Description

A Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA) is an advanced practice registered nurse (APRN) who practices both autonomously and in collaboration with the interprofessional team to deliver high-quality, evidence-based anesthesia and pain care services across the lifespan and across procedure types, including surgical, diagnostic, therapeutic, and pain management. In addition to maintaining a full clinical practice, the Lead CRNA coordinates the daily work of the CRNA team, serving as the first point of contact for scheduling, workflow, and equipment readiness.

JOB SPECIFIC DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

1. Periodic pre-anesthesia assessment when needed and evaluation of the patient prior to induction.
2. Selects, obtains, orders, and administers preanesthetic medication or treatment.
3. Develops and implements an anesthesia care plan in collaboration with the physician anesthesiologist.
4. Selects, obtains, prepares, and uses equipment, invasive and non-invasive monitors, supplies, and drugs for the administration of sedation, anesthesia, and performs safety checks as needed.
5. Selects, orders, obtains, and administers analgesic and anesthetic agents, adjuvant drugs, accessory drugs, or fluids necessary to provide anesthesia services.
6. Performs all aspects of airway management, including fiberoptic intubation.
7. Facilitates emergence and recovery from anesthesia by evaluating patient response, and selecting, ordering, and administering medications, fluids, and ventilator support to maintain patient stability during transfer.
8. Initiates and administers post-anesthesia pharmacological or fluid support of the cardiovascular system.
9. Initiates and administers respiratory support to ensure adequate ventilation and oxygenation in the post-anesthesia period.
10. Implements acute and chronic pain management modalities.
11. Manages emergency situations by assessing, stabilizing, and determining disposition of patients, including providing airway management, administration of emergency drugs and fluids, and using basic and advanced cardiac life support techniques.
12. Coordinates daily CRNA assignments with the physician AIC for case coverage, adjusting for volume, acuity, and staff availability; serves as first point of contact for day-of anesthesia workflow issues and escalates unresolved issues appropriately.
13. Coordinates readiness of anesthesia equipment, supplies, and medications in collaboration with pharmacy, materials management and the anesthesia tech.
14. Supports patient safety when performing job functions and through participation in facility, department, or unit patient safety initiatives; takes action to correct observed risks to patient safety.
15. Reports adverse events and near misses to the appropriate management authority.
16. Identifies risks in processes, procedures, and devices and proposes improvements to anesthesia workflows and departmental practices; communicates recommendations to leadership.
17. Participates in and may lead quality assessment and quality assurance activities for anesthesia services, including compiling data and preparing reports related to quality, utilization, and medication use.
18. Works with the Anesthesia Director to coordinate orientation and precepting of newly hired CRNAs.
19. Participates in required educational programs and departmental meetings; seeks ongoing professional growth.
20. Participates in competency assessments and ensures all CRNAs comply with regulatory and accreditation requirements.
21. Assists with annual evaluations by providing feedback on CRNA performance.
22. Participates in recruitment and interviews of CRNA applicants.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITY: None. Coordinates the work of others as a lead.

EDUCATION, CERTIFICATION, LICENSURE, REGISTRATION:

1. Master's degree or Doctorate in Nurse Anesthesia by date of hire
2. Current Arkansas licensure as an RN and APRN (CRNA).
3. Graduate of a nurse anesthesia educational program accredited by the Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs or its predecessor.
4. Certified by the National Board of Certification and Recertification for Nurse Anesthetists by date of hire
5. BLS and ACLS required

EXPERIENCE, SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE:

1. Experience as a practicing CRNA preferred.
2. Experience coordinating the work of others (e.g., charge, lead, or preceptor roles) preferred.
3. Ability to perform clinically as a nurse anesthetist in the facility setting on a regular basis.
4. Ability to operate, use, and interpret data from anesthesia and perioperative equipment to support safe patient care.
5. Effective verbal and written communication skills to collaborate across clinical disciplines.
6. Ability to provide care appropriate to the age and population-specific needs of patients served.
7. Knowledge of infection prevention and control techniques.
8. Ability to maintain confidentiality and adhere to facility policies and procedures.

REASONING ABILITY:

1. Ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables in situations where only limited standardization exists.
2. Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, or schedule form.

INTERPERSONAL SKILLS:

1. Must interact and communicate both verbally and in written form.
2. Must interact and exchange information regarding patients with physicians and other departmental personnel on a frequent basis while respecting the confidentiality of patient information.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

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.

1. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk or hear.
2. The employee regularly is required to stand, walk, sit, use hand to finger, handle or feel objects, tools, or controls; and reach with hands and arms.
3. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision and the ability to adjust focus.

WORK ENVIRONMENT:

The work environment involves potential exposure to blood and body fluids, communicable diseases, chemicals and other hazardous materials, radiation, and repetitive motions while performing the essential functions of this job. Team members are offered appropriate vaccinations and safety training.

DISCLOSURE:

This description is intended to describe the essential job functions, the general supplemental functions and the essential requirements for the performance of the job. It is not an exhaustive list of all duties, responsibilities and requirements of a person so classified. Other functions may be assigned and management retains the right to add or change the duties at any time. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the job.

SAFETY SENSITIVE

This position is a Safety Sensitive Position. The essential functions, physical demands, and mental competencies of this job require the employee maintain the ability to work in a constant state of alertness in a safe manner.