Have you ever entered the operating room and realised that you do not recognise most of the faces present? Have you ever asked for a routine piece of equipment only for it not to present in the theatre? Have you ever been frustrated by the lack of skilled assistant offered to you? Have you ever wondered why the turnaround time is getting slower? If you answered yes to any of these questions, then I have the solution for you.

First Assistant Ltd (FAL) has been established with the needs of the surgeon and the patient in mind. FAL provides a reliable skilful Registered Nurse First Surgical Assistant (RNFSA) that has attained the knowledge, understanding and skills to assist in the provision of care for surgical patients throughout the entire perioperative journey. The RNFSA will be able to assist with the booking of the list, ensuring all necessary equipment is available. They are also trained to provide advanced clinical assistance throughout the surgical episode, including retraction, exposure, dissection, and haemostasis and wound closure. The RNFSA is also able to assist with postoperative care from making phone calls, to running clinics. FAL can guarantee continued availability, technical expertise in surgical procedures

In my experience as a Registered Nurse First Surgical Assistant (RNFSA), with over seven year’s clinical experiences as a RNFSA, Surgeon Assistants are a valuable commodity. This has been even more so evident with the current economic climate. Hospitals are seeking cost containment which has led to more and more agency RNs who may not be aware of the surgeon’s preferences.

Being a First Assistant, I understand the importance of trust between Surgeon and Assistant, and how having a regular assistant can help alleviate the common frustration of having different assistants that do not know the Surgeon or the operation. I believe that by having a regular assistant also helps with the reduction of turnaround time between cases and the actual procedure time.

Since becoming self employed five years ago, I have worked closely with Mr. Arend Merrie, Mr. Grant Beban, and Mr Richard Babor on a regular basis. I also work for the organ transplant team at Auckland hospital, and have casual employment with Dr Padmaja Koya, Mr David Merrilees and Mr Russell Bourchier.

First Assistant Ltd has RNFSAs available who specialise in Cardiothoracic, General surgery, Vascular surgery, Head and Neck, Urology, Orthopaedics and Gynaecology. We also have RNFSAs who are experts in laparoscopic assistance.

If you feel you are at a point where you could use a regular assistant, then please contact FAL.

Extensive references available on request

FAL will invoice the surgeon once the assignment has been completed.

Surgeons should inform the patient or insurance company of the assistance fee