The Central Iowa VA Health Care System is recruiting for a full time, Chief Nurse Anesthetist (APN) located in Des Moines, IA. This position will fall under the Surgical Care Service line. In collaboration with the Chief of Anesthesia, the Chief Nurse Anesthetist provides leadership to the Department of Anesthesia.

Duties

The VA Midwest Health Care Network advocates for a Whole Health System of care in each of the Medical Centers. This is an approach to healthcare that empowers and equips people to take charge of their health and well-being and live their lives to the fullest. As an employee operating in a Whole Health System of care, you will operate in a model with three core elements, seeking to create a personalized health plan for each Veteran. This is done in the context of healing relationships and healing environments and a connection back to the Veteran's community. This aligns with the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) Mission Statement to Honor America's Veterans by providing exceptional health care that improves their health and well-being. Duties may include, but are not limited to: Supervisory: Performs basic staff supervision functions including recruitment, interviewing and selection of new staff; performance management; performance evaluation; and discipline Assesses staffing needs based on measured workload, maintains and requests appropriate staffing to address those needs Develops a staffing pattern to address daily needs and schedules staff to address those needs. Participates in Continuous Improvement activities Monitors clinical performance of CRNAs Establishes and maintains an appropriate staff orientation and competency assessment program Identifies equipment needs and participates in equipment evaluation and purchasing in accordance with federal government regulations Participates in medical center committees, councils and task forces as assigned. Interprets and enforces Human Resource/ EEO policies and directives and complies with the negotiated agreement Develops and maintains department policies and procedures, in collaboration with the Chief, Anesthesia Collaborates with Learning Service to maintain a continuing education program for staff CRNA Clearly communicates performance standards and performance expectations to all staff CRNA Clinical: Perform and document a preanesthetic evaluation of the patient before surgery including requesting consultations, additional diagnostic and/or laboratory studies 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. VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package: VA Nurse Total Rewards Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 7:00am - 3:30pm with on-call duties as needed by the organization. Additional information may be provided during the interview process. Telework: Not available. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized. 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. Education: Nursing education must be from a school of professional nursing anesthesia accredited by the following accrediting organization at the time the program was completed by the applicant: (a) The Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Education Programs (COA). The COA is currently located at 222 South Prospect Avenue, Park Ridge, IL 60068. Additional information may be obtained from the COA website at Council on Accreditation -Supporting Quality Assessment and Improvement in Nurse Anesthesia Education (coacrna.org).. License: All APNs (CNAs) must possess and maintain an active, current, full and unrestricted APN license to practice as a NP in a State, Territory or Commonwealth of the United States, or in the District of Columbia. Certification: All APNs (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. Grade Determination: In addition to the basic qualification requirements, the grade level of an APN (CNA) is based on a combination of education and experience. Beyond the minimum education requirements, grade determination for appointment, advancement and promotion will be based on the following specific requirement for the APN (CNA). The level of practice that an APN (CNA) may perform at is based upon a combination of many factors. Beyond the minimum educational requirements, grade determination, upon appointment and advancement, is dependent upon aspects such as continued professional development (formal and/or informal education,) clinical performance, judgment, outcomes (at the service level and beyond), leadership and interpersonal skills that influence, inspire and motivate others within their program/service or beyond. As the APN (CNA) acquires the knowledge, skills and judgment that accrues with experience, the privilege of increased authority for patient care and service in administrative roles is expanded as applicable. Chief APN (CNA) IV: Meets basic education requirement for APN (CNA) AND four years of APN (CNA) progressively responsible for assignments in clinical, administrative, education and/or research related to CNA practice, one of which is specialized experience equivalent to the APN (CNA) III grade level. At this level, emphasis is placed on strategic planning and administrative responsibilities. Reference: VA Regulations, specifically VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Appendix G-6 Nurse Qualification Standard. This can be found in the local Human Resources Office. Physical Requirements: This position requires potentially long periods of continued walking, standing, and sitting.

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 VA Central Iowa Health Care System 3600 30th St Des Moines, IA 50310 US
• Name: Karol Alonzo
• Email: [email protected]