Lead CRNA

As one of the nation’s leading pediatric health care systems, Nemours is committed to providing all children with their best chance to grow up healthy. We offer integrated, family-centered care to more than 300,000 children each year in our pediatric hospitals, specialty clinics and primary care practices in Delaware, Florida, Maryland, New Jersey and Pennsylvania. Nemours strives to ensure a healthier tomorrow for all children – even those who may never enter our doors – through our world-changing research, education and advocacy efforts. At Nemours, our Associates help us deliver on the promise we make to every family we have the privilege of serving: to treat their child as if they were our own. 

Position responsibilities

1. In collaboration with the Anesthesia Coordinator, direct CRNA staff and CRNA utilization on a daily basis, providing direction and oversight to daily activities.

• Adhere to the standards of practice consistent with the philosophy and objectives of the Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine and Nemours Children’s Hospital
• Ensure compliance with all aspects of patient safety, infection control and asepsis relative to care by CRNA staff.
• Ensure that CRNA Staff works cooperatively with team members, medical staff and other hospital departments in providing patient care in the Operating Room (OR).
• Assign staff according to knowledge, skill and competency level; as appropriate, delegate specific duties and tasks.
• Work cooperatively with Division Director to assess and meet successful daily operation of the OR.

2. Provide leadership to CRNA Staff:

• Participant in the interview process and recruitment of CRNA’s in collaboration with department leadership; Select CRNA Staff
• Maintain oversight of a comprehensive plan for CRNA orientation; maintain oversight of proctoring for new CRNA staff.
• Ensure the maintenance of all staff CRNA licensure, certifications and updates; ensure employee compliance with hospital-wide standards.
• Conduct regular group meetings for CRNA staff.
• Provide staff direction, guidance and counseling as appropriate. Assist in formulating and meeting performance management goals; Perform end of year reviews; Maintain ongoing OPPE evaluations

3. Prepare working schedules for CRNA’s, managing vacation time reports and documentation of work schedules.

4. Maintain a program of continuing education for CRNA Staff. Provide in-services and coordinate provision of inservices by CRNA’s to Surgical Services and hospital staff and student trainees.

5. Display a thorough knowledge of equipment and supplies and physician and department preferences.

• Be knowledgeable of the use, handling and care of equipment and supplies used by anesthesiology personnel
• Work cooperatively with personnel from Clinical Engineering, Facilities Engineering, and Surgical Support Technicians to assure that equipment is maintained in optimum condition.
• Troubleshoot equipment problems with appropriate individuals

6. Provide direction to and oversight of contracted student nurse anesthetist programs. Work collaboratively with SRNA clinical coordinator(s).

7. Regularly provide staff CRNA clinical service as appropriate to staffing need.

8. Communication

• Communicate verbally and in writing clearly, completely, accurately, succinctly and timely.
• Serve as a resource to physician and hospital personnel on CRNA and anesthesia services.
• Ensure that hospital, Surgical Services and department information as pertinent to CRNA practice is communicated in a timely fashion.
• Establish and maintain working relationships with other departments that affect Surgical Services operations.

Administrative Responsibilities

• Assist with development, revision, and implementation of Department of Anesthesiology and Department of Surgical Services policies and procedures.
• Schedule and assign staff to increase efficiency and coordination; provide staffing according to established standards.
• Demonstrate knowledge of disaster and emergency policies and procedures and all infection control standards.
• Help maintain operating room and anesthesia regulatory requirements.
• Serve as a representative of the department at hospital meetings/functions as requested or assigned.
• Provide reports as requested by Chair or Chief of Anesthesia, Division Director or Practice Administrator

Clinical Skills

• Performs an individualized pre-anesthetic assessment and evaluation of the patient to include review of consultations, history and physical, and relevant diagnostic studies; Selects, obtains, orders, and administers pre-anesthetic medications and fluid; obtains informed consent for anesthesia.
• Develops and implements an anesthetic plan based on the patient’s physiological response.
• Initiates anesthetic technique that may include, general, regional, local and sedation.
• Selects, applies and insets appropriate non-invasive and invasive monitoring modalities for continuous evaluation of the patient’s physical status throughout the perioperative experience.
• Appropriately documents pertinent information in the patient’s electronic medical record, providing timely and accurate anesthetic records
• Facilitates emergence and recovery from anesthesia by selecting, obtaining, ordering and administering medications, fluids and ventilation support.
• Adhere to the standards of practice consistent with the philosophy and objectives of the Department of Anesthesiology and A.I. duPont Children’s Hospital
• Provides appropriate handoff communication to receiving unit postoperatively e.g. PACU, NICU/PICU
• Implements acute and chronic pain modalities individualized to the patient
• Discharges patients from the post-anesthesia care area and provides post-anesthesia follow-up evaluation and care as appropriate.
• Responds to emergency situations by providing airway management, administration of emergency fluids and medications using basic or advanced cardiac life support techniques.

Position Requirements

• Graduate from a Nurse Anesthesia educational program accredited by the Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Program (COA) or its predecessor
• Current Delaware Registered Nurse License
• Current Delaware Advanced Practiced Registered Nurse
• Delaware Controlled Substance Registration (CSR)
• Active DEA certificate for Delaware
• Current Certification from the National Board of Certification and Recertification for Nurse
• Anesthetists or its predecessor with biannual recertification required
• Basic Life Support
• Pediatric Advanced Life Support
• Advanced Cardiac Life Support
• Five years related job experience as CRNA 2 prior years in Pediatric Anesthesia preferred Prior leadership experience
  preferred

Our dedication to professionals who are dedicated to children frequently earns Nemours a spot on the list of top workplaces in the communities we serve. Our Associates enjoy comprehensive benefits, including our unique “Bridge to a Healthy Future” pediatric health plan, an integrated wellness program, opportunities for professional growth, and much more. As an equal opportunity employer, Nemours focuses on the best-qualified applicants for our openings.