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Summary Open to current New Mexico VA Health Care System Internal Facility employees only! The Anesthesiology Service of the New Mexico VA Health Care System is seeking qualified applicants for the position of a Nurse Anesthetist (Education Coordinator). Responsibilities The CRNA selected as Educator-Coordinator will coordinate an education program, Phase II (clinical), for nurse anesthesia students or healthcare trainees who rotate through the VA Healthcare System. This CRNA will be chosen by the Chief CRNA and Service Chief of the anesthesia service. Assignment to the Educator-Coordinator role must represent a significant commitment to the education of students, beyond the occasional preceptorship. The Educator­ Coordinator will also demonstrate a commitment to in-service training for staff, and facility continuing education in order to provide accurate information to the population serviced. Nurse Anesthesia is an advanced clinical nursing specialty based upon a graduate level curriculum focused on development of clinical judgment and critical thinking. CRNA's are qualified to render patients insensible to pain and emotional stress during surgical, obstetrical, diagnostic and invasive procedures utilizing general and regional anesthesia and all levels of sedation. (Guidelines for Core Clinical Privileges, AANA 2005). The practice of anesthesia is a recognized specialty in both nursing and medicine. Anesthesiology is the art and science of rendering a patient insensible to pain by the administration of anesthetic agents and related drugs and procedures. Anesthesia and anesthesia-related care represents those services which anesthesia professionals provide upon request, assignment, and referral by the patient's physician or other healthcare provider authorized by law, most often to facilitate diagnostic, therapeutic and surgical procedures. The certified Registered Nurse anesthetist (CRNA) is an advanced practice nurse who utilizes specialized education and clinical nursing skills to administer anesthesia care throughout the medical center. The practice of nurse anesthesia is a recognized specialty within the profession of nursing. As an independently licensed health professinal, the CRNA is responsible and accountable for his/her practice. The scope of practice includes direct patient care, administration, and education. The CRNA practices to achieve common goals for care, safety and welfare of VA patients and provide anesthetic services under the medical direction or medical supervision of an anesthesiologist within three general categories: Pre-anesthesia preparation and evaluation Anesthesia induction, maintenance and emergence in the operating room (OR) and out­ of-OR environments Post-anesthesia care Peri-anesthetic and clinical support functions in the OR and out-of-OR environments The CRNA works with diverse age groups to include adult and geriatric patients and is able to meet age specific needs of the patient population served. The anesthetist demonstrates the knowledge and clinical skills necessary to perform his/her duties in providing anesthetic care appropriate to the VA patient. The anesthetist demonstrates knowledge of age-associated changes, illnesses and potential disabilities in order to work with geriatric patients. Ability to serve as interdepartmental liaison, interfacing with other departments such as nursing, surgery, , PACU, outpatient surgery, admissions, administration, laboratory, pharmacy, etc., in order to incorporate the expertise of all disciplines in a comprehensive, integrated approach to care. Knowledge to provide advice and assistance to other nurse anesthetists in unusually difficult or complex cases. Ability to perform clinical and didactic teaching, commitment to in-service training for staff, competency development, and facility continuing education in order to provide accurate information to population serviced. Skills for the development, implementation, and evaluation of the clinical curriculum. Knowledge to implement educational strategies to meet changes, clinically, academically, and professionally, related to nurse anesthesia and the Veteran population. Knowledge to support and maintain appropriate documentation of students rotating through the anesthesia service, and participate in the VA selection of students to rotate through the facility. Ability to facilitate communication between students, faculty, and other site coordinators to oversee/manage the clinical education of students. VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package: VA Nurse Total Rewards Work Schedule: 6:30 am - 3:00 pm; on call duties for nights, weekends, and holidays is required. Telework: Not available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized Financial Discloser Report: Not required Requirements 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. You may be required to serve a probationary period. 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 dentification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment. Must pass pre-employment physical examination. Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP). Qualifications Advanced Practice Nurse (Nurse Practitioner) Basic Requirements Education: A post-master's certificate or master's or doctoral degree as a Nurse Practitioner. (Applicants pending the completion of educational requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until the education requirements are met.) Must be a graduate of a school of professional nursing approved by the appropriate accrediting agency and accredited by one of the following accrediting bodies at the time the program was completed by the applicant: The Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) or The Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE). NOTE: Foreign Education. Graduates of foreign schools of professional nursing programs, the nurse practitioner degree equivalency must be validated through an Agency recognized degree equivalency evaluation agency, such as the International Consultants of Delaware (ICD). Candidates with equivalent nurse practitioner masters or doctorate level degrees who possess current, full, active, and unrestricted registration and certification will meet the requirement of graduation from an approved school of professional nursing to warrant appointment. License and Certification: License. All APN (NPs) must possess and maintain an active, current, full, and unrestricted APN license to practice as an NP in a State, Territory or Commonwealth of the United States, or in the District of Columbia. Basic Certification. All APN (NPs) must maintain full and current board certification in an area of clinical specialty from one of the following: the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), American Academy of Nurse Practitioners Certification Board (AANPCB), or other nationally recognized certifying body in the area in which the Nurse Practitioner is academically prepared. NOTE: Grandfathering Provision - All persons currently employed in VHA in 0610 series and an APN (NP) 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. Grade Determinations: Grade IV: Approximately 5 years of progressively responsible leadership assignments in clinical, administrative, educational and/or research related to nurse anesthesia practice. The CRNA Educator-Coordinator coordinates an education program, Phase I (non-clinical) and/or Phase II (clinical), for nurse anesthesia students or health care trainees who rotate through the VA Healthcare System. Assignment to the Educator-Coordinator role must represent a significant commitment to the education of students, beyond the occasional preceptorship. The Educator-Coordinator must also demonstrate a commitment to in-service training for staff, and facility continuing education in order to provide accurate information to the population serviced. The Educator-Coordinator must have administrative and technical responsibility for maintaining professional standards of practice in accordance with the Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs (COA). This may include development of the orientation programs for the students, journal club, scheduling, counseling and grading students, monitoring cases, assisting with research projects, coordinating with didactic instructors and clinical anesthesia staff for student progress. The Educator-Coordinator must also assist and provide development opportunities for primary clinical instructors and other department members to maintain their skills and keep current with progressive technical knowledge. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills and Abilities. Ability to serve as interdepartmental liaison, interfacing with other departments such as nursing, surgery, PACU, outpatient surgery, admissions, administration, laboratory, pharmacy, etc., in order to incorporate the expertise of all disciplines in a comprehensive, integrated approach to care. Knowledge to provide advice and assistance to other nurse anesthetists in unusually difficult or complex cases. Ability to perform clinical and didactic teaching, commitment to in-service training for staff, and facility continuing education in order to provide accurate information to population serviced. Ability to provide feedback to students, faculty and the Program Director in a timely fashion. Skills for the development, implementation, evaluation and on-going updating of the clinical curriculum and evaluation. Ability to administer, evaluate and provide sound statistical research, which may promote clinical and didactic evolution and expertise in the field of anesthesia. Knowledge to implement educational strategies to meet changes, clinically, academically, and professionally, related to nurse anesthesia. May chair or co-chair graduate level research in order to assist students in researching, reviewing/approving research proposal and finished product. Ability to facilitate communication between students, faculty, and other site coordinators to oversee/manage the clinical education of students. Physical Requirements: Heavy lifting (45 lbs. and over); Heavy carrying (45 lbs. and over); Straight pulling and pushing; reaching above shoulder; use of fingers; both hands required; walking and standing up to 8 hours; repeated bending; Ability for rapid mental and muscular coordination simultaneously; hearing aid permitted. Education Additional Information Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. During the application process you may have an option to opt-in to make your resume available to hiring managers in the agency who have similar positions. Opting in does not impact your application for this announcement, nor does it guarantee further consideration for additional positions. This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies. This position is in the Excepted Service and does not confer competitive status. VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply. The health-related positions in VA are covered by Title 38, and are not covered by the Schedule A excepted appointment authority. If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents, please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement. Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicant's criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer. For more information about the Act and the complaint process, visit Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP) at The Fair Chance Act.