ADVANCED PRACTICE NURSE (CERTIFIED NURSE ANESTHETIST)

US-Department-of-Veterans-Affair; Forest Park (DE); On-site; USD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs in Wilmington, DE seeks an Advanced Practice Nurse (Certified Nurse Anesthetist) to provide comprehensive anesthesia services in the Surgical Service Department. The CRNA will support quality care, timeliness, and VA mission goals.

Requirements include a master's or doctoral degree in nurse anesthesia, active NBCRNA certification, and COA accreditation. Licensure to practice in the applicable state is required.

Qualifications

• Master's or doctoral degree in nurse anesthesia from COA-accredited program.
• Licensure as APN (CNA) with NBCRNA certification or equivalent.
• Meets basic education requirements for APN (CNA) and ability to translate anesthesia care concepts into practice.

Responsibilities

• Translate professional nursing practice into anesthesia care while respecting patient autonomy, dignity, privacy, and safety.
• Maintain knowledge of current research, guidelines, and techniques in anesthesia practice.
• Obtain informed consent and perform pre-anesthetic history and physical examinations.

Skills

Nurse anesthesia principles

Informed consent & pre-anesthesia

Clinical knowledge of anesthesia care

Education

Master's or doctoral degree in nurse anesthesia

COA accreditation

Job description

This position is located at the Wilmington VAMC in Surgical Service Department. The Advanced Practice Nurse (APN) Certified Nurse Anesthetist (CNA) is a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA). The CRNA provides a full range of services emphasizing quality, timeliness, and the advancement of the Veterans Affairs (VA) mission.

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.

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.

Education, Experience, and Knowledge, Skills and Abilities must be met for Advanced Practice Nurse (Certified Nurse Anesthetist) II:

• 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.