Advanced Practice Nurse (Certified Nurse Anesthetist) Intermittent

Veterans Health Administration • Salem, VA

1d • Onsite

About The Position

The Advanced Practice Nurse Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA) provides anesthetic care to patients within the scope of practice. Care includes pre-anesthesia evaluation, peri-operative anesthetic administration, and post-operative management in acute medical and surgical inpatient and outpatient settings. The position is located within Surgical Care at the Salem VA Medical Center in Salem, Virginia.

This is an intermittent, temporary appointment not to exceed one year. The work schedule is Monday through Friday, 7:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., with hours based on service needs and capped at 1,820 hours per year. Intermittent pay is prorated based on actual hours worked. Telework and virtual work are not available. Relocation and recruitment incentives and permanent change of station are not authorized.

The CRNA is directly responsible and accountable to the supervising anesthesiologist or surgeon. The role provides direct anesthesia care, performs pre-operative evaluations, monitors patients, and participates in a team-based approach to assessment and care planning. The CRNA maintains required training and professional competencies, protects confidential information, follows infection-control and equipment-safety practices, and complies with medical center safety procedures, including timely injury reporting.

Applicants must meet the education, licensure, and certification requirements for a Certified Nurse Anesthetist. A master's or doctoral degree in nurse anesthesia from a program accredited by the Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Education Programs is required. A full, current, unrestricted U.S. license and current nurse anesthetist certification are required, subject to the stated temporary appointment exception for qualifying graduates who have not yet obtained licensure or certification. Nurse II is the entry grade and requires no experience. Nurse III requires one year of specialized APN (CNA) experience equivalent to the Nurse II grade level.

Requirements

• Master's or doctoral degree in nurse anesthesia from a school accredited by the Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Education Programs when the program was completed.
• Maintain an active, current, full, and unrestricted license to practice as a Certified Nurse Anesthetist or equivalent in a U.S. state, territory, commonwealth, or the District of Columbia.
• Maintain current certification from the National Board of Certification and Recertification for Nurse Anesthetists (NBCRNA) or equivalent certification recognized by the COA.
• U.S. citizenship; non-citizens may be appointed only when qualified U.S. citizens cannot be recruited under VA policy.
• Proficiency in basic written and spoken English for direct patient care.
• For Nurse III: one year of specialized APN (CNA) experience equivalent to the APN (CNA) II grade level.
• Ability to apply professional nursing principles with respect for patient autonomy, dignity, privacy, and safety.
• Knowledge of current anesthesia research, practice guidelines, techniques, pharmacology, and equipment.
• Ability to obtain and document informed consent, perform pre-anesthetic evaluations, manage pre-operative consultations, and interpret data.
• Ability to develop patient-specific anesthetic plans and discuss risks, benefits, and alternatives.
• Skill in detecting and treating anesthesia- or surgery-related physiologic changes and maintaining homeostasis.
• Ability to assess transfer-of-care readiness and communicate effectively with healthcare providers.
• Ability to provide airway management, administer fluids and medications, insert and manage invasive lines, and use advanced cardiac life support techniques in emergencies.
• Ability to practice collaboratively in interdisciplinary settings and maintain safety, infection-control, documentation, and quality-improvement practices.
• Must pass a pre-employment physical evaluation and applicable background/security investigation; selected applicants in testing-designated positions are subject to pre-appointment drug testing.
• Participation in the VA seasonal influenza vaccination program is required; a probationary period may be required.
• For qualifying graduates appointed under the temporary licensure/certification exception, must take the national certification examination at the earliest opportunity, actively pursue and obtain required licensure and certification within one year and one day, and sign a statement of understanding.
• Physical ability to perform heavy lifting of 45 pounds or more, reach above shoulder level, use fingers, walk three hours per day, stand six hours per day, kneel two hours per day, and coordinate mental and muscular activity rapidly and simultaneously.
• Near vision correctable at 13 to 16 inches; far vision correctable to 20/20 in one eye and 20/40 in the other; ability to distinguish basic colors; hearing ability, with hearing aids permitted.

Responsibilities

• Provide direct anesthetic care, including IV sedation, conduction anesthesia, and general anesthesia.
• Perform pre-operative evaluations, including patient history and physical assessment and review of relevant information.
• Participate in team-based patient assessments, anticipate care needs, help prevent avoidable complications, and support optimal patient outcomes.
• Obtain, document, and verify informed anesthesia consent; formulate patient-specific anesthetic plans and explain risks, benefits, and options.
• Administer inhalational, regional, intravenous, local, and topical anesthetics, and monitor and respond to physiologic changes.
• Manage airway, fluids, medications, invasive lines, and emergency situations, including use of advanced cardiac life support techniques.
• Assess readiness for transfer of care and communicate essential patient information to other healthcare providers.
• Collaborate on patient positioning, physiologic monitoring, infection control, and anesthesia documentation.
• Maintain BLS and ACLS training and competencies relevant to nursing practice, quality of care, performance, professional development, collegiality, ethics, collaboration, research, and resource utilization.
• Maintain confidentiality of electronic, written, and verbal patient and employee information.
• Follow infection-control standards, safely operate equipment, and comply with safety policies, procedures, and protocols.
• Prepare injury reports and related documentation within established time frames using the ASISTS Program.
• For Nurse III-level duties, contribute to mentoring and instruction, quality auditing, departmental administrative processes, interdisciplinary guidelines, and safety-culture initiatives.

Benefits

• Competitive salary
• Intermittent employees may be eligible for federal health and long-term care insurance, for example when expected to work at least 130 hours per month for at least 90 days
• Comprehensive federal employee benefits package, with eligibility dependent on position type and work schedule

What This Job Offers

• Career Level: Entry Level