Assistant Chief Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist

In conjunction with Chief of Service, supervises staff of certified registered nurse anesthetists. Administers intravenous, spinal and other anesthetics prior to and during surgical or medical procedures. Monitors patient reactions and vital signs during and after anesthesia and takes remedial action when warranted. Submits postoperative reports on patient condition, and maintains records of anesthetics administered.

• Augments department leadership with assistance in hiring, training and supervision of certified registered nurse anesthetists.
• Develops schedules, department standards, policies and procedures; establishes and maintains quality of care and service standards. Implements, reinforces and ensures staff is in compliance with The Joint Commission, and other local, state and federal regulations.
• Assumes a proxy role for day-to-day clinical operations and administrative tasks to maintain department continuity in the absence of the Chief CRNA.
• Assists in monitoring budgets, resource allocation and department financial performance; identifies and implements strategies to reduce costs and improve quality of care/service.
• Reviews anesthetic evaluation of patients prior to surgeries and consults with anesthesiologists and/or surgeons as needed. Reviews patients charts, including permits, pre-operative medications, lab work, and any other significant variations, such as hearing aids, dentures, contact lenses, or other prostheses.
• Conducts pre-anesthesia evaluations according to KPs policies and procedures as well as the departmental protocols. Formulates anesthesia plans for proposed operations. Ensures that all pre-anesthesia evaluations are documented thoroughly according to policies and standards.
• Explains tests, procedures and disease processes to patients and their family as indicated; explains the major anesthetic risks to patients as requested and documents that the risks are explained to patients.
• Evaluates patients to identify apparent difficulties with airway control. Starts IV solution, administers selected anesthetic, choice of anesthetic consistent with patient safety, surgical need, possible post operative complications, and patients history and conditions. Develops, implements and evaluates according to departmental protocols, the care regimen of assigned patients and manages the patient care based on pre-anesthesia evaluation.
• Mixes solutions to required concentrations.
• Participates with post anesthesia care unit personnel in a patient safety oriented interface when patients are transferred from the surgery suite. Monitors patients vital signs.
• Keeps current accurate and complete record of procedures performed and patients conditions immediately prior to the administration of anesthesia according to established standards. Charts procedures done outside of OR, such as intubation, arterial line placement on progress notes.
• Kaiser Permanente conducts compensation reviews of positions on a routine basis. At any time, Kaiser Permanente reserves the right to reevaluate and change job descriptions, or to change such positions from salaried to hourly pay status. Such changes are generally implemented only after notice is given to affected employees.