for Perioperative Nurses, NPs and RNFAs
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March 5, 2009 Vol. 2, No. 3 |
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New Xpress Workshops Added to Our Schedule!
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Three-day RNFA Xpress Workshops in Las Vegas, Cincinnati and Dallas have been added to our 2009 schedule.
Click here for details!
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Need Answers Now?
Call Emily! |
Questions about RNFA
training, credentialing, reimbursements,
state issues, or just want to "talk shop" between cases? Call
Emily on the NIFA HOT LINE! She'll
answer your question or immediately
direct you to the right person for an answer. Call 1-800-92ASSIST, press 1. |
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From the Editor
How One Busy RNFA Stays Organized
 The other day I was talking with Nicola Hawkinson, RN, RNFA, NP, about some articles she's going to develop for the NIFA Surgical e-News about her specialty, spine surgery. You'll be hearing more about Nicola in a future issue, but here's a brief overview: She graduated from NIFA's program in 2008, works full time as an Adult Acute Care NP at New York University's Hospita  l for Joint Diseases, runs her own company offering recruiting and education for the spine industry ( Spine-Search.com), and has written many articles for the SpineUniverse website. She's also getting her doctorate in nursing. Oh, and she has three children, ages 9, 7 and 5. Dazzling productivity always gets my attention, so I asked her if she had any tips. [ read more] |
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NEWS: First U.S. Near-total Face Transplant |
Last month, the recipient of the first near-total face transplant in the U.S. left a Cleveland hospital, able to breathe normally and eat solid food for the first time since a traumatic injury several years before had left her with no nose or palate. Dr. Maria Siemionow, a reconstructive surgeon at the Cleveland Clinic, led the operation. "In a 22-hour procedure, 80 percent of her face was replaced with bone, muscles, nerves, skin and blood vessels from another woman who had just died," reported the Feb. 6 Associated Press story on msn.com. Click here for an NBC News video that includes an animation showing which portions of the face were replaced. And a more in-depth description of the surgery is available in this The New York Times article published on Dec. 18, 2008, including a link to a piece on ethical issues underlying facial transplants. |
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RNFA in the Spotlight |
Name: Beatriz Orvis
City & State:
Oak Park, CA
Credentials: CNM, NP, RNFA, MSN, MBA
Current Job:
Self-employed
Quote: After
being "hard core OB" since 1978, I am now turning into the ortho queen with my
first assistant practice. I do cases four days a week; sometimes five. The
majority of the cases are ortho and spine with some OB, gyn and urology in the
mix . . . I am now doing an average of
10-15 cases per week and have had as many as 19 cases in one week. My income is fantastic and I love being my
own boss!
In these days of "doom and gloom," it's wonderful to
read about folks whose work lives are thriving. Click here to read Beatriz' full story.
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RNFA Tips
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Have you ever found it tough to cut a strand of suture with regular suture scissors?
The trick is to rotate the scissors to a point where the center screw is facing you, or up. Since suture scissors are manufactured to operate that way, you will find it easier to cut from now on!
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NIFA helps fund
OR Management Education monthly as an
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Disclaimer: The views expressed in this newsletter are strictly those of their respective authors and do not necessarily represent the views of NIFA. NIFA does not give any express or implied warranty as to accuracy of statements made by our contributors and does not accept any liability for error or omission. It is the responsibility of all perioperative personnel to work within and adhere to their facility bylaws and individual State scope of practice.
 The National Institute for First Assisting (NIFA) is the nation's leader of distance learning RNFA programs. NIFA students receive over 54 hours of simulated skills, hands-on lab training at our SutureStar Workshops. NIFA's RNFA programs are CCI-accepted and meet all standards as set forth by the AORN for formal RN First Assistant programs, taking Perioperative Nurses and NPs to expert levels in the expanded role of Registered Nurse First Assistant. |
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