The Chief Nurse Anesthetist makes recommendations that may significantly affect the content, interpretation, or development of VA policies or programs concerning critical matters or major issues within their scope of practice. Regularly provides anesthesia care in unusually extensive and complex surgical procedures that are of prolonged duration and involve high-risk patients. Additionally, are first line supervisor and have administrative responsibility for CRNAs and Medical Instrument Techs.
Advanced Practice Nurse (Certified Nurse Anesthetist) Basic Requirements Education. A masters or doctoral degree in nurse anesthesia. (Applicants pending the completion of educational requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until the education requirements are met.) Nursing education must be from a school of professional nursing anesthesia accredited by Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Education Programs (COA) at the time the program was completed by the applicant. Licensure and Certification. The following licensure and certification requirements are considered conditions of employment. License. All APN (CNAs) must maintain an active, current, full and unrestricted license to practice as a CNA or equivalent, in a State, Territory or Commonwealth of the United States or in the District of Columbia. Basic Certification. All APN (CNAs) must maintain full and current certification by the National Board of Certification and Recertification for Nurse Anesthetists (NBCRNA) or an equivalent Nurse Anesthetist certification recognized by the COA. NOTE: Grandfathering Provision - All persons currently employed in VHA in 0610 series and an APN (CNA) assignment that are also performing the duties as described in the qualification standard on the effective date of the standard (1/29/2024) are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the grade held including positive education and licensure/certification. APN (Certified Nurse Anesthetist) IV, Chief Educator/Leadership-Management. (a) Chief APN (CNA) IV. i Assignment. The Chief APN (CNA) makes recommendations that may significantly affect the content, interpretation or development of VA policies or programs concerning critical matters or major issues within the anesthesia arena. The Chief APN (CNA) is distinguished by educational range, clinical experience and collaborative skills. The Chief APN (CNA) is a first line supervisor and may have administrative responsibility for anesthesia staff. ii Education and Experience Requirement. (A) Meets basic education requirement for an APN (CNA) AND (B) Four years of APN (CNA) progressively responsible assignments in clinical, administrative, education and/or research related to CNA practice, one of which is specialized experience equivalent to the APN (CNA) III grade level. At this level, emphasis is placed on strategic planning and administrative responsibilities. iii Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills and Abilities. Must have the ability to perform long and short-term planning goals for their anesthesia department. Chief APN (CNA) functions may include, but are not limited to, the following knowledge, skills and abilities: (A) Ability to assume progressive responsibility for planning organizing, directing and evaluating section and departmental processes and programs. (B) Ability to supervise staff, students or ancillary personnel and to ensure proper scheduling and staffing. (C) Skill to perform as a provider and mentor for unusually extensive and complex anesthetic cases. (D) Knowledge to participate in a continual audit of anesthesia care and to ensure periodic performance and professional practice (focused and ongoing) evaluation requirements are met. (E) Knowledge to represent departmental interests at interdisciplinary committee meetings, participate in departmental reviews, collaborate in problem solving and develop quality improvement initiatives. (F) Knowledge to engage in departmental resource stewardship, evaluation of staffing, equipment and time value management. (G) Ability to interpret efficiency data as well as implement and evaluate cost-effective operational strategies. (H) Ability to prioritize and delegate tasks to enhance employee investment offering opportunities for staff leadership development. (I) Skill to collaborate and support the development of clinical and educational programs and anesthesia protocols to improve patient outcomes and improve service level performance. 50 (J) Ability to provide guidance and instruction in preparing others for positions of leadership and ethical practices which impact patient care. (K) Skill to provide leadership level commitment to foster a safety lifestyle and continuous process improvement.
This position is located at the Wilmington VA Medical Center. The Chief Nurse Anesthetist regularly provides anesthesia care in unusually extensive and complex surgical procedures that are of prolonged duration and involve high-risk patients. Additionally, the Chief Nurse Anesthetist is the first line supervisor and has administrative responsibility for CRNAs and Medical Instrument Technicians (Anesthesia tech). The Chief Nurse Anesthetist additionally participates in performance improvement projects and makes recommendations that impact the content, interpretation, or development of VA policies or programs concerning critical matters or major issues within their scope of practice. Assigned duties include, but are not limited to the following: Clinical Functions Demonstrates current clinical practice and act as a consultant in nurse anesthesia practice. . Attends Medical Center Staff meetings, community meetings, seminars, conferences, and represents a professional image of Nurse Anesthesia practice in the Surgical Service Line and VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System. Designs/revises formal standards of practice to improve patient outcomes and health care delivery processes at the service, functional group, Medical Center, network, or community levels. Participates and collaborates with multidisciplinary teams in implementing and improving standards of practice. Acquires and maintains current knowledge in practice (assessments, therapies, procedures, and technology) to effectively meet program, service, functional area, protocols and/or system performance. Addresses ethical issues that impact individual patients, families, peers, and functional groups in collaboration with service, interdisciplinary, and administrative staff. Knowledge to participate in the audit of anesthesia care, recommending changes were indicated Administrative Functions Effectively and consistently communicate administrative directives, policies and protocols to personnel and encourage interactive department meetings and discussions. Manage activities including interviewing, hiring and discipline. Help staff to understand the context of their work and how it relates to the work of others and the agency. Delegate appropriately to subordinates to share responsibilities for efficient departmental operations. Design and management of budget and cost benefit analysis in order to ensure optimal stewardship of resources. Monitor the quality of anesthesia care. Ensure retrospective, ongoing and continuing evaluation of the quality of nurse anesthesia care rendered by nurse anesthetists anywhere in the facility using ongoing professional performance evaluations and yearly performance appraisals. Responsible for maintaining competencies and SOPs in all Reusable Medical Equipment (RME) and technology, participate as a member of the RME committee, and adhere to all Medical Center requirements. Attend department, organization, quality improvement, and medical staff committee meetings, to include but not limited to: Surgical M&M, Transfusion committee, Critical Care, Professional Practice Council, RME, RCA's, HCFMA's etc., as well as other assigned task forces positions and advisory committees. Help develop and implement anesthesia specific policies and procedures in conjunction with the Chief Anesthesiologist and medical staff. Coordinate policy review and Joint Commission readiness standards with staff and system. Comply with all organizational policies regarding ethical business practices. VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package: VA Nurse Total Rewards Pay: Competitive salary, regular salary increases, potential for performance awards Paid Time Off: 50 days of paid time off per year (26 days of annual leave, 13 days of sick leave, 11 paid Federal holidays per year) Retirement: Traditional federal pension (5 years vesting) and federal 401K with up to 5% in contributions by VA Insurance: Federal health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care (many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement) Licensure: 1 full and unrestricted license from any US State or territory Work Schedule: Tour of duty subject to facility needs. Current tour is Tues 7:00am-7:30pm, Wed 7:00am-4:00pm, Thurs 7:00am-4:00pm, Fri 7:00am-7:30pm Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position.