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. 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: A degree in nursing from 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 National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission (NLNAC), or The Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) In cases of graduates of foreign schools of professional nursing, possession of a current, full, and unrestricted registration (see basic requirement in subparagraph c below) and the possession of a Certificate from the Commission on Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools (CGFNS) will meet the requirement of 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. Registration: 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. Certification: On and after May 4, 1993, certification by the Council on Certification of Nurse Anesthetists is a requirement for employment. Nurse Anesthetists will maintain recertification by meeting the Council on Recertification of Nurse Anesthetist's requirements as a condition of employment. ACLS and BLS required Grade Determinations: The level that nurse anesthesia practice may be performed is based on a combination of education and experience. Beyond the minimum education requirements, grade determination upon appointment and advancement is dependent more on acquired knowledge, skills, and abilities than baseline education. As the nurse anesthetist acquires the knowledge and judgment that accrues with experience, the privilege of increased authority for patient care is expanded. Entry Level: (Nurse II) Experience and Education. None beyond the basic requirements. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills and Abilities. The following list of knowledge, skills and abilities present the minimum skill set expected of an Entry Level Nurse Anesthetist. Entry level into nurse anesthesia practice may include but are not limited to the following: Ability to translate the principles of professional nursing practice in the care of assigned patients in order to provide appropriate care. Ability to do a pre-anesthetic patient history and physical, which includes collecting pre-operative consults and data. Ability to formulate an anesthetic plan and describe the anesthetic risks, benefits and options to the patient. Ability to administer inhalation, regional, intravenous, local, and topical anesthetics and to detect unfavorable reactions in order to continuously evaluate the patient's physical status. Ability to respond to emergency situations by providing airway management, administration of emergency fluids and drugs, and using appropriate resuscitation procedures for patient care. Ability to provide patient care that is abreast of changing concepts and advancements in the profession. Ability to work effectively in an interdisciplinary environment for improvement of services for patient care. Ability to practice nurse anesthesia with colleagues and peers utilizing a collaborative team concept of anesthesia care. Full Performance Level: (Nurse III) Experience and Education. In addition to meeting the requirements for Entry Level, the CRNA has had progressively responsible experience in the administration of anesthetics as indicated in the knowledge, skills and abilities listed below. These individuals must demonstrate the ability to participate in a program for nurse anesthesia care and demonstrate knowledge of anesthetizing locations, methods, equipment and procedures. At this level, the CRNA has experience in the administration of anesthetics that has demonstrated the nurse anesthetist's ability to participate in team programs that are technically challenging and/or complicated. Typically candidates can demonstrate the knowledge, skills and abilities of Full Performance Level within 2 years from entering the occupation. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. Full Performance Level practice in nurse anesthesia includes but is not limited to the following: Skill in conducting and managing anesthesia for a broad range of complex surgical procedures. In addition, the CRNA must be able to adapt/modify anesthesia techniques in order to optimize patient care. Ability to complete work assignments selected to add depth and breadth to their technical knowledge and skill competence. Work assignments will vary at each facility depending on the progressive acuity required for anesthesia care. Ability to respond to emergency situations by providing airway management, administration of emergency fluids and drugs, and by the use of basic or advanced cardiac life support techniques in order to perform necessary resuscitation procedures. Ability to effectively blend technology, skills, and competency for the advancement of anesthesia techniques, pharmacology, and equipment. Ability to apply new developments and theories to develop and demonstrate the ability to recognize and solve various complex anesthesia situations. Ability to practice nurse anesthesia with colleagues and peers in a team concept of anesthesia care and blend management skills with technical experience. Ability to recognize clinical and technical aspects of anesthesia care and has in-depth knowledge of anesthesia methods and techniques for the practice of anesthesia. Ability to perform as a mentor, preceptor, or nurse educator providing didactic and clinical instruction for graduate-level nurse anesthesia students and/or other anesthesia care providers. Ability to participate in the development of anesthesia patient care audit processes involving in depth review and analysis of anesthesia records. Ability to provide guidance and instruction in preparing others for positions of leadership and ethical practices which impact patient care. Preferred Experience: DEA License Reference: VA Handbook 5005/37, Part II, Appendix G7, August 24, 2010. NOTE: This qualification standard is required to be used until updated. This position was in the 0605 series and is now 0610 series. Physical Requirements: The incumbent must be able to perform all activities of the position without restriction. This position requires visual and auditory acuity at a level to provide safe and effective nursing care. This position requires considerable standing, walking, stooping, bending, reaching, lifting, and turning. It requires repositioning patients, assisting with transferring patients to wheelchairs/stretchers, and transporting them to other departments or facilities. Per VA handbook 5003/4, Functional Statements are to be reviewed, signed and dates as least every two years for accuracy of the duties and responsibilities, or as often as needed due to changing responsibilities. Functional Statements are required to be retained for two years. One copy should be given to the employee, one copy should be kept on file at the service level, and one copy should be kept on file by the servicing human resources office. ["VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package: VA Nurse Total Rewards This is an OPEN CONTINUOUS ANNOUNCEMENT and will remain open until December 29, 2023, or until vacancy is filled. The first group of eligible applicants will be reviewed August 1, 2023. Subsequent reviews will be conducted as needed until position is filled. Major Duties include, but are not limited to: Provide anesthesia services for a diverse Veteran population and a broad range of situations throughout the medical (or ambulatory surgery) center Perform pre-anesthetic evaluations, collaborate with the interdisciplinary team to prepare the anesthesia plan, deliver all forms of anesthesia, and provide intra and post-operative care of patients Provide emergency airway and resuscitation management throughout the facility and establish effective working relationships with all levels of staff Translate the principles of professional nurse anesthesia practice into appropriate patient care Perform the pre-anesthetic patient history and physical, including the collection of preoperative consults and data, from which an appropriate anesthetic plan is formulated with supervising Anesthesiologist Administer inhalation, regional, intravenous, local, and topical anesthetics and continuously evaluate the patient's physical status and response to anesthesia throughout and after the procedure Provide patient care that is abreast of changing concepts and advancements in the profession while working effectively in an interdisciplinary environment for improvement of services for patient care Practice with colleagues and peers utilizing a collaborative Anesthesia Care Team model while demonstrating effective communication skills and professional behaviors that promote cooperation and interdisciplinary teamwork Respond to emergency situations by providing airway management, the administration of emergency fluids and medications using appropriate resuscitation procedures Assist in the development of policies, procedures, and protocols related to anesthesia within the institution and contributes to other policies, procedures, and protocols Participate in ad hoc committees Determine the needs of the patient and to provide for the delivery of quality nursing care to a culturally diverse complex veteran population Initiate the nursing process; assess, devise a working diagnosis, formulate a plan, intervene, and evaluate the effectiveness of the plan Complete accurate and expedient documentation within the medical record utilizing the authorized templates for nursing assessment, interventions, outcomes, and veteran teaching Apply all aspects of the nursing process within a collaborative, interdisciplinary practice setting Apply the skill sets of spoken and written communication, logical problem solving and critical thinking Identify emergent situations (medical and psychiatric) and initiating the necessary interventions in conjunction with the patient and others Prioritize the patient' s plan of care including the patients input Communicate and interact appropriately and courteously, including demonstrating the skills and ability to listen, negotiate, counsel and provide crisis management with patients and other interdisciplinary staff Apply knowledge and appropriate use of internal and external resources Prevent and report unusual occurrences and adverse events Integrate and apply pertinent aspects of the Medical Center 's policy and procedures, performance improvement programs into professional practice Utilize and integrate nursing research and literature in daily practice 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 Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position Recruitment or Relocation Incentives: Authorized EDRP Authorized: Contact Vickie Becoat, victoria.becoat@va.gov, the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not Required"]
The Veterans Health Administration is America’s largest integrated health care system, providing care at 1,298 health care facilities, including 171 medical centers and 1,113 outpatient sites of care of varying complexity (VHA outpatient clinics), serving 9 million enrolled Veterans each year.
