Expand the section navigation mobile menu

RNFA Certificate

Registered Nurse First Assistant (RNFA) Certificate Program

Expand Your Role in the Operating Room

The Registered Nurse First Assistant (RNFA) Certificate Program at Oakland University’s School of Nursing is designed for experienced perioperative nurses looking to advance their surgical skills and professional opportunities. With the growing demand for skilled surgical assistants, this program provides nurses with the expertise needed to enhance patient care and surgical outcomes.

Why Become an RNFA? The demand for surgical assistance has grown exponentially due to an increase in outpatient surgery centers, advancements in minimally invasive procedures, and the rising need for skilled first assistants in the operating room. By becoming an RNFA, you will gain valuable hands-on experience in suturing, retracting, positioning, and assisting in a wide range of surgical procedures.

Program Overview Developed and facilitated by RNFA veteran Todd Farlow, RN, BSN, CNOR, CRNFA, this comprehensive one-semester program blends online learning with in-person, hands-on training. Participants will gain:

  • 99 hours of didactic/online instruction

  • Hands-on practice in suturing, knot tying, and wound care

  • Training guided by AORN standards of perioperative nursing

  • Practical experience in Oakland University’s Human Health Building labs

Upon completion of the program and 120 hours of clinical practice, graduates will be prepared to function as RNFAs in orthopedic, neurosurgery, plastic, vascular, robotic, OB/GYN, urology, and general surgical procedures.

Eligibility Requirements To enroll in the RNFA program, nurses must have:

  • Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN)

  • Current RN licensure

  • CNOR certification (If not CNOR-certified, nurses must earn it before completing the certificate.)

  • BLS or ACLS certification

  • APRN/NPs are not required to be CNOR-certified

Learning Outcomes Graduates of the RNFA Certificate Program will be able to:

  • Understand the scope of practice and procedures for obtaining surgical privileges

  • Identify and apply surgical anatomy and physiology principles

  • Implement asepsis, infection control, and wound healing strategies

  • Recognize and mitigate surgical hazards to ensure patient safety

  • Demonstrate best practices in perioperative nursing and first assisting

  • Utilize effective communication strategies to enhance surgical teamwork

Meet the Instructor(s): Todd Farlow, BSN, RN, CRNFA Todd Farlow brings decades of perioperative experience to this program. A Certified Registered Nurse First Assistant (CRNFA), he has performed over 2,000 endoscopic vein harvesting (EVH) cases and accumulated over 30,000 hours of first-assisting experience in cardiovascular and plastic surgery at major hospitals in Michigan. Cheryl Hammond, RN, BSN, CNOR, RNFA is an accomplished surgical services leader with over three decades of experience in perioperative nursing, clinical management, and surgical team leadership. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Walden University, where she graduated Magna Cum Laude, and an Associate of Science in Nursing from Wayne County Community College.

Program Cost & Discounts Oakland University is committed to providing affordable, high-quality professional development. Discounts are available for hospitals and healthcare agencies enrolling multiple nurses. For pricing details and group rates, please contact Jennifer Cepnick at jecepni2@oakland.edu.

How to Register For more information on registration, program dates, and additional details, please reach out to:

Take the next step in your nursing career, become an RNFA and enhance your impact in the operating room!

✎