Position Summary
The Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA) provides safe, high-quality anesthesia care to patients across the continuum of the perioperative experience at a short-term acute care hospital. Operating in compliance with Texas State Board of Nursing regulations, Texas Medical Board guidelines, and all applicable federal and state laws, the CRNA independently administers or collaborates in the administration of anesthesia for surgical, obstetrical, therapeutic, and diagnostic procedures. The CRNA exercises independent professional judgment within the scope of advanced practice nursing and is accountable for the quality and safety of all anesthesia services provided.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities
Preoperative Assessment
· Conducts comprehensive preanesthesia assessments including review of medical history, physical examination, diagnostic data, and current medications.
· Identifies anesthesia risk factors and develops an individualized anesthesia plan in collaboration with the surgical and medical team.
Additional Clinical Responsibilities
· May provide acute and chronic pain management services including peripheral nerve blocks, epidural steroid injections, and other interventional pain procedures.
· Participates in resuscitation and critical care stabilization efforts as needed.
· Manages anesthesia for obstetrical patients including labor epidurals and cesarean sections.
· Responds to emergency airway management needs throughout the hospital as requested.
Documentation and Compliance
· Maintains complete, accurate, and timely anesthesia records in the electronic health record (EHR).
· Adheres to hospital policies, DNV Healthcare standards, AANA standards of practice, and CMS Conditions of Participation.
· Participates in quality improvement initiatives, peer review, and root cause analyses as required.
· Complies with all HIPAA, infection control, and patient safety regulations.
Qualifications
Required
· Graduate of a CODA-accredited nurse anesthesia educational program (master's or doctoral degree).
· Current certification as a CRNA by the National Board of Certification and Recertification for Nurse Anesthetists (NBCRNA).
· Current, unencumbered Registered Nurse (RN) license in the State of Texas, or eligibility for Texas licensure.
· Current Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) and Basic Life Support (BLS) certification.
· Ability to work collaboratively in a team-based environment with surgeons, anesthesiologists, and perioperative staff.
Preferred
· Minimum of two (2) years of clinical CRNA experience in an acute care setting.
· Experience with regional anesthesia and ultrasound-guided nerve blocks.
Licensure, Certification & Regulatory Requirements (Texas-Specific)
· Must hold or obtain a current Texas RN license issued by the Texas Board of Nursing (TBON).
· Must hold or obtain Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN) licensure designation as a CRNA from the TBON, if applicable to practice model.
· Must comply with all Texas Medical Board and TBON regulations governing CRNA practice, including any applicable physician supervision or collaboration requirements per current Texas law and hospital policy.
· Must maintain NBCRNA certification including all Continued Professional Certification (CPC) requirements.
· Must maintain a valid DEA registration (or be eligible to obtain one) for controlled substance prescribing and administration.
· Must pass a criminal background check and drug screening per hospital and Texas state requirements.
· Obtains informed consent for anesthesia care and educates patients and families on the anesthesia process.
· Orders and reviews appropriate preoperative laboratory, diagnostic, and imaging studies.
Intraoperative Care
· Administers general, regional, neuraxial, and local anesthesia including sedation for a broad range of surgical and procedural cases.
· Manages the airway using advanced techniques including endotracheal intubation, laryngeal mask airways, fiberoptic bronchoscopy, and difficult airway management.
· Monitors and maintains hemodynamic stability; manages fluid, blood product, and vasoactive agent therapy.
· Responds to and manages intraoperative emergencies including anaphylaxis, malignant hyperthermia, cardiac arrest, and massive hemorrhage.
· Interprets and acts upon real-time physiologic monitoring data (ECG, SpO2, capnography, invasive lines, BIS, neuromuscular monitoring).
Postoperative Care
· Provides postanesthesia care including pain management, nausea/vomiting treatment, and emergence management.
· Communicates the intraoperative course and anesthesia-specific concerns to PACU nursing staff.
· Evaluates patients for discharge readiness from the PACU in accordance with established criteria.
Work Location: In person
