Yes, anyone can be a first assist. Obviously, there is a certification for that, but you most certainly can!
Most definitely especially if you have OR experience. If not it will be really hard if you are not attached to a surgeon or a hospital that will allow you to precept in the OR. You need to find an RN First Assistant program and you need a surgeon to be a preceptor. I suggest you find a surgeon before getting into a program because there is a time frame with which you must complete the program and that can be really difficult to do especially if you don't know a surgeon willing to help you. I taught at UCLA's RNFA program and the ones who did not complete the program were the NP's w/o OR experience. That program is not available anymore due to COVID and I'm not sure it will offered again.
Yes, many surgeons have their own NP or PA in their practice who is usually the first assistant in surgery. There is a process to finding the right program to look for a surgical assistant program accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) or a Registered Nurse First Assisting program. Some of them may want the OR nurse to have certifications prior to starting. So do your research. Good Luck.
