Chief Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist

Clarification from the agency

NOTE: The 2-page Resume requirement does not apply to this position. For more information, refer to Required Documents below.

Chief Nurse Anesthetist functions may include, but are not limited to the following:

a. Ability to perform scheduling and supervise staff, students, or ancillary personnel to include conducting performance evaluations in order to effectively execute responsibilities.
b. Knowledge to accept substantial and continuing responsibility and accountability for planning, organizing, directing, and controlling an integrated program.
c. Ability to serve on committee meetings, departmental reviews, problem-focused studies, problem solving, interventions, and process oversight in order to justify program goals and motivate assigned personnel.
d. Skill in design and management of budget and cost benefit analysis in order to ensure optimal stewardship of resources.
e. Ability to exercise independent judgment, perform tasks of unusual difficulty along special technical, supervisory, or administrative lines. These practitioners may develop protocols of anesthesia practice.
f. Ability to provide analytical techniques and problem solving related to drug interaction and pathological changes during the anesthesia course.
g. Ability to provide leadership in the application of the nursing process to patient care, organization processes and/or systems, improving outcomes at the program or service level.
h. Knowledge to participate in the audit of anesthesia care, recommending changes where indicated.

At this level, emphasis is placed on strategic planning and administrative/managerial responsibilities. The Chief Nurse Anesthetist makes recommendations that may significantly affect the content, interpretation, or development of VA policies or programs concerning critical matters or major issues within the anesthesia arena. They are assigned positions/studies where limited guidance exists as to the method of evaluation for the potential experience identified or, where possible, new experiences need to be identified. Regularly provides anesthesia care in unusually extensive and complex surgical procedures that are of prolonged duration and involve high-risk patients, including development of individualized programs of post-op anesthesia care. The Chief Nurse Anesthetist will be a first line supervisor and have administrative responsibility for anesthesia staff. Nurse Anesthetists at this level must have the ability to perform long and short-term planning goals for their anesthesia department. The Chief Nurse Anesthetist will communicate the mission, ethics, and goals of VHA and TVHS, and specifically the Anesthesiology Service within TVHS, as well as the focus statement of the department. Will function as a departmental resource while promoting team functioning and representing the organization in a positive and professional manner. Will effectively and consistently communicate administrative directives to personnel and encourage interactive departmental meetings and discussions. Will participate in management activities including interviewing, hiring, and discipline. Interpret and enforce Human Resources management policies in a consistent manner. Resolve personnel concerns at the department level, utilizing the grievance process as necessary. Recognize and evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of self and staff while regularly coaching staff on their contribution to the mission of the agency and with their performance development.

Will schedule and adjust staffing, as appropriate, for fluctuations in workload in consultation with Chief of Anesthesiology. Delegate appropriately to subordinates to share responsibilities for efficient departmental operations.
Will monitor the quality of anesthesia care. Ensure retrospective, ongoing, and continuing evaluation of the quality of nurse anesthetist care rendered by CRNAs anywhere in the facility through the use of performance evaluations. Address performance issues of any CRNA in a timely manner and inform the Chief of Anesthesiology Service of ongoing concerns. Provide education to staff on performance and professional improvement. Will attend departmental, organizational, and medical staff (as appropriate to departmental rules and regulations) committee meetings. attend committee, TQI, and management meetings as assigned. Develop and implement anesthesia specific policies and procedures in conjunction with the Chief of Anesthesiology Service. Work closely with Lead Medical Instrument Technicians to recommend needed equipment to the Chief of Anesthesiology Service. Will ensure CRNA documentation meets current standards and policies.

CA92 CRNA Pay Schedule

VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package: VA Nurse Total Rewards

Work Schedule: Based on the needs of the Service.
EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive. Contact Sherry Miller, the EDRP Coordinator, at Sherry.Miller5@va.gov for questions/assistance. Learn more

Conditions of employment

• U.S. Citizenship; non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy.
• All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA.
• English Language Proficiency. In accordance with 38 U.S.C. 7402(f), no person shall serve in direct patient care positions unless they are proficient in basic written and spoken English.
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959.
• Subject to background/security investigation.
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents). Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued identification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP).
• You may be required to serve a probationary period.
• Complete all application requirements detailed in the "Required Documents" section of this announcement.

Qualifications

Chief Advanced Practice Nurse (Certified Nurse Anesthetist) Basic Requirements:

• Education. A masters or doctoral degree in nurse anesthesia. Nursing education must be from a school of professional nursing anesthesia accredited by Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Education Programs (COA) at the time the program was completed by the applicant.
• Licensure and Certification. The following licensure and certification requirements are considered conditions of employment.
  • License. All APN (CNAs) must maintain an active, current, full and unrestricted license to practice as a CNA or equivalent, in a State, Territory or Commonwealth of the United States or in the District of Columbia.
  • Basic Certification. All APN (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.

NOTE: Grandfathering Provision - All persons currently employed in VHA in 0610 series and an APN (CNA) assignment that are also performing the duties as described in the qualification standard on the effective date of the standard (1/29/2024) are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the grade held including positive education and licensure/certification.

The following Education, Experience, and Knowledge, Skills and Abilities must be met for Advanced Practice Nurse (Certified Nurse Anesthetist) IV:

• Education and Experience Requirement: Meets basic education requirement for an APN (CNA) AND four years of APN (CNA) progressively responsible leadership assignments in clinical, administrative, educational and/or research related to CNA practice, one of which is specialized experience equivalent to the APN (CNA) III grade level.
• Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: Must have the ability to perform long and short-term planning goals for their anesthesia department. Chief APN (CNA) functions may include, but are not limited to, the following knowledge, skills, and abilities:
  • Ability to assume progressive responsibility for planning, organizing, directing, and evaluating section and departmental processes and programs.
  • Ability to supervise staff, students or ancillary personnel and to ensure proper scheduling and staffing.
  • Skill to perform as a provider and mentor for unusually extensive and complex anesthetic cases.
  • Knowledge to participate in a continual audit of anesthesia care and to ensure periodic performance and professional practice (focused and ongoing) evaluation requirements are met.

Preferred Experience: At least 10 years of experience as a CRNA; CRNA leadership experience.

Physical Requirements: Light lifting (under 15 lbs), light carrying (under 15 lbs), use of fingers, far vision correctable in one eye to 20/20 and 20/40 in the other, hearing (aid permitted), emotional stability, mental stability. May occasionally be exposed to patients who are aggressive or combative secondary to delirium, dementia, or psychiatric disorders. May be required to work closely with others or teams, or work in close proximity with others.

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE MAY NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. Your application, resume, C.V., and/or supporting documentation will be verified. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect consideration for employment.

NOTE: Candidate's education, scope, and length of nursing practice (experience) will be considered in determining the grade and salary of the applicant selected. The recommended salary may be at any point in the range listed for this vacancy.

Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religions; spiritual; community; student; social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

The Department of Veterans Affairs performs pre-employment reference checks as an assessment method used in the hiring process to verify information provided by a candidate (e.g., on resume or during interview or hiring process); gain additional knowledge regarding a candidate's abilities; and assist a hiring manager with making a final selection for a position.

It is the policy of the VA to not deny employment to those that have faced financial hardships or periods of unemployment.

Veterans and Transitioning Service Members: Please visit the VA for Vets site for career-search tools for Veterans seeking employment at VA, career development services for our existing Veterans, and coaching and reintegration support for military service members.

To apply for this position, you must provide a complete Application Package which includes:

**RESUME: You MUST submit a CV or resume to verify that you meet the qualifications of the position. Your resume must provide identifiable information (such as name, address, email, and phone number). It must also provide the month and year of the beginning and ending dates for each employer, as well as the name, city, and state of all schools you attended, the month and year you graduated, and the type of degree you were awarded. You must also include the state, number, and expiration date of your RN licensure.

Special Note for Applications: To complete your application, please use the following link https://vacareers.va.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/Resume.docx to download the standard Clinical Resume Document. This one-page document does not need to be modified and must be uploaded into the two-page restricted 'Resume' document upload field.

Your full resume/CV may be uploaded without page limitation into the 'Other' document upload field.

The following documents are accepted, and may be required if applicable to your eligibility and/or qualifications for this position. Please ensure you have included all documents required for your application, such as a copy of your transcript (if using education to qualify), SF-50's (current/former Federal employees), etc.

• Cover Letter
• DD-214/ Statement of Service
• Disability Letter (VA)
• License
• Other (1)
• Performance Appraisal
• Professional Certification
• Resume
• SF-15
• SF-50/ Notification of Personnel Action
• Transcript

Veterans' Preference Note: Preference eligible candidates and other Veterans will be given preference when qualification of candidates are approximately equal for Title 38 positions in VHA. When applying for Federal Jobs, eligible Veterans should claim preference for 5pt (TP), 10pt (CP/CPS/XP), or for Sole Survivor Preference (SSP) in the questionnaire. You must provide a legible copy of your DD214(s) which shows dates and character of service (honorable, general, etc.). If you are currently serving on active duty and expect to be released or discharged within 120 days you must submit documentation related to your active duty service which reflects the dates of service, character of service (honorable, general, etc.), and dates of impending separation. Additionally, disabled veterans and others eligible for 10-point preference (such as widows or mothers of eligible Veterans) must also submit an SF-15 "Application for 10 Point Veteran Preference" with required proof as stated on the form. Documentation is required to award preference. For more information on Veterans' Preference, please visit Feds Hire Vets - Veterans - Job Seekers - Veterans' Preference.

Next steps