CRNA - Nurse Anesthetist

About the role

This position is located in the Anesthesia Department of Tuba City Regional Health Care Corporation (TCRHCC) and is a full professional member of the Operating Room (OR) team providing anesthesiology services.

Qualifications

Applicants who meet the necessary qualifications for this position and (1) are enrolled members of the Navajo Nation, Hopi Tribe, or San Juan Southern Paiute Tribe will be given preference in hiring and employment for this position, (2) are legally married to enrolled members of the Navajo Nation, Hopi Tribe, or San Juan Southern Paiute Tribe and meet residency requirements will be given secondary preference, and (3) are enrolled members of other federally-recognized American Indian Tribes will be given tertiary preference.

Education

• Associate’s or Bachelor’s degree from an accredited school of nursing
• Completion of a Nurse Anesthetist training program sponsored or approved by the American Association of Nurse Anesthetists (AANA)

License/Certification

• Valid, current, full and unrestricted license to practice as a nurse in any state within the United States, District of Columbia or the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico
• Certification by the AANA
• Maintain a current valid certification of the following throughout employment:
  • Basic Life Support (BLS) from the American Heart Association
  • Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) from the American Heart Association
  • Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) from the American Heart Association
• Obtain Advanced Trauma Life Support (ATLS) prior to taking trauma call

Experience

• Knowledge of professional nursing and of the pharmacological properties and physiological effects of anesthetic drugs used in complex surgery
• Independent ability to administer all anesthetics and to detect unfavorable reactions; to administer and manage new drugs and to recover the patient from any side effects
• Skill in preparing reports of results in the use of new drugs
• Knowledge of OR methods, equipment, and procedures

Other Skills And Abilities

• A record of satisfactory performance in all prior and current employment as evidenced by positive employment references from previous and current employers, addressing:
  • Positive working relationships with others
  • Possession of high ethical standards and no history of complaints
  • Reliable and dependable; reports to work as scheduled without excessive absences
• Ability to coordinate anesthesia activities with the total operating room team
• Completion of and above-satisfactory scores on all job interviews, demonstrating the ability to perform the essential functions of the job
• Successful completion of and positive results from all background and reference checks
• Successful completion of fingerprint clearance requirements, physical examinations, and other screenings
• Submission of all required employment-related documents free of false, misleading, or incomplete information

Mental and Physical Effort

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

Physical

• Endure long periods of sitting and standing while confined to a small area, frequent walking, occasional driving, bending, climbing, kneeling, crouching, twisting, maintaining balance and reaching
• Remain alert and make rapid and accurate decisions during periods of fatigue and anxiety induced by extended high risk surgery
• Lift, push, and pull 10lbs frequently as well as occasionally equipment weighing over 100lbs
• Ability of far, near, and color vision, depth perception, seeing fine details, hearing normal speech and overhead pages, and occasional telephone use
• Hand manipulation of frequent simple grasping and fine manipulation and occasional firm grasping and use of keyboards

Mental

• Contacts often require tact and sensitivity as those related to stressful situations such as death, dying, and catastrophic illnesses
• Ability to prioritize, use good judgment and coordinate a variety of issues while being frequently interrupted
• Ability to frequently cope with high levels of stress, make decisions under high pressure, handle high degree of flexibility, handle multiple priorities in stressful situations, occasionally cope with anger/fear/hostility of others in a calm way, manage altercations, concentrate, work alone, demonstrate high degree of patience, adapt to shift work, and work in areas that are close and crowded

Environmental

• Works in an area with repeatedly long exposure to anesthetic agents which may cause a risk of abortions, birth defects in the children of anesthetist, and possible cancer; also risk of exposure to radiation and infection
• Frequently exposed to chemical agents, dust, fumes, gases, and loud noises with occasional exposure to infectious disease, extremes in temperature or humidity, hazardous or moving equipment, and unprotected heights

Responsibilities

• Answers to the Chief of Anesthesia and follows all pertinent policies and procedures; abide by all Medical Staff Bylaws and Rules & Regulations including meeting attendance, educational and quality assurance and process improvement activities
• Provide full range of anesthetic management in an operating room and post operative setting as an on-site consultant and expert in anesthesiology
• Establish rapport and health history with patients; elicit information, provide emotional support, and ensure cooperation with patients and their families
• Exchange information and provide consultation with surgeons and other hospital personnel before, during, and after surgery
• Administer anesthesia for all types of surgical procedures for patients ranging from the neonate (currently not less than 1 year) to the centurian, covering a wide range of acuity from the healthy to the gravely ill
• Proficient in diagnosing the degree of illness and anesthesia related risks to properly select techniques and agents
• Review patient’s charts for pertinent information such as lab results, EKGs, x-rays, allergies, history and physical examination, and previous anesthetics with related complications
• Interview patients and family members if available; explain anesthesia procedures, discuss risks involved, and what to expect post anesthesia
• Employ the services of interpreters when necessary
• Administer anesthetic by inhalation, endotracheal intubation, regional, intravenous or topically; induce anesthesia to the proper state and manage throughout surgery
• Determine need for and administer parenteral fluids, including plasma and blood; administer medications as required and monitor the patient during surgery by maintaining hemodynamics and preventing overdose
• Diagnose and correct problems such as cardiac failure, respiratory insufficiency, fluid and electrolyte imbalance
• Provide acute pain management services to obstetrical and other patients as consulted
• Give immediate post operative care to patients for the extent of time required to ensure clear airway and freedom from the possibility of shock or other adverse reactions
• Recommend new drugs to the Pharmacy Committee for anesthesia; administer and evaluate actions of new drugs; manage actions of new drugs once administered; implement results of new anesthesia methods and techniques after receiving approval from medical committee
• Responsible for all techniques, drugs, and equipment used in the administration of anesthesia to all patients undergoing any and all forms of surgical and/or diagnostic procedures
• Assume responsibility for care, sanitation, and inspection for proper functioning of all equipment used in performance of work; enforce rules and safety with respect to anesthetics or gases such as grounding of patient and venting of gases during surgery
• Maintain a quiet orderly induction and emergence
• Respond to medical emergencies such as codes or intubation in the ICU, ER, or any other location in the hospital as availability permits
• Responsible for electronic health records data entry pertinent to patient service role
• Ensure proper PPE is always used while on duty; face surgical mask worn in all hospital areas; proper handwashing required; if water is not available use hand sanitizer; social distancing practiced by department
• Use proper PPE inside assigned Clinics or Unit, including NIOSH-approved N95 mask filtering face piece respirator or higher, eye or face shields, gloves, and isolation gown; complete all donning and doffing tasks in a safe acceptable method and discard of used PPE accordingly; complete provided training
• Perform other duties as assigned