NIFA

The Certified Registered Nurse First Assistant (CRNFA) credential has existed since the mid-1990s but was purchased by the National Assistant at Surgery Certification (NASC) company in late 2018. Achieving accreditation is a noteworthy achievement considering the challenges faced by both the Registered Nurse First Assistant (RNFA) community and NASC.

The problem of faculty shortages has been well known for over two decades.(5)(6) The American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) explains that, “The current demand for master’s- and doctorally prepared nurses for advanced practice, clinical specialties, teaching, and research roles far outstrips the supply.”(2)

My inspiration for these monthly column comes from unexpected sources. A recent news release from the National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NBCSN) regarding a Unique Nurse Identifier, or UNI, prompted this article.1  This UNI, specific to an individual American nurse, already exists in the NCSBN records although many of us know very little about the concept.

I have made several recent road trips through rural America in the Southwest and upper Midwest. In those travels I often see rural hospitals in relatively small cities. As someone who writes about American health care this gives me pause to consider the financial health and stability of these facilities and their place within their communities.

By James X Stobinski, Ph.D, RN, CNOR, CSSM(E), CNAMB(E) King Henry, in the play “Henry V” by William Shakespeare, exhorts his followers to return to the fray once again with the phrase, “Once more unto the breach …”1 Building on previous columns, I would like to...

The American Hospital Association (AHA) informs us that, “A talented, qualified, engaged and diverse workforce is the heart of America’s healthcare system.”1 But, American health care continues to face a number of significant challenges to include denials and delays in payments, sustained inflation and critical workforce shortages.1