Registered Nurse First Assistant Jobs
Registered Nurse First Assistant jobs are open across hospitals, ambulatory surgery centers, and health systems, with specializations in perioperative care, surgical assistance, and wound closure, at every level from staff RNFA to lead and senior roles. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.
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Registered Nurse (RN), Full Time, First Shift
The Registered Nurse (RN) is an individual who holds a current state license to practice nursing. The practice of nursing requires specialized knowledge, judgment, and skills to provide care to groups and individuals. The RN utilizes knowledge derived from the principles of biological, physical, behavioral, social and nursing sciences to assess, plan, implement and evaluate patient care. The care is culturally based and age specific.
- PATIENT POPULATION - (CLINICAL ONLY):
o Has knowledge of growth and development milestones and tasks.
o Gives clear instructions to patients/family regarding treatment.
o Involves family/guardian in the assessment, initial treatment and continuing care of the patient.
o Identifies any physical limitations of the patient and deploys intervention when necessary.
o Recognizes and responds appropriately to patients/families with behavioral health problems.
o Interprets population related data and plans care appropriately.
o Identifies and responds appropriately to different needs resulting from, unique psychological needs or those associated with religious / cultural norms. Performs treatments, administers medication or operates equipment safely.
o Recognizes and responds to signs/symptoms of abuse or neglect.
ASSESSMENT:
o Demonstrates nursing clinical skills necessary to make pertinent and accurate assessments of the physical, psychosocial, spiritual and educational needs of the patient.
o Demonstrates knowledge base of normal age-specific, physiological and psychosocial functions of the unit’s population.
o Performs a basic physical assessment.
o Initiates upon admission, a nursing admission history and nursing assessment including an educational needs assessment.
o Initiates referrals upon admission and throughout care as based on patient assessment.
o Understands signs and symptoms and data related to the patient’s presenting problems and potential problems.
o Reassesses and evaluates patient needs each shift and more frequently when indicated by unit standards of care or patient condition.
o Assesses patient and environmental safety continuously.
o Receives and gives a complete, concise and timely report on condition of assigned patients.
o Recognizes and appropriately reports basic abnormal data and subtle changes in patient conditions. Incorporates into plan of care as applicable.
o Collaborates with other health team members to collect and share pertinent data regarding patient’s physiological and psychological condition.
o Participates in discharge planning.
PLANNING:
o Utilizes collected data to establish and prioritize a list of actual, and potential, individualized age-specific patient problems and/or needs.
o Prepares, implements, evaluates, revises and coordinates interdisciplinary plan of care for each assigned patient in a collaborative effort with the other health care team members and patient/family within the time frame indicated by unit’s standards of practice.
o Communicates formulated plan of care, as appropriate, to all levels of associates involved in the patient’s care.
o Demonstrates ability to establish priorities of care based on patients’ assessment and needs.
IMPLEMENTATION:
o Implements plan of care and interventions to provide quality care based on assessed needs, established standards of care and according to policy and procedures.
o Implements nursing actions, either by direct care or delegation of responsibility, based upon patient’s plan of care and skill level of personnel.
o Implements plan of nursing care in collaboration with the patient, family/designee, and other health care team members.
o Demonstrates critical thinking and accountability in evaluating and implementing of physician.
o Demonstrates competency for medication administration as allowed by licensure and institution policy
o Able to recognize emergent situations and implement emergency measures. Demonstrates professional manner during emergent situations.
o Based upon nursing assessment, makes appropriate referrals to other health care team members in a timely manner.
o Implements safety interventions to maintain patient/family/staff safety. Reports actual and potential patient safety issues.
o Demonstrates competency in infection control measures.
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT:
o Assumes responsibility for personal professional development and contributes to the professional development of peers, colleagues and others.
o Participates in unit or department staff meetings.
o Utilizes learning opportunities on the unit for improvement of self and others.
o Identifies personal strengths and weaknesses as a professional nurse. Takes initiatives in professional growth in regards to identified weaknesses.
o Maintains individual competency in nursing practice.
o Completes all educational, certification and regulatory requirements, submits required tests and paperwork in a timely manner.
o Involved in best practice recommendations and implementation to improve patient care at the unit or department level.
o Evaluates nursing practice by participating in self/peer review and performance improvement activities.
DOCUMENTATION:
o Nursing process is accurately and concisely documented, including evaluation of treatment.
o Documents according to UC Health policy and procedures.
o Documents plan of care reflective of collaborative practice with other health care team members.
o Documents patient/family/designee teaching and response appropriately.
EVALUATION:
o Continuously evaluates nursing practice in relation to the standards of care and individual plan of care.
o Evaluates effectiveness of nursing care interventions and revises or continues with plan of care based on patient’s response.
o Involves patient, family and other health care team members in evaluation process when appropriate.
o Maintains continuity of care between shifts or encounter and transfers by reporting or following up on patient care needs if applicable.
LEADERSHIP:
o Effectively manages care through others.
o Demonstrates time management when providing patient care.
o Demonstrates flexibility and a cooperative attitude to meet the needs of the unit.
o Acts as a resources person and mentor for new personnel, floater, and/or supplemental staff working on the unit.
o May function as a preceptor.
o Appropriately delegates to ancillary staff; communicates effectively.
PRODUCTIVITY:
o Considers factors related to cost and effective outcomes when planning patient care.
o Manages workload effectively.
o Initiates care in a timely manner.
o Answers and responds to patient requests or call lights promptly when applicable
o Supports effective use of staff and supplies.
Education And Requirements
- Graduate of an accredited nursing program; Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) preferred
- Ohio RN License
- Specialty areas may prefer 2+ years of related nursing experience, including Critical Care, Emergency Department, Perioperative Services, Obstetrics/Gynecology, Radiology, Mobile Care/Transport, or PICC services.
- Additional specialty-specific experience, such as transport nursing, interventional radiology, critical care, emergency nursing, or PICC line experience, is preferred based on the assigned department.
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About UC Health
UC Health is an integrated academic health system serving Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky. In partnership with the University of Cincinnati, UC Health combines clinical expertise and compassion with research and teaching—a combination that provides patients with options for even the most complex situations. Members of UC Health include: UC Medical Center, West Chester Hospital, University of Cincinnati Physicians and UC Health Ambulatory Services (with more than 900 board-certified clinicians and surgeons), Lindner Center of HOPE and several specialized institutes including: UC Gardner Neuroscience Institute and the University of Cincinnati Cancer Center. Many UC Health locations have received national recognition for outstanding quality and patient satisfaction. Learn more at uchealth.com.
At UC Health, we're proud to have the best and brightest teams and clinicians collaborating toward our common purpose: to advance healing and reduce suffering.
As the region's adult academic health system, we strive for innovation and provide world-class care for not only our community, but patients from all over the world. Join our team and you'll be able to develop your skills, grow your career, build relationships with your peers and patients, and help us be a source of hope for our friends and neighbors.
UC Health is an EEO employer
Registered Nurse First Assistant Jobs by Experience Level
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Find JobsRegistered Nurse First Assistant Job Market
Who's Hiring
- UC Health12

- BayCare Health System6

- Mercy5

- Valley Health5

- Piedmont Healthcare5

Top Industries Hiring
- Healthcare & Medical Services33
- Consulting & Professional Services3
- Technology & Software2
- Non-Profit & Social Services2
- Education1
What Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in registered nurse first assistant jobs.
- Active RN licensure in the state of practice with no restrictions
- Completion of an accredited RNFA program recognized by AORN
- CNOR certification required or expected within a defined period
- Minimum of two years perioperative or scrub experience before first-assist
- ACLS certification current at time of hire
- Demonstrated proficiency in tissue handling, suturing, and hemostasis techniques
Tips for Your Registered Nurse First Assistant Job Search
List your surgical specialty experience clearly
Hiring managers scan for specific procedure types, so name the surgical specialties you've scrubbed and assisted in, whether orthopedics, cardiovascular, general surgery, or others. Vague terms like 'surgical experience' won't distinguish you from scrub techs.
Lead with your RNFA certification credentials
Put your CNOR and RNFA credentials immediately after your name on your resume. Many job listings filter candidates at the screening stage, and burying certifications in a skills section means reviewers may miss them before moving on.
Target postings that specify first-assist duties
Some listings use 'perioperative RN' interchangeably with RNFA, but the scope differs significantly. Read the job description carefully to confirm first-assist responsibilities are explicitly listed before you apply, so you're not walking into a circulator-only role.
Apply early to roles that fit
Migrate Mate lists registered nurse first assistant openings from across the United States in one place, so you can find roles that match and apply directly to each listing.
Prepare for competency-based interview questions
Expect interviewers to ask about how you've handled intraoperative complications, coordinated with surgeons under pressure, or managed a case where your first-assist role required independent clinical judgment. Prepare two or three specific examples before your interview.
Negotiate for schedule and case volume alignment
When you receive an offer, ask about average weekly case volume and the mix of elective versus emergent procedures. These details directly affect your skill development and workload, and they're often negotiable at mid-to-senior levels.
Registered Nurse First Assistant Jobs: Frequently Asked Questions
Which companies are hiring the most registered nurse first assistants?
UC Health, BayCare Health System, and Mercy are hiring the most registered nurse first assistants right now, with openings concentrated in Florida, California, and Ohio, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. Health systems and ambulatory surgery center networks account for the largest share of active postings.
How many registered nurse first assistant jobs are remote?
About 7% of registered nurse first assistant openings are fully remote or hybrid as of November 2026, reflecting the hands-on surgical nature of most roles. The small remote share is concentrated in clinical education, perioperative consulting, and policy or quality improvement positions that don't require direct patient contact.
How do you become a registered nurse first assistant?
You start with an active RN license and earn your CNOR certification by passing the perioperative nursing exam. From there, you complete an accredited RNFA education program, which includes both didactic coursework and supervised clinical hours in the OR. After completing the program, you can apply for RNFA certification through CRNFA credentialing, which demonstrates your competency to employers as a first assistant.
Can you get hired as a registered nurse first assistant with limited experience?
Most employers require at least two years of perioperative RN or scrub experience before considering you for a first-assist role, because independent intraoperative judgment depends on deep procedural familiarity. If you're earlier in your career, focus on building your CNOR and logging a wide variety of surgical cases across specialties, then apply to facilities with formal RNFA training programs that develop candidates internally.
What does the registered nurse first assistant interview process look like?
Most RNFA interviews include an initial phone or video screen with HR followed by a panel interview with the OR manager, a lead surgeon, and sometimes a senior perioperative RN. You'll be asked about specific case types you've assisted with, how you handle intraoperative complications, and your familiarity with the facility's surgical specialties. Some employers add a skills assessment or a shadowing day before extending an offer.
Where can I find and apply to registered nurse first assistant jobs?
You can find and apply to registered nurse first assistant jobs on Migrate Mate, which lists current openings from across the United States. Search the listings to find roles that match your specialty, experience level, and preferred location, then apply directly to each one that fits.
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