The Minneapolis VA is seeking an exceptional Full - Time Permanent Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist to join our team of excellence. The Minneapolis VA is a teaching hospital, with a full range of patient care services and state-of-the-art technology. We work as a cohesive anesthesia team to provide anesthesia and critical care services to the patients who are undergoing surgical procedures at the Minneapolis VAMC.

Duties

The Minneapolis VA Anesthesia Service provides veteran patients with anesthesia procedures for both ambulatory and inpatient surgical procedures. The services include: rendering patients insensate for surgical procedures (general anesthesia), major neuroaxial blocks for surgical procedures (spinal and epidural anesthesia), nerve block for surgical procedures, monitored anesthesia care, procedures to alleviate post-operative pain and resuscitation services. Anesthesia services are available 24 hours a day 7 days a week. The department utilizes anesthesiologists (physicians who specialize in anesthesiology) and nurse anesthetists (nurses who specialize in anesthesia). We work in an anesthesia team to provide anesthesia and critical care services to the patients who are undergoing surgical procedures at the Minneapolis VAMC. At the Minneapolis VA, the physician anesthesiologist directs the anesthesia care team. Duties and Responsibilities: - Provision of care in the most complex surgical procedures - Perform and document a preanesthetic evaluation of the patient before surgery including requesting consultations, additional diagnostic and/or laboratory studies in consultation with the anesthesiologist - After concurrence with the plan by the anesthesiologist, initiation of the planned anesthetic technique that may include general, regional, MAC, or local anesthesia. Interventions include administration of fluids, medications, ventilator support, provision of homeostasis, provision of adequate pain relief and management of anesthesia and surgical side effects - Induction of general anesthesia and initial airway management - Endotracheal intubation for surgical or procedural cases - Placement of endobronchial tubes or blockers for procedures requiring one lung ventilation or lung isolation - Central line placement; Pulmonary artery (Swan-Ganz) catheter placement - Peripheral nerve blocks.- Central neuroaxial blocks - Epidural blood patches - Adjustment of anesthetic drugs and techniques utilized in the maintenance of anesthesia - Sedation for field blocks or MAC as discussed in the anesthetic care plan - Manages emergence from anesthesia after discussion and concurrence from the anesthesiologist - Provide anesthetic for: electroconvulsive therapy not requiring intubation; routine eye surgery not requiring general anesthesia; elective cardioversions; ICD checks - Participates on the Code Blue Team, primarily to manage the patient's airway, but also to perform other tasks which they are qualified to perform, as directed by the Code Team Leader - Emergency airway management throughout the facility, following the ASA Difficult Airway Algorithm and department protocols, as requested - Administer sedation or local anesthesia to facilitate urgent/emergent endotracheal - Placement of intravenous lines throughout the facility, as requested - Management of epidural catheters for post-op pain relief within a protocol guideline ordered by the anesthesiologist - Off-shift cardioversions when an anesthesiologist is not in-house - Placement of arterial lines as requested by the ICU's - Initiation of an anesthetic in an emergency that threatens the patient with loss of life or limb prior to the arrival of the anesthesiologist on-call - Participation in staff meetings, mortality and morbidity conferences and other committees as assigned by the Chief Nurse Anesthetist or Chief Anesthesiologist - Maintains anesthesia equipment in constant readiness and cleans equipment in accordance with hospital guidelines, SOPs, manufacturer's recommendations and CDC guidelines - Prepares drugs properly for use in anesthesia administration - Precepts CRNA students - Ensures that OR/anesthesia safety regulations and procedures and infection control policies and procedures are observed - Complies with Joint Commission National Patient Safety Goals - Fully complies with medical center Correct Site/Universal Protocol requirements, including pausing activities during pre-operative time-out - Complies with VA and Joint Commission documentation requirements - Labels specimens according to medical center policy - Participates in continuous improvement activities - Participates in outcomes evaluation and recommendations for practice improvements - Conducts in-service programs for the department and other services within the medical center - May assist or conduct approved research projects - Eligible to take weekend call when all criteria are met Work Schedule: Monday - Friday. Days Requires rotating call coverage, weekdays, weekends and holidays

Requirements

Qualifications

Applicants pending the completion of educational or certification/licensure requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met. Citizenship: U.S. Citizen. Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy. Education: (1) A degree in nursing from a school of professional nursing approved by the appropriate state accrediting agency and accredited by one of the following accrediting bodies at the time the program was completed by the applicant: (a) The National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission (NLNAC), an accrediting arm of the National League for Nursing. Additional information may be obtained from the NLNAC Web site; or (b) The Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE), an accrediting arm of the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN). Additional information may be obtained from the CCNE Web site. (c) In cases of graduates of foreign schools of professional nursing, possession of a current, full, and unrestricted registration and the possession of a Certificate from the Commission on Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools (CGFNS) will meet the requirement of graduation from an approved school of professional nursing. (2) Graduate of an accredited nurse anesthesia educational program approved by the Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs at the time the program was completed by the applicant. Registration: (1)Condition of Employment. Current, full, active and unrestricted registration as a graduate professional nurse in a State, Territory or Commonwealth (i.e., Puerto Rico) of the United States or the District of Columbia. The nurse anesthetist must maintain a current, full, active and unrestricted registration to continue employment with VA. Certification: (1) On and after May 4, 1993, certification by the Council on Certification of Nurse Anesthetists is a requirement for employment. This requirement does not apply to non-certified nurse anesthetists employed by VA as a nurse anesthetist prior to May 4, 1993 and continuously thereafter. Any nurse anesthetist who leaves VA employment or vacates the nurse anesthetist occupation for another VA position, must meet the current requirement of certification for re-appointment as a nurse anesthetist. (2) Nurse Anesthetists will maintain recertification by meeting the Council on Recertification of Nurse Anesthetist's requirements as a condition of employment. Grandfathering Provision. All nurse anesthetists employed in VHA on the effective date of this qualification standard are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the title, series and grade held, including positive education and licensure/certification/registration that are part of the basic requirements of the occupation. Recent Graduates. (1) A graduate nurse anesthetist who has applied to take the national Certification Examination (NCE) and has been declared Certification Eligible may be given a temporary appointment for a period not to exceed one year as a graduate nurse anesthetist. The graduate nurse anesthetist must take the NCE at the earliest schedulable date following the date of their temporary appointment. (2) Failure to become certified within the one year period will result in removal as a nurse anesthetist and may result in termination from employment. Physical Requirements. See VA Directive & Handbook 5019 English Language Proficiency. Nurse Anesthetists must be proficient in spoken and written English. Grade Determinations: Entry Level: (Nurse II) (a) Experience and Education. None beyond the basic requirements. (b) Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills and Abilities. The following list of knowledge, skills and abilities present the minimum skill set expected of an Entry Level Nurse Anesthetist. Entry level into nurse anesthesia practice may include but are not limited to the following: 1. Ability to translate the principles of professional nursing practice in the care of assigned patients in order to provide appropriate care. 2. Ability to do a pre-anesthetic patient history and physical, which includes collecting pre-operative consults and data. 3. Ability to formulate an anesthetic plan and describe the anesthetic risks, benefits and options to the patient. 4. Ability to administer inhalation, regional, intravenous, local, and topical anesthetics and to detect unfavorable reactions in order to continuously evaluate the patient's physical status. 5. Ability to respond to emergency situations by providing airway management, administration of emergency fluids and drugs, and using appropriate resuscitation procedures for patient care. 6. Ability to provide patient care that is abreast of changing concepts and advancements in the profession. 7. Ability to work effectively in an interdisciplinary environment for improvement of services for patient care. 8. Ability to practice nurse anesthesia with colleagues and peers utilizing a collaborative team concept of anesthesia care. Full Performance Level: (Nurse III) Experience and Education. In addition to meeting the requirements for Entry Level, the CRNA has had progressively responsible experience in the administration of anesthetics as indicated in the knowledge, skills and abilities listed below. These individuals must demonstrate the ability to participate in a program for nurse anesthesia care and demonstrate knowledge of anesthetizing locations, methods, equipment and procedures. At this level, the CRNA has experience in the administration of anesthetics that has demonstrated the nurse anesthetist's ability to participate in team programs that are technically challenging and/or complicated. Typically candidates can demonstrate the knowledge, skills and abilities of Full Performance Level within 2 years from entering the occupation. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. 1. Skill in conducting and managing anesthesia for a broad range of complex surgical procedures. In addition, the CRNA must be able to adapt/modify anesthesia techniques in order to optimize patient care. 2. Ability to complete work assignments selected to add depth and breadth to their technical knowledge and skill competence. Work assignments will vary at each facility depending on the progressive acuity required for anesthesia care. 3. Ability to respond to emergency situations by providing airway management, administration of emergency fluids and drugs, and by the use of basic or advanced cardiac life support techniques in order to perform necessary resuscitation procedures. 4. Ability to effectively blend technology, skills, and competency for the advancement of anesthesia techniques, pharmacology, and equipment. 5. Ability to apply new developments and theories to develop and demonstrate the ability to recognize and solve various complex anesthesia situations. 6. Ability to practice nurse anesthesia with colleagues and peers in a team concept of anesthesia care and blend management skills with technical experience. 7. Ability to recognize clinical and technical aspects of anesthesia care and has in-depth knowledge of anesthesia methods and techniques for the practice of anesthesia. 8. Ability to perform as a mentor, preceptor, or nurse educator providing didactic and clinical instruction for graduate-level nurse anesthesia students and/or other anesthesia care providers. 9. Ability to participate in the development of anesthesia patient care audit processes involving in depth review and analysis of anesthesia records. 10. Ability to provide guidance and instruction in preparing others for positions of leadership and ethical practices which impact patient care. References: VA Handbook 5005/27, Part II, Appendix G7 The full performance level of this vacancy is Nurse III. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of Nurse II to Nurse III.

Education

IMPORTANT: A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education.

Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit: http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html.

Contacts

• Address Minneapolis VA Medical Center One Veterans Drive Minneapolis, MN 55417 US
• Name: Joanne Donnelly
• Phone: 612-725-3180
• Email: [email protected]