This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), a student loan payment reimbursement program. You must meet specific individual eligibility requirements in accordance with VHA policy and submit your EDRP application within four months of appointment. Approval, award amount (up to $200,000) and eligibility period (one to five years) are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after complete review of the EDRP application.

Duties

The CRNA practices to achieve common goals for care, safety and welfare of VA patients and provide anesthetic services under the medical direction or medical supervision of an anesthesiologist within three general categories: - Pre-anesthesia preparation and evaluation - Anesthesia induction, maintenance and emergence in the operating room (OR) and out-of-OR environments - Post-anesthesia care - Peri-anesthetic and clinical support functions in the OR and out-of-OR environments The CRNA works with diverse age groups to include adult and geriatric patients and is able to meet age specific needs of the patient population served. The anesthetist demonstrates the knowledge and clinical skills necessary to perform his/her duties in providing anesthetic care appropriate to the VA patient. The anesthetist demonstrates knowledge of age-associated changes, illnesses and potential disabilities in order to work with geriatric patients. In addition, the Chief Nurse Anesthetist will: Communicate the mission, ethics and goals of the facility, as well as the focus statement of the department. Function as a departmental resource while promoting team functioning and representing the organization in a positive and professional manner. Effectively and consistently communicate administrative directives to personnel and encourage interactive departmental meetings and discussions. Perform management activities including assisting the Deputy Service Chief in interviewing, hiring and discipline. Interpret and enforce Human Resource Management policies in a consistent manner. Resolve personnel concerns at the departmental level, utilizing the grievance process as necessary. Recognize and evaluate the strengths and weakness of self and staff while regularly coaching staff on their contribution to the mission of the agency and with their performance development. Help staff to understand the context of their work and how it relates to the work of others and the agency. Schedule and adjust staffing, as appropriate, for fluctuations in workload. Delegate appropriately to subordinates to share responsibilities for efficient departmental operations. Monitor the quality of anesthesia care. Ensure retrospective, ongoing and continuing evaluation of the quality of nurse anesthesia care rendered by nurse anesthetists anywhere in the facility through the use of performance evaluations. Ensure retrospective, ongoing and continuing evaluation of the quality of performance by anesthesia technicians through use of performance evaluations. Provide education to staff on performance improvement. Attend departmental, organizational and medical staff (as appropriate to departmental rules and regulations) committee meetings. Develop and implement anesthesia specific policies and procedures in conjunction with the medical staff. Ensure Departmental documentation meets current standards and policies. Demonstrate the ability to formulate a budget and recommend needed anesthesia equipment to administration. Comply with all organizational policies regarding ethical business practice. Foster professional innovation and evidence-based practice within the anesthesia department. Collaborate with the American Association of Nurse Anesthetists for a CEU approved in-service program for the Department of Anesthesia. Plan and organize orientation and in-service training for anesthesia staff and participate in guidance and educational programs throughout the medical center. Assure clinical co-ordination of student nurse anesthetists. VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package: VA Nurse Total Rewards Pay: Competitive salary, regular salary increases, potential for performance awards Paid Time Off: 50 days of paid time off per year (26 days of annual leave, 13 days of sick leave, 11 paid Federal holidays per year) Retirement: Traditional federal pension (5 years vesting) and federal 401K with up to 5% in contributions by VA Insurance: Federal health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care (many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement) Licensure: 1 full and unrestricted license from any US State or territory Work Schedule: Full-Time, 6:30 am - 3:00 pm; on call duties for nights, weekends, and holidays is required. Telework: Not available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized EDRP Authorized: Learn more Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

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. Basic Requirements: United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy. English Language Proficiency. In accordance with 38 U.S.C. 7402(d), no person shall serve in direct patient care positions unless they are proficient in basic written and spoken English. Graduate of 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: The Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) or The Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE). In cases of graduates of foreign schools of professional nursing, possession of current, full, active and unrestricted registration will meet the requirement of graduation from an approved school of professional nursing. OR The completion of coursework equivalent to a nursing degree in a MSN Bridge Program that qualifies for professional nursing registration constitutes the completion of an approved course of study of professional nursing. Students should submit the certificate of professional nursing to sit for the NCLEX to the VA along with a copy of the MSN transcript. (Reference VA Handbook 5005, Appendix G6) OR In cases of graduates of foreign schools of professional nursing, possession of a current, full, active and unrestricted registration will meet the requirement for graduation from an approved school of professional nursing. Graduate of an accredited nurse anesthesia educational program approved by the American Association of Nurse Anesthetists (AANA) at the time the program was completed by the applicant. The AANA has compiled current listings of approved training institutions, which are published annually in the December issue of the American Association of Nurse Anesthetists Journal. The American Hospital Association in their "Guide to the Health Care Field" also publishes listings of approved training institutions annually in August. 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. The appointing official may waive this requirement if the nurse anesthetist is to serve in a country other than the United States and has registration in that country (e.g. Philippines). Certification: 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. The CCNA and the Council on Recertification of Nurse Anesthetists have designated the AANA's web site as a display agent for their information. Recent Graduates: A graduate nurse anesthetist who has applied to take the national Certification Examination 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 under the authority of 38 U.S.C. § 7405(a)(1)(D). The graduate nurse anesthetist must take the national Certification Examination at the earliest available date following the date of their temporary appointment. Grade Determinations: Nurse IV Have 5 or more years of clinical anesthesia experience This provider has the experience to provide care for extensive and complex surgical procedures that are of prolonged duration and involve high risk patients. Reference: VA Regulations, specifically VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Appendix G-7 Nurse Anesthetist Qualification Standard. This can be found in the local Human Resources Office. Physical Requirements: Heavy lifting (45 lbs and over); Heavy carrying (45 lbs and over): Straight pulling and pushing; reaching above shoulder; use of fingers; both hands required; walking and standing up to 8 hours; repeated bending; Ability for rapid mental and muscular coordination simultaneously; hearing aid permitted.

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 Raymond G Murphy Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center 1501 San Pedro Drive, Southeast Albuquerque, NM 87108 US
• Name: John Starks
• Phone: (505) 256-2760
• Email: [email protected]