Advanced Practice Nurse (Certified Nurse Anesthetist)

US-Department-of-Veterans-Affair; Little Rock (AR); On-site; USD 140,000 - 200,000; Full time

Job summary

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs in Little Rock, AR seeks an Advanced Practice Nurse (Certified Nurse Anesthetist) II to deliver high‑quality perioperative anesthesia care, applying evidence‑based practice to support timely, safe patient outcomes in a VA setting.

The role requires a master’s or doctoral degree in nurse anesthesia, an active CN A license, NBCRNA certification, and COA‑accredited education.

Qualifications

• Education: Master’s or Doctoral degree in nurse anesthesia.
• Active licensure as APN (CNA) with current, unrestricted license.
• NBCRNA certification or equivalent.
• COA accreditation for anesthesia education.

Responsibilities

• Translate nursing practice into anesthesia care including patient autonomy, dignity, privacy and safety.
• Maintain knowledge of current research, guidelines, pharmacology, and equipment used in anesthesia.
• Obtain informed anesthesia consent and perform comprehensive pre-anesthetic history and exam.
• Formulate patient-specific anesthetic plans and explain risks, benefits and options.

Skills

Anesthesia knowledge

Informed consent

Pre-operative assessment

Anesthetic planning

Clinical documentation

Education

Master's or Doctoral degree in nurse anesthesia

Tools

Anesthesia Equipment

Job description

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. The CRNA practices to the full extent of their education, training, and 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.

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) II:

Exception to Licensure for Graduate Nurse Technicians. Candidates who otherwise meet the basic requirements, but do not possess the required APN (CNA) licensure and/or certification, may be appointed at the entry step of the Nurse II, as a Nurse Anesthetist on a temporary appointment up to any period not-to-exceed one year and a day under the authority of 38 U.S.C. § 7405(c)(2)(B).

• 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.
  • Ability to formulate a patient-specific anesthetic plan and describe salient anesthetic risks, benefits, and options to the patient.