RN First Assistants

One purpose of this survey was to determine how receptive hospital administrators and health care professionals in central Texas are to the concept of RNFAs. In review of the data presented here, it appears that this region is only minimally aware and supportive of the RNFA position. Many of the negative responses collected at this time may be due to fears that the RNFA would completely remove the physician first assistant by taking over the duties, responsibilities, and salaries. Survey comments that supported this idea included, "In our community where many physicians are still building a practice, assisting at surgery is seen as a helpful source of income," and "The current economic situation in Austin does not allow most general surgeons the luxury of an RNFA . . . this would also take income away from the surgeons." Even so, less than 21% of the responding surgeons with active practices were negative in their overall view of the RNFA. Thirty-six of the 72 physicians (50%) provided favorable views and encouraging comments regarding increased use of RNFAs. The balance of the surgeons either were neutral about the use of the RN first assistant or did not favor such practice. One surgeon summarized his experience with first assistants this way: "After 35 years of practice, I have come to the conclusion that good first assistants are 90% born, 10% trained, and 100% untrained common sense."(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)