Chief CRNA

The University of Kansas Health System•Kansas City, KS

About The Position

The Chief CRNA serves as the senior clinical and administrative leader for CRNA Services across the health system. The role provides executive oversight of anesthesia operations, staffing, and workforce planning in partnership with Operations Managers, Clinical Alignment Leads, and Operational Leads. The Chief CRNA sets strategic direction for CRNA practice and advances clinical quality, patient safety, and regulatory compliance across all campuses while leading CRNA recruitment, retention, and professional development. The position maintains an active clinical practice and serves as a clinical resource and expert for the CRNA department. The Chief CRNA represents CRNA Services on organizational governance and quality committees, including the Executive Committee. The role leads clinical and operational initiatives, supports consistent practice across campuses, and fosters a culture of clinical excellence, accountability, collaboration, professionalism, innovation, and continuous improvement. The position also promotes staff engagement, wellness, inclusion, and psychological safety. The role requires a master's degree in Nursing in a related medical discipline, at least five years of clinical experience as a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist, current Kansas CRNA licensure, and current ACLS and BLS/BCLS certifications from the American Heart Association. The Chief CRNA must maintain continuing education credits required for CRNA recertification by the AANA and the Council on Recertification of Nurse Anesthetists.

Requirements

Master's degree in Nursing in a related medical discipline.
At least five years of clinical experience as a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA).
Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) certification from the American Heart Association.
Basic Cardiac Life Support (BLS or BCLS) certification from the American Heart Association.
Current Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA) license from the Kansas State Board of Nursing.
Maintain continuing education credits required for CRNA recertification by the AANA and the Council on Recertification of Nurse Anesthetists.

Responsibilities

Serve as the senior clinical and administrative leader for CRNA Services throughout the health system.
Develop and implement strategic initiatives supporting the growth, quality, efficiency, and sustainability of CRNA practice.
Promote a culture of clinical excellence, accountability, collaboration, professionalism, innovation, and continuous improvement.
Serve as a clinical expert and advisor to CRNAs, physician anesthesiologists, hospital leadership, and interdisciplinary teams.
Maintain a visible leadership presence across campuses through rounding, staff engagement, and participation in operational activities.
Ensure consistent clinical practice, departmental expectations, and organizational standards across anesthesia practice locations.
Support succession planning and leadership development within the CRNA department.
Maintain an active clinical practice and provide support for complex clinical situations and evidence-based anesthesia practice.
Ensure compliance with departmental policies, organizational standards, Joint Commission accreditation requirements, and professional practice guidelines.
Partner with physician leadership to standardize clinical practice and improve patient outcomes across campuses.
Support Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) initiatives through implementation, outcome monitoring, and interdisciplinary collaboration.
Promote evidence-based practice and continuing professional development among CRNA staff.
Provide executive oversight of anesthesia operations in collaboration with Operations Managers, Clinical Alignment Leads, and Operational Leads.
Ensure efficient use of CRNA resources while maintaining safe staffing and high-quality patient care.
Collaborate on provider scheduling, staffing models, workforce planning, call schedules, and operational coverage.
Support resolution of staffing shortages, workflow challenges, and operational concerns across campuses.
Delegate responsibilities among CRNA leadership while providing oversight, mentorship, and accountability.
Lead departmental patient-safety and high-reliability efforts.
Collaborate with Clinical Alignment leadership to review Safety Intelligence events and implement corrective actions.
Partner with physician quality leaders, Risk Management, and Quality departments to improve outcomes and reduce clinical risk.
Lead departmental readiness for Joint Commission surveys and other accreditation or regulatory reviews.
Ensure compliance with health system policies, anesthesia practice standards, and regulatory requirements.
Collaborate with Pharmacy on Protenus and other controlled-substance diversion detection systems, including investigation, monitoring, and corrective interventions.
Support quality improvement initiatives using performance metrics, clinical outcomes, and evidence-based practices.
Provide executive oversight for CRNA recruitment, retention, and staffing-shortage initiatives.
Develop attraction and retention strategies with recruitment, the health system, and the department.
Build relationships with Schools of Nurse Anesthesia to strengthen recruitment pipelines.
Participate in candidate interviews and recruitment events, and evaluate locum candidates for clinical competency.
Support onboarding of newly hired CRNAs and collaborate with Clinical Alignment and Operational Leads to ensure a consistent, supportive integration experience.
Promote employee engagement, recognition, wellness, and retention initiatives.
Provide leadership, mentoring, coaching, and professional development opportunities for CRNA staff and emerging leaders.
Complete annual performance evaluations in collaboration with Clinical Alignment Leads and Operational Leads.
Oversee Focused Professional Practice Evaluation (FPPE) and Ongoing Professional Practice Evaluation (OPPE) processes.
Address employee performance concerns through coaching, counseling, and progressive disciplinary processes.
Collaborate with Clinical Alignment Leads and Operational Leads to investigate provider conduct, professionalism, or performance concerns.
Partner with Human Resources, Risk Management, and physician leadership on employee relations matters as appropriate.
Promote a respectful, inclusive, and psychologically safe work environment that values collaboration and accountability.
Facilitate conflict resolution among interdisciplinary teams.
Communicate departmental goals, strategic initiatives, policy changes, and organizational priorities.
Facilitate CRNA leadership meetings and collaborate in planning CRNA meetings across campuses.
Ensure timely dissemination of information throughout the CRNA department.
Represent CRNA Services at organizational, departmental, and interdisciplinary meetings.
Develop collaborative relationships with physician anesthesiologists, nursing leadership, perioperative services, pharmacy, quality, administration, and academic partners.
Advocate for CRNA practice while supporting interdisciplinary collaboration.
Represent CRNA Services on committees, including Administrator on Call; APRN Credentialing Committee; APP Peer Review Committee; CRNA and Physician Leadership Meetings; Department Leadership Touchpoint Meetings; Executive Committee; perioperative and operational committees; quality improvement and patient safety committees; physician and provider wellness; and additional organizational committees as assigned.
Perform the professional, clinical, and technical competencies of the assigned unit or department, and other duties as assigned.