POSITION DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• The CRNA is responsible for providing a complete range of anesthesia care for a diverse Veteran population including preoperative assessment, intraoperative anesthetic administration and monitoring, and post-anesthesia care, in compliance with national Joint Commission accreditation standards.
• The contracted CRNA is accountable to Chief CRNA or delegate to provide the most effective delivery of quality anesthetic care for a diverse Veteran population and broad range of situations throughout the medical center while meeting and exceeding compliance standards.
• The CRNA functions as a cooperative and collegial team member with the entire staff.
• Responsibilities include, but are not limited to, effectively performing pre-anesthetic evaluations, collaborating with the interdisciplinary team to prepare the anesthesia plan, delivering all forms of anesthesia, providing intra- and post-operative patient care, provide emergency airway and, resuscitation management throughout the facility, and establish effective working, relationships with all levels of staff throughout the Medical Center.
• The Chief CRNA, or appropriate leadership delegate (i.e. Assistant Chief CRNA), and the supervising anesthesiologist, will provide the CRNA with clinical oversight during their tour of duty.
• More specific duties and responsibilities of the CRNA are described below and shall be assessed by the Medical Center prior to provider acceptance.
• Maintain patient/resident confidentiality and a safe patient care environment.

The CRNA will translate the principles of professional nurse anesthesia practice into appropriate patient care by performing the following tasks:

• Performs pre-anesthetic evaluations, collaborates with the interdisciplinary team to prepare the anesthesia plan, delivers all forms of anesthesia, and provides intra- and post-operative anesthesia care to patients.
• As part of the 'Code Blue Team, provides emergency airway and resuscitation management throughout the facility and establishes effective working relationships with all levels of staff throughout the Medical Center.

Routine Professional Duties:

• Translates the principles of anesthesia practice into appropriate patient care.
• Perform the pre-anesthetic patient history and physical, including the collection of preoperative consults and data, performs a patient evaluation and examination from which an appropriate anesthetic plan is formulated.
• Communicate the anesthetic risks, benefits, and alternatives to the patient.
• Prepares the patient, operating room and/or procedural area for the administration of anesthesia.
• Administer inhalation, regional, intravenous, local, and/or topical anesthetics with continuous evaluations of the patient's physical status and response to anesthesia.
• Performs post-anesthetic management of patients to optimize the recovery from anesthesia and minimize pain.
• Ensures timely and accurate anesthetic record charting and anesthesia service documentation.
• Provides patient care that is abreast of changing concepts and advancements in the profession while working effectively in an interdisciplinary environment for improvement of services and patient care.
• Practices with colleagues and peers utilizing a collaborative team concept of anesthesia care while demonstrating effective communication skills and professional behaviors that promote cooperation and interdisciplinary teamwork. This includes guiding and training doctoral level anesthesia students and medical students.
• Demonstrates skill in conducting and managing anesthesia for a broad range of surgical procedures and the ability to adapt and modify anesthesia techniques to optimize patient care.
• Demonstrates the ability to perform the clinical and technical aspects of anesthesia care and has in-depth knowledge of anesthesia methods and techniques.
• Effectively blends technology, skills, and competency for the advancement of anesthesia techniques, pharmacology, and equipment.
• Applies new developments and theories to recognize and solve various complex anesthesia situations.
• Emergency Duties: Respond to emergency situations by providing airway management, administration of emergency fluids and medications, and using appropriate resuscitation procedures for patient care.
• Emergency treatment directed by patient's request as noted in the Advanced Directives listed in VISTA.
• Collect and document pertinent data into the electronic patient medical records.

TOUR OF DUTY:

• The contract resulting from this requirement shall provide maximum flexibility to the VA scheduling authority.
• Medical Center provides nurse anesthesia services 24hours a day, 7 days a week.
• Scheduling requirements are according to the needs of the department.
• Contractor's personnel shall be required to work any regular or irregular tour, with 8 hour, 10 hour and 12 hour tours, or a mixture thereof, typically being the any of the following based on patient care needs:

BASIC QUALIFICATION/KNOWLEDGE SKILLS:

• CRNA shall have a current unrestricted license from a State, Territory or Commonwealth of the United States or the District of Columbia with related work experience within last 12 months with no employment gaps exceeding four months. Minimum two (2) years' experience as a CRNA.
• Personnel shall be graduates of a professional, accredited nursing school approved by the appropriate state-accrediting agency and accredited by one of the following accrediting bodies at the time the program was completed by the applicant and must meet the basic requirement.
• Graduate of an accredited nurse anesthesia educational program approved by the American Association of Nurse Anesthetists (AANA) at the time the program was completed by the applicant. The AANA has compiled current listings of approved training institutions, which are published annually in the December issue of the American Association of Nurse Anesthetists Journal. The American Hospital Association in their "Guide to the Health Care Field also publishes listings of approved training institutions annually in August.
• Current, full active and unrestricted licensure as a graduate professional nurse in a State, Territory, or Commonwealth (i.e., Puerto Rico) of the U.S. or in the District of Columbia.
• The nurse anesthetist must maintain a current, full, active, and unrestricted registration to continue employment with VA.

Certification:

• On and after May 4, 1993, certification by the Council of Certification of Nurse Anesthetists is a requirement for employment. This requirement does not apply to non- certified nurse anesthetists employed by VA as a nurse anesthetist prior to May 4, 1993 and continuously thereafter. Any nurse anesthetist, who leaves VA employment or vacates the nurse anesthetist occupation for another VA position, must meet the current requirement of certification for reappointment as a nurse anesthetist.
• The CCNA and the Council on Recertification of Nurse Anesthetists have designated the AANA's web site as a display agent for their information. (2) Nurse Anesthetists will maintain recertification by meeting the Council on Recertification of Nurse Anesthetist's requirements as a condition of employment.