Advanced Practice Nurse (Nurse-Anesthetist)

Overview

Advanced Practice Nurse (Nurse-Anesthetist), Ft Campbell, KY

Occupying a generous portion of the border between Kentucky and Tennessee, Fort Campbell supports the fourth largest military population in the Army (and the 7th largest in the Department of Defense). The Screaming Eagles of the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), 5th Special Forces Group, and the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment all call this base home. The Sabalauski Air Assault School (famed for being the “10 toughest days in the Army”), the Pathfinder Course, Rappel Master, and FRIES/SPIES Master are just a few of the other schools and qualification courses available at Fort Campbell.

A majority of Fort Campbell is located in Tennessee, but the post office that serves the base is just across the Kentucky border, giving on post residents and the installation itself the designation of being located in Kentucky. Clarksville, TN and Hopkinsville, KY are the two larger towns that serve the base. The base boasts modern facilities including a huge new commissary, parks, splash pads, a Starbucks, and updated housing.

Clarksville is growing, but keeps a mindful eye on preserving its history and “small town” feel. It’s only about 40 minutes north of Nashville, and some areas between the two cities are gaining popularity for being “bedroom communities” for Nashville (ie. where you go to sleep). The low cost of living, home prices, and absence of state income tax are all perks to living in Tennessee. You get the rural, country lifestyle, but with the option of a thriving metro area just a short drive down I-24. Kentucky towns offer the same beautiful rolling hills, sprawling farms, and gracious Southern hospitality as Tennessee, but with a bit more land and a greater horse to person ratio. Into organic produce, pastured beef and forested pork? (It’s a thing — we checked!) You can actually get to know your farmer or rancher, if you’re so inclined! The Nashville music scene bleeds into Clarksville, influencing the caliber of music at festivals, community concerts, karaoke bars, and even church ensembles. Austin Peay University provides an abundance of cultural, sporting, and community events. Parks, shopping, dining, wineries, breweries and entertainment options round out the fairly solid amenities that you’ll find here.

The local communities are friendly, laid back, markedly blue collar and  love their military! The customs and values are a perfect representation of the “Bible Belt” on which it lies, so don’t make plans for a Sunday without checking if a business is open. Being central to most of the United States makes travel convenient.

Working for the Department of Defense comes with an abundance of benefits and perks to include competitive compensation packages, paid-time off, medical benefits, student loan repayments, and retirement package with Thrift Savings Plan to include matching employer contributions. For more information, please visit the following link: 

Responsibilities

MAJOR DUTIES

Serves as a Nurse Anesthetist for a broad range of surgery, including the most complex performed at Blanchfield Army Community Hospital (BACH). Participates in the review and improvement of patient care processes related to anesthesia. As an educator and anesthesia expert, provides knowledge and teaching skills to other health care professionals and paraprofessionals. The staff nurse anesthetist at Blanchfield Army Community Hospital (BACH) is a certified registered nurse anesthetist with appropriate clinical privileges approved by the BACH credential committee and granted by the Hospital Commander and considered to be a licensed independent practitioner who functions within a defined scope of practice.

1. Provides anesthesia and related services in accordance with Army and hospital regulatory, licensing and credentialing policies, and with American Association of Nurse Anesthetists (AANA) Guidelines for Nurse Anesthesia Practice and Code of Ethics. Responsible to the Chief, Anesthesia Section, for complying with current standards of anesthesia practice and care. Conducts and participates in educational programs that improve anesthesia nursing practice. Participates and assists in the implementation of the Anesthesia Performance Improvement Program. Performs duties as a Nurse Anesthetist on-call responding to surgical emergencies on a 24 hour basis. Provides 24-hour obstetrical Anesthesia Coverage on a rotating basis.

2. Provides anesthesia care that is within the scope of practice as determined by demonstrated competency, working at the fullest ability of licensure and clinical privileges approved by the medical treatment facility (MTF). Anesthetizes patients for a broad range of surgery to include but not limited to pediatric surgery; Ear, Nose & Throat (ENT); Obstetrics and Gynecology (OB/GYN); orthopedics; oral maxillofacial surgery, and Gastrointestinal (GI) procedures. Provides obstetrical analgesia and surgical anesthesia for operative deliveries and complications. Demonstrates competency in the following clinical areas: pre-anesthesia preparation; anesthesia induction, maintenance, and emergence; conscious sedation; pain management; post anesthesia care; peri-anesthetic and clinical support functions; emergency airway management, Code Blue member, Code Purple Team member (post-partum hemorrhage).

3. Assumes full responsibility for all techniques, drugs, and equipment used in the administration of anesthesia. Monitors patients' fluid loss, determines need for parenteral fluids, including plasma and blood, sets up solutions and maintains proper flow. Adjusts the administration of anesthetic agents as well as other drugs, including stimulants, to support respiratory and circulatory functions of patients. Reviews clinical chart and recommends specific type of anesthesia; general, regional, local, and IV sedation. Directly supervises and monitors the quality of anesthesia care administered by the student nurse anesthetists; assists the Chief, Anesthesia Section, in monitoring and evaluating anesthesia care provided by reserve nurse anesthetists and peers. Instructs Physician Assistant (PA), Special Forces, and Paramedic/Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) students on airway management and intubation. Functions in administrative/managerial capacity by: assigns operative cases; provides anesthesia for all scheduled cases as well as daily rotating 24-hour anesthesia coverage for emergency procedures; reviews job description, competencies and scope of practice; performs user-level equipment maintenance; maintains adequate stock levels; participates in anesthesia staff meetings; participates in hospital committees; educates hospital staff; attends educational programs; maintains BCLS and ACLS.

Performs other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

Who May Apply: US Citizens In order to qualify, you must meet the education and experience requirements described below. Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community; student; social). You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. Your resume must clearly describe your relevant experience; if qualifying based on education, your transcripts will be required as part of your application. Additional information about transcripts is in this document. Basic Requirement for Advanced Practice Nurse (Nurse Anesthetist): Degree : A graduate or higher level degree from an accredited professional nursing educational program in Anesthesia is required. This education must have been accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs, Accreditation Commission for Midwifery Education, or an accrediting body recognized by the U.S. Department of Education at the time the degree was obtained. (Note: You must attach a copy of your transcripts.). Foreign Degree : A degree from a Foreign Nursing School. Official certification from the Commission on Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools is required for individuals who graduated from foreign nursing schools. Licensure : A current, active, full, and unrestricted license or registration as a professional nurse from a State, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, or a territory of the United States; and you must have passed the National Council Licensure Examination. Licensure: A current, active, full, and unrestricted license or registration as a professional nurse in the specialty of Anesthesia or related specialty from a State, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, or a territory of the United States. Exemption : You are exempt from the basic requirements above if you are a current federal employee occupying a position in the 0610 occupational series and have been continuously employed in this occupational series since September 27, 2017 or before. Applicants claiming this exemption must meet the requirement below. Note: You will be required to provide appropriate documentation to the respective Human Resources Office to validate your status.Degree or diploma from a professional nursing program approved by the legally designated State accrediting agency at the time the program was completed by the applicant.Active, current registration as a professional nurse in a State, District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, or a territory of the United States. In addition to meeting the basic requirement above, to qualify for this position you must also meet the qualification requirements listed below: Professional Nursing Experience at the GS-12: One or more full years of professional nursing experience which includes administering anesthetics to patients and monitoring patients receiving anesthesia care. This definition of professional nursing experience is typical of work performed at the next lower grade/level position in the federal service (GS-11).Some federal jobs allow you to substitute your education for the required experience in order to qualify. For this job, you must meet the qualification requirement using experience alone--no substitution of education for experience is permitted.