Job Summary

The Advanced Practice Nurse (APN) IV Certified Nurse Anesthetist (CNA) Chief is a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA) who is distinguished by educational range, clinical experience, collaborative skills, is the first line supervisor and has administrative responsibility for nurse anesthesia staff. They will practice to the full extent of their education, training, and certification. They will provide advanced clinical practice, consultation, management, and leadership.

Job Description

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. The following Education, Experience, and Knowledge, Skills and Abilities must be met for Advanced Practice Nurse (Certified Nurse Anesthetist) IV, Chief Educator/Leadership-Management: 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, diverse clinical experience and collaborative skills. The Chief APN (CNA) is a first line supervisor and may have administrative responsibility for anesthesia staff. Education and Experience Requirement. Meets basic education requirement for an APN (CNA) AND 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) Ill grade level. At this level, emphasis is placed on strategic planning and administrative responsibilities. 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: Ability to assume progressive responsibility for planning. Ability to supervise staff, students or ancillary personnel and to ensure proper scheduling and staffing. Skill to perform as a provider and mentor for unusually extensive and complex anesthetic cases. 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. Knowledge to represent departmental interests at interdisciplinary committee meetings, participate in departmental reviews, collaborate in problem solving and develop quality improvement initiatives. Knowledge to engage in departmental resource stewardship, evaluation of staffing, equipment and time value management. Ability to interpret efficiency data as well as implement and evaluate cost-effective operational strategies. Ability to prioritize and delegate tasks to enhance employee investment offering opportunities for staff leadership development. Skill to collaborate and support the development of clinical and educational programs and anesthesia protocols to improve patient outcomes and improve service level performance. Ability to provide guidance and instruction in preparing others for positions of leadership and ethical practices which impact patient care. Skill to provide leadership level commitment to foster a safety culture and continuous process improvement. Physical Requirements: The incumbent must be able to perform all activities of the position without restriction. This position requires visual and auditory acuity at a level to provide safe and effective nursing care. This position requires considerable standing, walking, stooping, bending, reaching, lifting, and turning. It requires repositioning patients, assisting with transferring patients to wheelchairs/stretchers, and transporting them to other departments or facilities.