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Tufts Medical Center

Job Description

Job Title: Chief Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA) Date: 8/83, 2/99, 5/24

Department: Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine

Reports to: Chair of Anesthesiology

General Overview

The Chief CRNA collaborates with Chair of Anesthesiology, Director of the Operating Room and senior department management to maintain the goal of overseeing student education, CRNA staff education and overseeing the provision of all aspects of clinical care pertaining to the CRNA Group. She/he/they is directly reports to the Chair of Anesthesiology and the Director of the Operating Room. Serves as a servant leader, and leads by example in professionalism, work ethic, as a dedicated clinician.

A qualified CRNA responsible for the management of nurse anesthesia services in collaboration with departments of anesthesia, surgery, and nursing administration. They develops and interprets organizational policies for personnel; assumes responsibility for safe and proper operation and quality control of equipment, techniques, and procedures; and analyzes and evaluates activities to assure established quality patient care.

Provides primary anesthesia care including pre, intra and post-operative management for all types of surgery, collaboratively with staff anesthesiologists. Responsible for the direction of nurse anesthesia staff and students.

Principal Duties and Responsibilities

• Supervises/advocate/leads all staff nurse anesthetists and manages clinical schedule, vacation, evaluation and other personnel matters concerning them.

• Formulates all policies and procedures, handbooks, guidelines, agreements and forms regarding staff anesthetists.

• Works closely and collaborates with the SRNA Liaison to coordinate, develops, designs, updates and evaluates all educational and administrative aspects of the nurse anesthesia educational program, including student admissions, evaluation, discipline, didactic teaching, hospital orientation, hospital onboarding, credentialing and graduation criteria.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Highly effective verbal and written communication skills are required to interact with patients, families, departmental units, medical and nursing staff or all essential matters.

• Ability to operate, use, and interpret data from a wide variety of equipment to perform anesthesia care as well as necessary perioperative or operating room care to support the safety and wellbeing of the patient while they are under the direct care of the CRNA.

• Demonstrated effective interpersonal skills necessary to evaluate and effectively counsel Nurse Anesthetists and students.

• Demonstrated ability to promote professionalism thorough involvement in professional organizations, teaching and/or certification in an area of specialty.

• Skilled at conflict resolution of both interpersonal conflict through mediation and managing conflict between groups of stakeholders in perioperative setting.

• Demonstrated leadership/managerial capabilities in CRNA practice.

• A minimum of three (3) years of clinical anesthesia experience.

Managerial

• Manages daily operations of the anesthesia department.

• Documents need for changes in staffing and makes recommendations.

• Contributes to planning goals and objectives for the department and assists chair/director in coordinating activities and programs.

• Promotes alignment between Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine and surgical and procedural departments / services.

• Promotes alignment between CRNA group, trainees (SRNAS and residents), and anesthesiologists.

• Participate in the interview process and evaluates qualified personnel. Counsels and evaluates personnel and recommends when termination should be considered. Implements personnel policies.

• Assumes primary responsibility for disciplinary action of staff members in conjunction with the Medical Director, Chair as indicated by the TMC evaluation process.

• Responsible for work schedules and assignments, on-call arrangements, and emergency changes in collaboration with anesthesia staff.

• Develops and maintains quality improvement programs for the anesthesia department in collaboration with hospital programs, policies and guidelines.

• Represents nurse anesthesia at hospital conferences and committee functions and serves as an interdepartmental liaison and/or recommends representatives from the CRNA group.

• Performs all aspects of clinical anesthesia administration as scheduled.

• Develops, reviews and revises educational and clinical guidelines as appropriate.

• Meets regularly with SRNA and CRNA staff to inform them of important issues and trends.

• Reviews CRNA responsibilities, job expectations, and job satisfaction and works with individual CRNA’s to meet career goals.

• Promotes and encourages professional staff development.

• Serves as a servant leader, and leads by example in professionalism, work ethic, as a dedicated clinician.

Clinical

• Provides clinical anesthesia care, as necessary, in accordance with CRNA job description and/or CRNA clinical privileges.

Patient Safety

Supports patient safety when performing his or her job functions and through participation in facility, department or unit patient safety initiatives.

• Takes action to correct observed risks to patient safety.

• Reports adverse events and near misses to appropriate management authority.

• Identifies possible risks in processes, procedures, devices and communicates the same to those in charge.

Tufts Medicine is a leading integrated health system bringing together the best of academic and community healthcare to deliver exceptional, connected and accessible care experiences to consumers across Massachusetts. Comprised of Tufts Medical Center, Lowell General Hospital, MelroseWakefield Hospital, Lawrence Memorial Hospital of Medford, Care at Home - an expansive home care network, and large integrated physician network. We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity and inclusion at Tufts Medicine. Tufts Medicine does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, national origin, gender identity and/or expression, marital status or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local law. We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us to request accommodation by emailing us at careers@tuftsmedicine.org .