Academic Nurse Anesthetist

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This position is a blend of the clinical and academic roles of the certified registered nurse anesthetist. In the clinical role, the CRNA provides anesthetic care for all types of patients and procedures in cooperation with the supervising or medically directing physician and in accordance with hospital policies and procedures. This position administers anesthesia to patients rendering them insensitive to pain during surgery/procedures. Provide continuous vigilant observation of patients by monitoring the patient’s physical reaction to sedatives, analgesics, and anesthetic agents and informs the surgeon or anesthesiologist of any adverse condition that potentially threatens the safety or care of the patient. In the academic role, the CRNA serves as a Lecturer in the WVU School of Nursing’s DNP Nurse Anesthetist Program. The Lecturer works collaboratively with the Program Director and Assistant Program Director, reports to the Department Chair, and functions as a nurse anesthetist academic and clinical faculty member. In the academic role, the Lecturer is responsible for graduate-level course management, in-class and simulation instruction, student advising and DNP project mentoring, depending on the individual CRNA’s qualifications.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

EDUCATION, CERTIFICATION, AND/OR LICENSURE:

1. Master’s degree from an accredited institution. 

2. An unencumbered nursing license, or if out of state, be eligible for licensure as an Advanced Practice Registered Nurse in the state of West Virginia. 

3. Active certification or recertification as a certified registered nurse anesthetist (CRNA) by the National Board of Certification and Recertification of Nurse Anesthetists (NBCRNA). 
 

EXPERIENCE:

1. Three to five years of clinical practice as a CRNA clinician. 

2. Experience with academic education, preferably within a nurse anesthetist program, including curriculum development, evaluation, and instruction.  

CORE DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES: The statements described here are intended to describe the general nature of work being performed by people assigned to this position.  They are not intended to be constructed as an all-inclusive list of all responsibilities and duties.  Other duties may be assigned.

Clinical Duties

1. Maintains patient safety at all times. 

2. Maintains excellence in airway management and shall be familiar in the usage of all airway adjuncts. i.e., video laryngoscope, fiberoptic scope, ILMA, etc. 

3. CRNAs shall work within their scope of delineated clinical privileges. 

4. Takes appropriate precautions to minimize risks of infection of patients, and other health care professionals. 

5. Maintains the appropriate confidentiality of patient information at all times. 

6. Participates in the pre-anesthetic evaluation of the patients and the selection of anesthetic agents and techniques. 

7. Performs appropriate techniques of the anesthetic plan such as, but not limited to, insertion of intravenous catheters, insertion of invasive monitoring catheters according to established protocol; endotracheal intubation and extubation; performing arterial punctures for interpretation of arterial blood gases. 

8. Monitors the patient’s physical response to the anesthetic and informs the surgeon and/or anesthesiologist of any adverse condition. Manage the anesthesia process to include induction, maintenance, and emergence of general, regional, and monitored anesthesia cases. Recognize abnormal patient responses to anesthesia or to any adjunctive medication or form of therapy. Initiate corrective measures. Determine the need for additional laboratory tests and provide resuscitative care as necessary. Evaluate and manage the patient in the immediate post-operative period. 

9. Administers IV fluids relative to the patient’s medical history and surgical procedure. Administer blood products after obtaining a hematocrit and then consultation with the surgeon and/or anesthesiologist. 

10. Documents the patient status in the anesthesia record appropriately. 

11. Performs all required safety and performance checks on anesthesia-related equipment and verify the appropriate supplies before initiating care. Procure and assemble equipment and supplies as indicated if anesthesia tech is not available. 

12. Reviews appropriate documentation for informed consent and identify appropriate surgical site during SBAR with circulating RN and holding room RN. Participates in surgical pause in the OR with entire surgical team in accordance with departmental and regulatory compliance standards. 

13. Communicates appropriately with all individuals involved in the peri-operative and post-operative care of the patient. 

14. In a life-threatening emergency, functions responsibly by providing anesthesia care in the absence of an anesthesiologist. 

15. Assists with the teaching and evaluation of newly-hired CRNAs, GRNAs, SRNAs in the clinical area. 

16. Assumes responsibility and is accountable for controlled substances according to department and hospital policy and State and federal guidelines. 

17. Maintains a level of professionalism at all times. 

Academic Duties 

18. Serves on appointed committees of the program and assists with admissions of nurse anesthetist cohorts. 

19. Designs and provides expert instruction to nurse anesthetist program students in didactic, simulation, and clinic settings through innovative approaches. 

20. DNP committee participation, including advising as a Faculty of Record for up to 8 DNP projects. 

21.Completes appropriate programmatic documentation according to COA and West Virginia University School of Nursing policies including program philosophy, objectives, master schedule, organizational charts, administrative policies and procedures, budget information, committee meeting minutes, hospital statistics and data, current course outlines, objectives, examinations and testing materials, and self-study reports.  

22. Serves as a role model for clinical excellence. 

23. Responsive and accessible to student inquiries. 

24. Promotes a climate of collegiality and teamwork throughout the school. 

25. Exemplifies and promotes ethical and professional standards for individual and organizational behavior and decision-making. 

26. Maintains current education and clinical skills to pursue excellence in job performance, to cope with a dynamic academic and clinical environment, and to ensure success of the program. 

27. Maintains CRNA certification and active practice as a CRNA. 

28. Networks with internal and external constituencies to promote the interests of the DNP Nurse Anesthetist program within the School and to establish significant professional relationships with peers. 

29. Represents the DNP and Nurse Anesthetist programs to external audiences, and represents the interests of the School of Nursing. 

30. Establishes, strengthens, and maintains program relations between and among the School of Nursing; the broader community of West Virginia University; West Virginia University Health System; the state; and government agencies and officials. 

31. Other duties as assigned. 
 

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS: The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

1. Ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer). 

2. Must deal calmly and effectively with high stress situations; ability to maintain composure.  
 

WORKING ENVIRONMENT: The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

1. May be in close contact with individuals who have infectious diseases and with toxic, harmful, or potentially hazardous compounds, solutions, and medications. 

2. Must observe rigid, standardized guidelines to guard against disease and other dangers, such as those posed by radiation, accidental needle sticks, chemicals used to sterilize instruments, and anesthetics. In addition, may be vulnerable to back injury when moving patients. 

SKILLS AND ABILITIES:

1. Demonstrated evidence of strong interpersonal and communications skills.

2. Requires being reliable, responsible, and dependable, and fulfilling obligations. 

3. Being open to change (positive or negative) and to considerable variety in the workplace. 

4. Ability to work congenially with individual differences in ability, personality, and interests.

5. May be required to be on call or work nights, weekends, and/or holidays.

Additional Job Description:

Scheduled Weekly Hours:

40

Shift:

Varied (United States of America)

Exempt/Non-Exempt:

United States of America (Exempt)

Company:

UHA University Health Associates

Cost Center:

8000 UHA Anesthesiology

Address:

1 Medical Center DriveMorgantownWest Virginia

Equal Opportunity Employer

University Health Associates and its subsidiaries (collectively "UHA") is an equal opportunity employer and complies with all applicable federal, state, and local fair employment practices laws. UHA strictly prohibits and does not tolerate discrimination against employees, applicants, or any other covered persons because of race, color, religion, creed, national origin or ancestry, ethnicity, sex (including gender, pregnancy, sexual orientation, and gender identity), age, physical or mental disability, citizenship, past, current, or prospective service in the uniformed services, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected under applicable federal, state, or local law. All UHA employees, other workers, and representatives are prohibited from engaging in unlawful discrimination. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including, but not limited to, hiring, training, promotion, discipline, compensation, benefits, and termination of employment.