Nurse Anesthetist

Summary

This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), a student loan payment reimbursement program. You must meet specific individual eligibility requirements in accordance with VHA policy and submit your EDRP application within four months of appointment. Approval, award amount (up to $200,000) and eligibility period (one to five years) are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after complete review of the EDRP application.

Qualifications Advanced Practice Nurse (Certified Nurse Anesthetist)

Basic Requirements:

English Language Proficiency
In accordance with 38 U.S.C
7402(f), no person shall serve in direct patient care positions unless they are proficient in basic written and spoken English
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
The following Education, Experience, and Knowledge, Skills and Abilities must be met for Advanced Practice Nurse (Certified Nurse Anesthetist) II: Exception to Licensure for Graduate Nurse Technicians
Candidates who otherwise meet the basic requirements, but do not possess the required APN (CNA) licensure and/or certification, may be appointed at the entry step of the Nurse II, as a Nurse Anesthetist on a temporary appointment up to any period not-to-exceed one year and a day under the authority of 38 U.S.C
§ 7405(c)(2)(B)
Education and Experience Requirement
Meets basic education requirement for an APN (CNA)
Nurse II is considered the entry grade level for APN (CNAs); no experience is required
Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
The following list of knowledge, skills and abilities present the minimum skill set expected of an Entry Level CNA
Entry level into practice may include but are not limited to the following: Ability to translate into anesthesia care the principles of professional nursing practice including the patients' rights to autonomy, dignity, privacy, and safety
Knowledge of current research and practice guidelines to frame anesthesia practice including up to date techniques, pharmacology, and equipment
Ability to obtain, document and verify informed anesthesia consent and perform a pre-anesthetic patient history and physical, which includes managing pre-operative consults and interpreting data
Ability to formulate a patient-specific anesthetic plan and describe salient anesthetic risks, benefits, and options to the patient
Ability to administer inhalational, regional, intravenous, local, and topical anesthetics
Skill in detecting and treating anesthesia or surgically related physiologic changes and ability to treat accordingly in order to maintain homeostasis
Skill in assessing patient status for appropriateness of transfer of care to another healthcare provider and communicating essential patient information to other providers effectively
Ability to participate in collaborative responsibility for proper patient positioning, physiologic monitoring, infection control and anesthesia documentation
Skill in responding to emergency situations by providing airway management, fluid and medication administration, invasive line insertion and management and the use of advanced cardiac life support techniques
Ability to provide patient care that is abreast of changing concepts and advancements in the profession, (e.g., ultrasound techniques.) Ability to practice anesthesia in an interdisciplinary environment utilizing a collaborative concept of anesthesia care
Knowledge of quality improvement processes to maintain ongoing review and evaluation of anesthesia care to improve outcomes
Ability to demonstrate a practice emphasis on safety, current established guidelines and protocols while recognizing the duty to report unsafe conditions or errors
The following Education, Experience, and Knowledge, Skills and Abilities must be met for Advanced Practice Nurse (Certified Nurse Anesthetist) III: Education and Experience Requirement: Meets basic education requirement for an APN (CNA) AND One year of specialized APN (CNA) experience equivalent to the APN (CNA) II grade level
Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: Progressively responsible experience in the administration of anesthetics as indicated in the knowledge, skills and abilities listed below
Ability to plan, administer and manage anesthesia for a broad range of complex surgical procedures skillfully employing continuous assessment and anesthetic adaptation based on patient response and comorbidities
Work assignments will vary by facility
Ability to participate in assignments that are technically challenging, encompass a variety of anesthetizing locations and utilize advanced equipment and procedures while adapting techniques to solve various complex anesthesia problems including the development of individualized programs of post-op anesthesia care
Skill in responsibility and accountability to perform to the extent of the CNA standards of practice as a licensed healthcare professional in any model of anesthesia practice
Ability to contribute to the educational mission as a mentor or preceptor providing didactic and clinical instruction in anesthesia to student nurse anesthetists, medical and dental residents, and other health care trainees
Knowledge to participate in the development, implementation and maintenance of auditing processes that ensure and improve the quality and consistency of anesthesia and associated documentation
Ability to contribute to departmental administrative processes through quality assurance, shared governance, or committee representation as applicable
Ability to serve as a representative on interdisciplinary teams to establish and maintain guidelines and communication
Skill demonstrated in the ability to embrace the safety culture emphasis by continuously assessing for safety risks, actively reporting safety concerns, and maintaining a just culture by identifying faults in systems rather than individuals
Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit
Physical Requirements: Moderate lifting (15-44 lbs.), straight pulling up to 4 hours, pushing up to 4 hrs., reaching above shoulder, use of fingers, both hands required, walking up to 2 hrs., standing up to 7 hrs., repeated bending, both legs required; near vision correctable at 13" to 16" to Jaeger 1 to 4; far vision correctable in one eye to 20/50 and 20/100 in the other; ability to distinguish basic colors; hearing aid permitted; mental & emotional stability.
Duties "In order to provide a comprehensive approach to perioperative anesthesia care at Williams Jennings Bryan Dorn VAMC, the person who occupies this position will provide experienced anesthesia support for patients presenting for services requiring anesthesia involvement.
Duties as assigned but are not limited to: Administer anesthesia to patients in compliance with his/her delineation of privileges granted by the Medical Staff of the WJB Dorn VAMC.
Coordinate his/her daily anesthesia assignment with the Chief of Anesthesiology, Chief CRNA, or designee to provide services to patients and surgeons which are efficient, safe, and respectful.
Provide clinical anesthesia assessment of individual patients, including discussion of informed consent, develop risk assessments based on presenting problems and implement an appropriate perioperative anesthesia care plan in conjunction with the supervising anesthesiologist.
Document perioperative treatment plan.
Provide effective interventions which are patient centered based on assessment.
Maintain accurate and up to standard records of all patients.
Ensure that perioperative anesthetic management strategies and content are based on up-to-date scientific literature and best-practice.
Participate in a rotating emergency call schedule with other service CRNAs to assure CRNA availability at all time.
Maintain proficiency in electronic medical records for documentation in, and retrieval of, patient records when required.
Demonstrate ability to blend technology, skills, and competency for the advancement of anesthesia techniques, and pharmacology.
Participate at perioperative in-service meetings to present and discuss relevant clinical information.
Participate in a rotating 10:00am - 6:30pm schedule with other CRNA's Monday through Friday.
Other duties as assigned by Supervisor.
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: Monday - Friday, 7:00AM - 3:30PM, (Subject to change based on agency's needs) Compressed/Flexible: Not Available Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: May be Authorized EDRP Authorized: Contact VISN7EDRPFacilityCoordinators2@, the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance.
Learn more Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized"

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