W‑2 full-time

Full details

This role is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program, a federal student loan repayment benefit, though approval, award amount (up to $200,000) and eligibility period (one to five years) are set by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services office after it reviews an application submitted within four months of appointment. Former participants in the program cannot apply.

The certified nurse anesthetist delivers anesthesia across inpatient and outpatient care for patients with every level of medical complexity. Work spans hands-on patient care, administrative duties, teaching and research. Responsibilities include coordinating with a range of clinicians to protect patient safety and welfare, building trust and contentment among patients and staff, and meeting or surpassing compliance expectations. The practitioner covers pre-anesthesia assessment and readiness, induction, maintenance and recovery from anesthesia, post-anesthesia care, peri-procedural support, and emergency interventions. A detailed anesthesia strategy is built for patients receiving regional, general, local or monitored sedation, both within and beyond the surgical suite.

Beyond direct care, the position aims to raise the quality of anesthesia services throughout the facility, improving safety, satisfaction and results. The clinician teaches colleagues, serves as a preceptor and adjunct faculty for trainees on rotation, adopts evidence-based methods, and writes pre-, intra- and post-operative orders and medication prescriptions. Work is guided by the ICARE values of integrity, commitment, advocacy, respect and excellence.

The employer's total rewards package includes a competitive salary with regular increases and potential performance awards. Time off totals 50 paid days a year, made up of 26 annual leave days, 13 sick leave days and 11 federal holidays. Retirement includes a traditional federal pension vesting after five years and a federal 401(k) with employer contributions up to 5%. Insurance covers health, vision, dental, term life and long-term care. A single full, unrestricted state or territory license is required. The schedule is not flexible telework and the role is on-site rather than virtual. Recruitment or relocation incentives may be authorized, while permanent change of station moves are not.

Candidates need a master's or doctoral degree in nurse anesthesia from a program accredited by the Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Education Programs when completed. Applicants who have not yet finished their degree may be tentatively selected but cannot be hired until it is conferred. An active, unrestricted license as a certified registered nurse anesthetist is mandatory, as is current certification from the National Board of Certification and Recertification for Nurse Anesthetists or an equivalent COA-recognized credential. Provisional appointment up to one year and a day may be offered to candidates who meet other requirements but lack licensure or certification. The entry grade needs no prior experience, while the advanced grade requires one year of specialized experience at the prior level.

Entry-level skills include applying nursing principles that protect patient autonomy, dignity, privacy and safety; staying current with research and guidelines on techniques, drugs and equipment; obtaining informed consent and completing pre-anesthetic histories and examinations; building patient-specific plans and explaining risks and alternatives; delivering inhaled, regional, intravenous, local and topical agents; recognizing and correcting physiologic changes; handing off patients safely; and managing airways, fluids, medications, invasive lines and advanced cardiac life support in emergencies. Advanced-level skills add complex case planning, mentoring of student nurse anesthetists, residents and other trainees, participation in audits, quality assurance and interdisciplinary teams, and a safety-focused culture of reporting concerns without blame.

Preferred qualifications include board certification as a registered nurse anesthetist, substantial experience evaluating patients before minor to major surgery, managing anesthesia for major procedures, supervising registered nurse anesthetists, placing invasive lines and performing regional blocks, closing out patient encounters, and conducting telehealth or other remote preoperative assessments. Standard federal conditions apply, including U.S. citizenship unless no qualified citizen can be recruited, English proficiency, a background check, a pre-employment physical, drug screening, the seasonal influenza vaccination program, and a two-year probationary period. The announcement remains open until January 22, 2027, with referrals made as vacancies arise.