clinical environments. High sensory acuity is essential for monitoring patient status and responding to alarms or safety concerns. Emotional and cognitive demands are substantial, involving decision‑making under pressure, responding to emergencies, and maintaining sustained focus. Environmental exposures include infectious agents, bodily fluids, chemicals, and radiation. TB testing, mask‑fit testing, and physical exams are common requirements.

LICENSES/CERTIFICATIONS

• BLS - Basic Life Support - American Heart Association (AHA)American Heart Association (AHA)American Heart Association (AHA)


• RN - Registered Nurse - NYS Office of ProfessionsNew York State Education Department (NYSED)New York State Education Department (NYSED)

PAY RANGE

$50.83 - $63.54