8.5-hour shifts

Full details

The position is part of the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), which reimburses student loan payments for eligible applicants who meet VHA policy requirements and file the EDRP application within four months of appointment. Program approval, the award amount (up to $200,000), and the eligibility period (one to five years) are set by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after it reviews the application. Anyone who previously took part in EDRP cannot apply.

The nurse anesthetist will provide anesthesia in inpatient and outpatient settings for patients across the full range of medical complexity. Responsibilities span direct patient care, administration, teaching, and research. The role involves working alongside a range of clinicians to protect patient safety, comfort, and well-being, while helping staff and patients feel confident in the service and meeting compliance expectations. Anesthesia services fall into five broad groups: preoperative evaluation and preparation; induction, maintenance, and emergence; postanesthesia care; perianesthetic and clinical support; and emergency response. The nurse builds and carries out individualized anesthesia plans for local, regional, general, and monitored anesthesia, both in the operating room and in other locations.

The incumbent is expected to raise the quality of anesthesia care across the facility in ways that improve safety, satisfaction, and outcomes. This includes serving as a teaching resource, acting as a preceptor, and holding an adjunct clinical faculty role for trainees who rotate through the facility. The nurse also develops and applies evidence-based practices and writes preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative orders and medication prescriptions. Work is guided by the VA ICARE values: integrity, commitment, advocacy, respect, and excellence.

Compensation and benefits include competitive pay, regular raises, and possible performance awards. Paid time off totals 50 days a year, made up of 26 days of annual leave, 13 days of sick leave, and 11 federal holidays. Retirement includes a traditional federal pension with five-year vesting and a federal 401(k) with agency contributions of up to 5%. Federal health, vision, dental, term life, and long-term care insurance are offered, and many federal plans can continue into retirement.

The schedule is full-time, Monday through Friday, either 6:30 am to 3:00 pm or 9:30 am to 6:00 pm, plus call duty. Telework is not available, and the position is on site rather than virtual. Permanent Change of Station moves are not authorized, though relocation and recruitment incentives are.

Applicants need a master's or doctoral degree in nurse anesthesia from a program accredited by the Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Education Programs at the time of completion. Those still finishing their degree may be tentatively selected but cannot be hired until it is complete. They must hold a full, unrestricted license to practice as a certified registered nurse anesthetist in a U.S. state, territory, or the District of Columbia, along with current certification from the National Board of Certification and Recertification for Nurse Anesthetists or an equivalent COA-recognized credential. A temporary appointment of up to one year and a day at the entry Nurse II level may be possible for candidates who meet the education requirements but lack licensure or certification.

The entry level (Nurse II) requires no prior experience and expects skill in informed consent, pre-anesthetic assessment, anesthetic planning, and administering inhalational, regional, intravenous, local, and topical agents. Entry candidates should also handle airway management, fluid and drug delivery, invasive lines, and advanced cardiac life support in emergencies. The Nurse III level requires one year of specialized anesthesia experience at the Nurse II level and adds management of complex cases, mentoring of trainees, and quality-improvement work. Preferred experience includes two years in operating room and non-operating room anesthesia, a team-based practice model, a range of complex cases such as vascular and neurologic procedures, and regional ultrasound skill.

Applicants must be U.S. citizens unless non-citizens are permitted under VA policy, must be proficient in written and spoken English, and must pass a background check and urinalysis drug screen before appointment. Males born after December 31, 1959 must have registered with Selective Service. Other conditions include a required seasonal influenza vaccination, a possible probationary period, and identification that meets REAL ID standards. The position is in the excepted service and does not carry competitive status. Veterans Affairs encourages applications from people with disabilities.