Full-Time

Registered Nurse First Assistant

Surgery

Updated on 9/3/2026

West Tennessee Healthcare

West Tennessee Healthcare

1,001-5,000 employees

Public, nonprofit hospital system with centers

No salary listed

Jackson, TN, USA

In Person

Bachelor's, Associate's

Category
Medical, Clinical & Veterinary (1)
Required Skills
Basic Life Support (BLS)
Patient Education

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Requirements
  • Completion of a diploma, associate, or baccalaureate degree in nursing is required.
  • Successful completion of a registered nurse first assistant education program that meets the Association of periOperative Registered Nurses education standard for a registered nurse first assistant is required.
  • A current Tennessee license as a Registered Nurse is required.
  • A current Tennessee license as a Registered Nurse First Assist is required.
  • Current certification in perioperative nursing through the Competency and Credentialing Institute is required.
  • Current Basic Life Support certification is required.
  • The ability to scrub during surgical cases, acquired through three months of departmental education, is required.
Responsibilities
  • Provide first-assistant support during surgery, including exposure, hemostasis, and other technical functions under the surgeon’s direct supervision.
  • Provide patient care in an assigned operating room, or assist the physician on the floor or in the clinic as an extender, under the direction and supervision of surgeons.
  • Perform preoperative nursing assessments, educate patients, and provide emotional support.
  • Evaluate patient and surgical-team needs throughout the surgical encounter.
  • Collaborate with surgeons and other healthcare professionals to support optimal surgical outcomes.
  • Assist anesthesiologists when applicable.
  • Assist with patient positioning, skin preparation, and draping.
  • Provide wound exposure through suctioning, sponging, and retracting.
  • Harvest the saphenous vein for grafting under the direction of the operating surgeon.
  • Perform arterial conduit procedures for grafting under direct physician supervision when holding a certificate demonstrating the required training.
  • Advance a rigid endoscope during endoscopic procedures under the direction of the operating surgeon.
  • Provide hemostasis by applying clamps or clips, coagulating bleeding points, and ligating bleeding vessels.
  • Close surgical wounds under the direction of the surgeon, including facilitating skin closure with forceps.
  • Suture fascia, subcutaneous tissue, and skin.
  • Insert urethral catheters.
  • Scrub, gown, and glove for surgical procedures.
  • Use and manipulate surgical instruments correctly and ensure their proper functionality and storage.
  • Participate actively in sponge, needle, and instrument counts.
  • Handle tissue appropriately to reduce the potential for injury.
  • Handle laboratory and tissue specimens according to established protocol.
  • Handle supplies properly.
  • Select and apply appropriate wound dressings.
  • Assist in securing drainage systems to tissue.
  • Relieve staff during case changes, shift changes, breaks, or mealtimes according to protocol to ensure continuity of care.
  • Access and handle medications necessary for operating-room procedures.
  • Record patient progress in progress notes for physician countersignature in hospital and clinic settings.
  • Accept verbal physician orders when applicable, record them, and read them back for confirmation.
  • Assist with safe postoperative delivery of patients to the recovery room.
  • Communicate with appropriate healthcare personnel and family members postoperatively.
  • Perform follow-up care to evaluate patient condition.
  • Perform postoperative activities that may include removing sutures, chest tubes, drains, and pacing wires.
  • Participate in discharge planning and provide discharge instructions.
  • Perform related responsibilities as required or directed.
Desired Qualifications
  • Current Certified Registered Nurse First Assistant certification through the National Institute of First Assisting, Inc.
West Tennessee Healthcare

West Tennessee Healthcare

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West Tennessee Healthcare is a public, not-for-profit health system based in Jackson, Tennessee, operating an anchor hospital and several specialty centers. It delivers care through Jackson-Madison County General Hospital (635 beds) and centers of excellence in Women and Children, Cancer, Emergency Services, Rehabilitation, and Heart care, offering inpatient, outpatient, emergency, cancer, and rehab services. It differs from many competitors by being community-focused and integrated as a single regional health system rather than a for-profit network of independent providers. Its goal is to provide comprehensive, accessible healthcare across West Tennessee through its network of hospitals and specialty centers.

Company Size

1,001-5,000

Company Stage

N/A

Total Funding

N/A

Headquarters

Jackson, Mississippi

Founded

1950

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Simplify Jobs

Simplify's Take

What believers are saying

  • Bolivar's new 28,179-square-foot micro-hospital targets completion by late 2026.
  • July 2026 Altaviva implants at Dyersburg expand urology revenue and prestige.
  • ERAdvisor and Dragonfly Navigate improve throughput, discharge speed, and patient engagement.

What critics are saying

  • OIG settled EMTALA allegations on February 13, 2026, for $340,231.20.
  • Repeated transfer failures invite CMS scrutiny and local referral erosion across 2026.
  • Vendor-dependent AI workflows from Philips, Qventus, and Xsolis create rollout fragility.

What makes West Tennessee Healthcare unique

  • West Tennessee Healthcare serves 19 counties and 600,000 residents with seven hospitals.
  • Its July 2026 eICU spans 127 ICU beds and 17 emergency carts.
  • The system pairs care delivery with UT Martin and nursing-school pipelines.

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Benefits

Flexible Work Hours

Professional Development Budget

Company News

Radio NWTN
Jul 8th, 2026
Dyersburg Hospital now offering new treatment option.

Dyersburg Hospital now offering new treatment option. * Shannon McFarlin * July 8, 2026 * 8:18 am DYERSBURG, TN. - West Tennessee Healthcare is pleased to announce a new treatment option for people living with urge urinary incontinence. Dyersburg Hospital is now offering the Altaviva(TM) implant, an innovative therapy designed to help patients regain control and confidence. Unlike medications or injections that target the bladder muscles, the Altaviva(TM) implant works by stimulating the tibial nerve near the ankle. This gentle stimulation helps restore communication between the bladder and brain, which may reduce urgency and leakage. The therapy is designed to fit seamlessly into daily life. How It Works A small device is placed just under the skin near the ankle during a minimally invasive outpatient procedure. The implant sends gentle electrical pulses to the tibial nerve. These signals may help regulate normal bladder function and improve bladder control. This approach is known as tibial neuromodulation, a proven therapy for UUI. Why Altaviva(TM) May Be Right for You * One-time outpatient procedure - go home the same day * Therapy begins the same day as implantation * MRI-ready for full-body 1.5T or 3T scans * Long-lasting battery designed for up to 15 years of treatment Brent Zamzow, MD, urologist on staff at West Tennessee Healthcare- Dyersburg Hospital, recently performed the hospital's first Altaviva(TM) implant. "Urge urinary incontinence can have a profound impact on quality of life, said Zamzow. "This innovative implant expands treatment options by providing a safe, minimally invasive solution for patients whose symptoms persist despite conservative therapy". He says. Important Safety Information: As with any surgery, there are potential risks. Complications may include pain at the implant site, lower leg pain, infection, or technical/device issues. Results vary. Talk to your doctor to see if Altaviva(TM) therapy is right for you. For more information, visit www.Medtronic.com/Altaviva About Altaviva(TM) Therapy The Altaviva(TM) system from Medtronic is an implantable tibial neuromodulation (ITNM) therapy designed to treat urge urinary incontinence (UUI) in patients who have not responded to or could not tolerate more conservative treatments. The device is placed near the ankle in a minimally invasive outpatient procedure and automatically delivers electrical stimulation to the tibial nerve to help restore communication between the bladder and brain - potentially reducing urgency and urinary leakage. The Altaviva(TM) system is activated on the same day as implantation, features long-lasting battery life, and is MRI-compatible, offering patients a streamlined and life-enhancing therapy option.

Radio NWTN
Apr 6th, 2026
Registration open for grief education series.

Registration open for grief education series. JACKSON, TN. - West Tennessee Healthcare, in partnership with Butterfly's Embrace, will host a two day grief education series featuring nationally recognized grief counselor and best-selling author Dr. Alan D. Wolfelt. The series will begin on Thursday, April 30, 2026, with an evening community event titled Tending to Your Broken Heart: Hope for Your Healing. This free event will be held from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at Lighthouse Church in Jackson. Dinner will be provided, and while attendance is free, registration is required. On Friday, May 1, 2026, the series will continue with a full-day educational workshop, The Art of Companioning a Mourning Heart: Caring Versus Curing, from 9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the J. Walter Barnes Conference Center at Jackson-Madison County General Hospital. This session is designed for healthcare professionals, caregivers, and others who support individuals experiencing grief. Continuing education credits will be available. Throughout both events, Dr. Wolfelt will share practical, compassionate approaches to understanding grief, helping attendees recognize the emotional, psychological, and social impact of loss while learning how to truly walk alongside those who are hurting. The sessions will also explore the important difference between "caring" and "curing," offering guidance on how to support others in meaningful and lasting ways. "At West Tennessee Healthcare, caring for our community means being there not only in times of illness, but also in times of loss," said Leigh Ann Sutton, WTH Perinatal Bereavement Social Worker. "These events are an opportunity to learn how to support one another with compassion, understanding, and heart." Registration for both events is available by visiting www.ButterflysEmbraceFamilySupport.com. This series is made possible through the partnership of West Tennessee Healthcare, Butterfly's Embrace, and community sponsors who share a commitment to caring for others through every stage of life. About West Tennessee Healthcare: West Tennessee Healthcare is a public, not-for-profit healthcare system with locations serving 19 counties in West Tennessee and Southeast Missouri. The mission of West Tennessee Healthcare is to improve the health and well-being of the communities we serve while providing exceptional and compassionate care. For more information, visit www.wth.org.

GlobeNewswire
Aug 5th, 2025
Xsolis Announces New AI-Powered Workflow Solution, Dragonfly Navigate, to Reduce Length of Stay and Improve Efficiencies in Discharge Planning and Capacity Management

West Tennessee Healthcare expands its partnership with Xsolis and will be piloting the Dragonfly Navigate solution.

Qualivis
Feb 19th, 2025
Beyond Contingent Staffing: Qualivis as Your Total Workforce Partner

With contingent labor needs stabilized, Qualivis continues to collaborate with West Tennessee Healthcare on broader programs aimed at strengthening its overall workforce strategy.

HIT Consultant
Jul 19th, 2024
West Tennessee Healthcare Invests in AI to Improve OR Efficiency, Utilization, & Surgical Growth

Qventus and West Tennessee Healthcare: Pioneering AI-Driven Care Operations for Optimal Efficiency