Registered Nurse First Assistant - Duke Health Cary

At Duke Health, we're driven by a commitment to compassionate care that changes the lives of patients, their loved ones, and the greater community. No matter where your talents lie, join us and discover how we can advance health together. Duke Health Cary Opening in Spring 2027, the next phase of this 85-acre, mixed use walkable Duke Health Cary campus will add emergency services, inpatient care, surgical services, imaging, specialty care, and infusion services, creating more than 230 career opportunities. Joining Duke Health Cary offers the opportunity to build something new, grow your career, and support our mission of advancing health across the communities we serve. RN First Assistant (RNFA) Duke Health Cary Surgery Center | Cary, NC Help Build the Future of Ambulatory Surgery Duke Health is seeking an experienced Registered Nurse First Assistant (RNFA) to join the founding clinical team of the new Duke Health Cary Surgery Center, a state-of-the-art ambulatory surgery center scheduled to open in 2027. This is a rare opportunity to be part of a new surgical facility from the beginning, helping shape the culture, workflows, and patient experience while delivering exceptional surgical care in a highly collaborative environment. The Duke Health Cary Surgery Center Will Feature Six Operating And Procedure Rooms, Including Advanced Robotic Surgery Capabilities With Two Da Vinci Surgical Systems. The Center Will Provide Outpatient Surgical Services Across Multiple Specialties, Including UrologyPlastic SurgeryBreast OncologyGeneral SurgeryGynecologyENTPediatric UrologyPediatric ENTOrthopedic Surgery Why Join the Founding Team? As a member of the inaugural perioperative team, you will: Help establish a culture of excellence, innovation, and teamworkWork with cutting-edge surgical technology, including robotic-assisted proceduresContribute to process design and continuous improvement initiativesCollaborate with highly skilled surgeons and perioperative professionalsDeliver exceptional patient-centered care in a modern outpatient environmentPlay a key role in launching one of the region's most advanced ambulatory surgery centers Position Summary The Registered Nurse First Assistant (RNFA) provides comprehensive perioperative patient care through the preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative phases of surgery. Working collaboratively with surgeons and the perioperative team, the RNFA serves as the qualified first assistant during surgical procedures, helping optimize patient outcomes, surgical efficiency, and workflow effectiveness. This role supports surgical services across multiple specialties and serves patients of all ages while promoting quality, safety, and excellence in surgical care. Key Responsibilities Preoperative Care Conduct patient assessments and evaluationsCollaborate with surgeons and care teams to develop plans of carePrepare and document preoperative orders in accordance with established protocolsCoordinate care and communicate with multidisciplinary team members Intraoperative First Assisting Serve as the qualified first assistant to the operating surgeonProvide surgical exposure, hemostasis, tissue handling, and wound closureUtilize surgical instruments, equipment, and technology safely and effectivelySupport procedural efficiency and patient safety throughout the surgical procedure Postoperative Care Collaborate with providers during the immediate postoperative periodAssist with postoperative documentation and orders following established protocolsParticipate in patient rounds and discharge planning activitiesSupport continuity of care and positive patient outcomes The RNFA functions as the surgical first assistant and does not concurrently perform the role of scrub nurse during procedures. What We're Looking For Successful Candidates Will Have at least two years of ambulatory, outpatient, or perioperative surgical experienceThrive in a fast-paced, highly collaborative surgical environmentDemonstrate accountability, professionalism, and reliabilityEmbrace flexibility and cross-functional teamworkSupport innovation, continuous improvement, and operational excellenceEnjoy building new programs and contributing to organizational growthBe passionate about delivering exceptional patient care Our Culture At Duke Health Cary Surgery Center, we are building a team that: Puts patients first in every decisionWorks collaboratively across the perioperative continuumEmbraces innovation and advanced technologySupports flexibility and operational excellenceValues continuous learning and professional growthPromotes respect, inclusion, accountability, and psychological safetyTakes ownership of quality, safety, and patient experience outcomes Minimum Qualifications Education Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) requiredMaster of Science in Nursing (MSN) preferredGraduate of an accredited school of nursingCompletion of an accredited RNFA program that includes both didactic and supervised clinical practice and is based on the AORN Core Curriculum for the RNFA Experience Minimum of three years of perioperative nursing experience requiredPrevious operating room experience with both circulating and scrub responsibilities strongly preferred Licensure & Certifications Current RN license in North Carolina or compact state licensureBasic Life Support (BLS) certification requiredCNOR certification requiredCurrent RNFA certification, or ability to obtain within two years of employment Planned Start Dates February 8, 2027February 22, 2027 First patient procedures anticipated in April 2027. Be Part of Something Extraordinary If you are an experienced RNFA who is excited by the opportunity to help launch a new surgical center, collaborate with exceptional colleagues, and shape the future of outpatient surgical care, we invite you to apply and join Duke Health Cary Surgery Center. Duke is an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to providing employment opportunity without regard to an individual's age, color, disability, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, national origin, race, religion, sex (including pregnancy and pregnancy related conditions), sexual orientation or military status. Duke aspires to create a community built on collaboration, innovation, creativity, and belonging. Our collective success depends on the robust exchange of ideas—an exchange that is best when the rich diversity of our perspectives, backgrounds, and experiences flourishes. To achieve this exchange, it is essential that all members of the community feel secure and welcome, that the contributions of all individuals are respected, and that all voices are heard. All members of our community have a responsibility to uphold these values. Essential Physical Job Functions Certain jobs at Duke University and Duke University Health System may include essential job functions that require specific physical and/or mental abilities. Additional information and provision for requests for reasonable accommodation will be provided by each hiring department.