Advanced Practice Nurse (Nurse-Anesthetist)

Responsibilities

• Serves as a Nurse Anesthetist for a broad range of surgery, including the most complex performed at Blanchfield Army Community Hospital (BACH).
• Participates in the review and improvement of patient care processes related to anesthesia.
• As an educator and anesthesia expert, provides knowledge and teaching skills to other health care professionals and paraprofessionals.
• Provides anesthesia and related services in accordance with Army and hospital regulatory, licensing and credentialing policies, and with American Association of Nurse Anesthetists (AANA) Guidelines for Nurse Anesthesia Practice and Code of Ethics.
• Responsible to the Chief, Anesthesia Section, for complying with current standards of anesthesia practice and care.
• Conducts and participates in educational programs that improve anesthesia nursing practice.
• Participates and assists in the implementation of the Anesthesia Performance Improvement Program.
• Performs duties as a Nurse Anesthetist on-call responding to surgical emergencies on a 24 hour basis.
• Provides 24-hour obstetrical Anesthesia Coverage on a rotating basis.
• Provides anesthesia care that is within the scope of practice as determined by demonstrated competency, working at the fullest ability of licensure and clinical privileges approved by the medical treatment facility (MTF).
• Anesthetizes patients for a broad range of surgery to include but not limited to pediatric surgery; Ear, Nose & Throat (ENT); Obstetrics and Gynecology (OB/GYN); orthopedics; oral maxillofacial surgery, and Gastrointestinal (GI) procedures.
• Provides obstetrical analgesia and surgical anesthesia for operative deliveries and complications.
• Demonstrates competency in the following clinical areas: pre-anesthesia preparation; anesthesia induction, maintenance, and emergence; conscious sedation; pain management; post anesthesia care; peri-anesthetic and clinical support functions; emergency airway management, Code Blue member, Code Purple Team member (post-partum hemorrhage).
• Assumes full responsibility for all techniques, drugs, and equipment used in the administration of anesthesia.
• Maintains adequate stock levels; participates in anesthesia staff meetings; participates in hospital committees; educates hospital staff; attends educational programs; maintains BCLS and ACLS.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• US Citizens
• A graduate or higher level degree from an accredited professional nursing educational program in Anesthesia is required.
• Current, active, full, and unrestricted license or registration as a professional nurse from a State, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, or a territory of the United States.
• Active, current registration as a professional nurse in a State, District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, or a territory of the United States.