Chief Nurse Anesthetist

Summary

The Central Iowa VA Health Care System is recruiting for a full time, Chief Nurse Anesthetist (APN) located in Des Moines, IA. This position will fall under the Surgical Care Service line. In collaboration with the Chief of Anesthesia, the Chief Nurse Anesthetist provides leadership to the Department of Anesthesia.

Duties

The VA Midwest Health Care Network advocates for a Whole Health System of care in each of the Medical Centers. This is an approach to healthcare that empowers and equips people to take charge of their health and well-being and live their lives to the fullest. As an employee operating in a Whole Health System of care, you will operate in a model with three core elements, seeking to create a personalized health plan for each Veteran. This is done in the context of healing relationships and healing environments and a connection back to the Veteran's community. This aligns with the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) Mission Statement to Honor America's Veterans by providing exceptional health care that improves their health and well-being.

Duties may include, but are not limited to:

Supervisory:

• Performs basic staff supervision functions including recruitment, interviewing and selection of new staff; performance management; performance evaluation; and discipline
• Assesses staffing needs based on measured workload, maintains and requests appropriate staffing to address those needs
• Develops a staffing pattern to address daily needs and schedules staff to address those needs.
• Participates in Continuous Improvement activities
• Monitors clinical performance of CRNAs
• Establishes and maintains an appropriate staff orientation and competency assessment program
• Identifies equipment needs and participates in equipment evaluation and purchasing in accordance with federal government regulations
• Participates in medical center committees, councils and task forces as assigned.
• Interprets and enforces Human Resource/ EEO policies and directives and complies with the negotiated agreement
• Develops and maintains department policies and procedures, in collaboration with the Chief, Anesthesia
• Collaborates with Learning Service to maintain a continuing education program for staff CRNA
• Clearly communicates performance standards and performance expectations to all staff CRNA

Clinical:

• Perform and document a preanesthetic evaluation of the patient before surgery including requesting consultations, additional diagnostic and/or laboratory studies
• Initiation of the planned anesthetic technique that may include general, regional, MAC, or local anesthesia. Interventions include administration of fluids, medications, ventilator support, provision of homeostasis, provision of adequate pain relief and management of anesthesia and surgical side effects.
• Induction of general anesthesia and initial airway management.
• Endotracheal intubation for surgical or procedural cases.
• Placement of endobronchial tubes or blockers for procedures requiring one lung ventilation or lung isolation.
• Central line placement; Pulmonary artery (Swan-Ganz) catheter placement
• Peripheral nerve blocks.
• Central neuroaxial blocks.
• Epidural blood patches.
• Adjustment of anesthetic drugs and techniques utilized in the maintenance of anesthesia.
• Sedation for field blocks or MAC as discussed in the anesthetic care plan.

VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package: VA Nurse Total Rewards

Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 7:00am - 3:30pm with on-call duties as needed by the organization. Additional information may be provided during the interview process.

Telework: Not available.

Virtual: This is not a virtual position.

Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized.

Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized.

Financial Disclosure Report: Not required.

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