Advanced Practice Nurse - Pre-Anesthesia Nurse Practitioner

Summary The New Mexico VA Health Care System (NMVAHCS) Anesthesiology Service is seeking qualified applicants to join our team! Duties The Pre-anesthesia Advanced Practice Nurse (APN) practices in the perioperative setting to provide a full range of services emphasizing quality, timeliness, and the advancement of the Veterans Affairs (VA) mission. The APN provides advanced clinical practice, consultation, and management. The APN is responsible for comprehensive preoperative evaluations and optimization of patients scheduled for surgery to minimize cancellations and complications. This role functions collaboratively with surgeons, anesthesiologists, and multidisciplinary teams to ensure patients are medically optimized prior to surgical procedures. The APN practices to the full extent of their education, training, and certification. Core functions are outlined in the clinical privileges that correspond with this position. The APN has prescriptive authority for a panel of patients or program as indicated by their position. Pre-anesthesia assessment and optimization: Conduct comprehensive pre-anesthesia assessments for surgical patients in collaboration with surgeons and anesthesiologists. Develop and implement evidence-based plans to optimize patients’ health status prior to surgery, aiming to reduce the risk of surgical cancellations. Order and interpret diagnostic tests—such as laboratory studies and imaging—as necessary to guide pre-anesthesia optimization. Initiate referrals and consults to specialty services. Prescribe pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic interventions. Patient education and counseling: Provide patients and their families with education and counseling regarding the surgical procedure, anesthesia options, and postoperative care. Address patient concerns and questions, ensuring informed consent and patient satisfaction. Collaboration and communication: Work closely with surgeons, anesthesiologists, and other healthcare team members to coordinate patient care and ensure smooth perioperative transitions. Participate in multidisciplinary team meetings and case conferences to discuss complex patient cases and develop collaborative care plans. Maintain clear and timely communication with referring providers and primary care teams regarding patient status and care plans. Quality improvement and safety: Exemplify the ICARE core values of integrity, commitment, advocacy, respect, and excellence. Participate in quality improvement initiatives aimed at reducing surgical cancellations and enhancing patient outcomes. Adhere to established protocols and guidelines to ensure patient safety and quality of care. Contribute to the development and implementation of evidence-based practice guidelines and clinical pathways. Documentation and record keeping: Maintain accurate and timely documentation of patient assessments, plans, and interventions in the electronic health record system. Ensure compliance with institutional and regulatory requirements for documentation and record keeping. Professional development and education: Maintain current knowledge of best practices in pre-anesthesia care through ongoing professional development and continuing education. Participate in the education and mentoring of nursing staff, medical students, and residents as appropriate. Other duties as assigned: Perform other duties as assigned by the Chief of Surgical Service or designee to support the mission and goals of the Raymond G. Murphey VA Health Care System. Benefits Competitive salary with regular raises and potential performance awards. Paid Time Off: 50 days of paid time off per year (26 days of annual leave, 13 days of sick leave, 11 paid federal holidays). Retirement: Traditional federal pension (vests after 5 years) and federal 401(k) with up to 5% VA contribution. Federal health, vision, dental, term life, long‑term care insurance (many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement). License: 1 full and unrestricted license from any U.S. state or territory. Work schedule: 8:00 am to 4:30 pm M-F. Telework: Not authorized. Relocation/recruitment incentives: Not authorized. EDRP, PCS, PC: Not authorized. #J-18808-Ljbffr