At Central Maine Healthcare our team members are committed to providing exceptional care and experiences for our community and for each other every day.

Position Summary: The Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA) administers anesthesia and anesthesia-related care. Monitors and supports vital life functions. Acts as the patient's advocate while the patient is under anesthesia. Participates in performance improvement and continuous quality improvement activities (CQI).

Duties and Responsibilities:
Demonstrates Competency in the Following Areas:
1. Demonstrates ability to administer all types of anesthesia, including general, regional, local and intravenous sedation.
2. Demonstrates knowledge of the principles of growth and development and the skills necessary to provide care appropriate to the age of the patient, neonate through geriatric.
3. Documents pre-anesthetic assessment and evaluation of the patient, including all appropriate lab values, study results, consultative information and pre-anesthesia clinical history.
4. Demonstrates ability to adequately assess and reassess pain. Utilizes appropriate pain management techniques. Educates the patient or family regarding pain management.
5. Performs all aspects of patient care in an environment that optimizes patient safety and reduces the likelihood of medical/health care errors.
6. Documents evidence of informing patient of all risks, potential complications, options and alternatives to anesthesia. Verifies informed consent.
7. Develops, implements and documents an anesthetic plan of care, prior to providing anesthesia. Documents planned anesthesia selection for the patient.
8. Performs an assessment immediately prior to induction of anesthesia of the patient and documents this in the medical record.
9. Maintains the patient’s physiologic homeostasis and corrects abnormal responses to the anesthesia and/or surgery, should these occur.
10. Collects and interprets patient physiological data by selecting, applying or inserting noninvasive monitoring modalities.
11. Displays ability to intubate most patients with ease, manages the patient’s airway and pulmonary status through the perioperative process.
12. Performs a smooth induction of anesthesia for patients requiring general anesthetic.
13. Performs smooth patient emergence and recovery from anesthesia by maintaining homeostasis, providing relief from pain and anesthesia side effects.
14. Prevents and manages complications through selecting, obtaining, ordering and administering medications, fluids or ventilator support in correct dosages and methods.
15. Follows the five medication rights and reduces the potential for medication errors.
16. Stays with the patient as long as required by the patient's condition relative to his/her anesthesia status and until responsibility for proper patient care has been assumed by other qualified individuals.
17. Advises staff responsible for post anesthesia care of specific problems related to patient’s condition.
18. Records all pertinent events taking place during the induction of, maintenance of and emergence from anesthesia, including the dosage and duration of all anesthetic agents, other drugs, intravenous fluids and blood/blood components on all patients that have received anesthesia care.
19. Documents at least one post anesthetic note while the patient is in the surgical suite or PACU.
20. Displays assertive behavior, discussing with the Chief of Anesthesia, supervising anesthesiologist or operating surgeon situations where administering anesthesia may place the patient’s life in jeopardy. Declines to administer an anesthetic to any patient in the instance where he/she feels the anesthesia may pose a threat of loss of life or undue and/or unwarranted risk to the patient.
21. Provides follow-up evaluation and care related to anesthesia complications and/or side effects.
22. Treats patients and their families with respect and dignity. Identifies and addresses psychosocial needs of patient and family.
23. Documents all narcotic usage and performs narcotic double counts as required by organizational policy and procedure.
24. Complies with call schedule and arrives for emergency cases within the time frame defined by organizational policies and procedures
25. Responds to emergency situations requiring anesthesia services, knowledge or technique throughout the organization.
26. Checks all resuscitative equipment prior to the beginning of the first surgery of the day. Reports malfunctioning or missing equipment to the Chief of Anesthesia and the Surgical Services Nurse Manager immediately.
27. Checks all equipment and agents to be used in the administration of the anesthetic to assure safe working order. Reports all malfunctioning equipment to the Chief of Anesthesia and Surgical Services Nurse Manager immediately.
28. Documentation meets current standards and policies.
29. Customer Service: Interacts with all individuals in a consistent manner, providing attention, support, and assistance to foster an environment of exceptional personal service.
a. Maintains a pleasant and helpful demeanor, and presents a professional appearance toward all internal and external customers at all times.
b. Consistently initiates interaction to provide assistance to individuals who may not be direct customers of the employee (i.e. asks patients who appear to be lost if they need assistance in finding their way).
c. Takes appropriate action to recover from a service difficulty, ensuring that the necessary action is taken to affect a resolution to the customer’s problem.
d. Conducts all work activities with respect for coworkers, including the maintenance of a pleasant and professional environment, fostering calmness during stressful situations.
e. Interacts with supervisory personnel in a professional, supportive and courteous manner, venting emotions appropriate to time and place.
f. Demonstrates a commitment to service by consistent attendance and punctuality, scheduling absences according to departmental requirements, and incurring unplanned absences only when unavoidable circumstances exist.

Organizational Requirements:
30. Adheres to dress code, appearance is neat and clean.
31. Completes annual education requirements.
32. Maintains regulatory requirements.
33. Reports to work on time and as scheduled, completes work within designated time.
34. Wears identification while on duty.
35. Completes in-services and returns in a timely fashion.
36. Attends annual review and department in-services, as scheduled.
37. Attends at least 50% of weekly meetings annually.
38. Represents the organization in a positive and professional manner.
39. Actively participates in performance improvement and continuous quality improvement (CQI) activities.
40. Complies with all organizational policies regarding ethical business practices.
41. Communicates the mission, ethics and goals of the facility, as well as the focus statement of the department.
42. Confidentiality: Maintains confidentiality of information at all times.
a. Consistently maintains confidentiality of all information gained during the course of employment, respecting the privacy of others.
b. Understands and maintains the confidentiality of information communicated directly from the supervisor, including discussions of a counseling nature.
c. Follows policies and procedures related to medico legal matters, including confidentiality, amendments of medical records, patient rights, medical records as legal evidence and informed consent
d. Copies records according to policy, assuring the appropriateness of the individual requesting information from the record prior to copying, faxing, or phoning any portion of the record.
43. Safety: Demonstrates an understanding of fire and electrical safety, infection control, body mechanics, and related areas, as appropriate to position.
a. Attends mandatory in-services on fire safety, electrical safety, infection control, and body mechanics. Successfully completes competency-based training in each area.
b. Follows all employee health procedures, incident reporting, and infection control requirements at all times, as appropriate to the position.
c. Uses proper body mechanics at all times as required by the physical demands of the position.
d. Maintains a safe work environment and performs duties of the position in a manner consistent with ensuring the safety of self and others.
e. Identifies safety needs in areas outside own work environment, recommending corrective action as appropriate.
44. Expense Control: Performs job duties in a manner that maximizes expense control.
a. Uses supplies, equipment, and utilities in an expeditious manner
b. Consistently recommends methods to control costs while maintaining a high degree of customer service.
c. Performs job tasks efficiently and effectively resulting in no unplanned overtime.

Regulatory Requirements:
• Current Registered Nurse License in the State of Maine.
• Graduate of a nurse anesthesia educational program accredited by the AANA Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs or its predecessor.
• Current certification and recertification from AANA Council on Certification and recertification of Nurse Anesthetists or its predecessor’s certification.
• Current American Heart Association Healthcare Provider BLS required.

Language Skills:
• Able to communicate effectively in English, both verbally and in writing.
• Additional languages helpful and preferred.

Skills:
• Basic computer knowledge.
• Working knowledge of anesthesia equipment.
• Advanced pharmacology knowledge.

Physical Demands:
• For physical demands of position, including vision, hearing, repetitive motion and environment, see following description.
Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the position without compromising client care.

If you are passionate about making a difference and are looking for your next great career opportunity, we look forward to reviewing your application!