Chief CRNA

Position Summary / Career Interest:

Serves as the senior clinical and administrative leader for CRNA Services across the health system, providing executive oversight of anesthesia operations, staffing, and workforce planning in partnership with Operations Managers, Clinical Alignment Leads, and Operational Leads. Sets strategic direction for CRNA practice, drives clinical quality, patient safety, and regulatory compliance across all campuses, and leads recruitment, retention, and professional development of CRNA staff. Maintains an active clinical practice and serves as a clinical resource and expert for the CRNA department. Represents CRNA Services on organizational governance and quality committees, including the Executive Committee.

Responsibilities and Essential Job Functions

• Serve as the senior clinical and administrative leader for CRNA Services throughout the health system.
• Develop and implement strategic initiatives that support the growth, quality, efficiency, and sustainability of CRNA practice.
• Foster a culture of clinical excellence, accountability, collaboration, professionalism, innovation, and continuous improvement.
• Serve as a clinical expert and trusted advisor to CRNAs, physician anesthesiologists, hospital leadership, and interdisciplinary teams.
• Maintain a visible leadership presence across all campuses through regular rounding, engagement with staff, and participation in operational activities.
• Ensure consistency in clinical practice, departmental expectations, and organizational standards across all anesthesia practice locations.
• Support succession planning and leadership development within the CRNA department.
• Maintain an active clinical practice to support patient care, and clinical credibility.
• Serve as a resource for complex clinical situations and evidence-based anesthesia practice.
• Ensure compliance with departmental policies, organizational standards, accreditation requirements of Joint Commission, and professional practice guidelines.
• Partner with physician leadership to standardize clinical practice and improve patient outcomes across all campuses.
• Support Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) initiatives through implementation, monitoring of outcomes, and interdisciplinary collaboration.
• Promote evidence-based practice and continuous professional development among CRNA staff.
• Provide executive oversight for anesthesia operations in collaboration with the Operations Manager, Clinical Alignment Leads, and Operational Leads.
• Ensure efficient utilization of CRNA resources while maintaining safe staffing and high-quality patient care.
• Collaborate with the Operations Manager regarding provider scheduling, staffing models, workforce planning, call schedules, and operational coverage.
• Support resolution of staffing shortages, workflow challenges, and operational concerns across all campuses.
• Delegate responsibilities appropriately among CRNA leadership while providing oversight, mentorship, and accountability.
• Lead departmental efforts to promote patient safety and a culture of high reliability.
• Collaborate with Clinical Alignment leadership in reviewing Safety Intelligence (SI) events, and implementing corrective actions.
• Partner with physician quality leaders, Risk Management, and Quality departments to improve patient outcomes and reduce clinical risk.
• Lead departmental readiness for Joint Commission surveys and other accreditation or regulatory reviews.
• Ensure compliance with health system policies, anesthesia practice standards, and regulatory requirements.
• Collaborate with Pharmacy regarding Protenus and other controlled substance diversion detection systems to ensure appropriate investigation, monitoring, and corrective interventions.
• Support implementation of quality improvement initiatives utilizing performance metrics, clinical outcomes, and evidence-based practices.
• Provide executive oversight for CRNA recruitment and retention initiatives and staffing shortages.
• Partner with recruitment, health system and department to develop strategies that attract and retain CRNAs.
• Build and maintain relationships with Schools of Nurse Anesthesia to strengthen recruitment pipelines.
• Participate in candidate interviews, and recruitment events.
• Evaluate locum candidates for clinical competency.
• Support onboarding of newly hired CRNAs, ensuring successful integration into the department and organizational culture.
• Collaborate with Clinical Alignment and Operational Leads to provide a consistent and supportive onboarding experience.
• Promote employee engagement, recognition, wellness, and retention initiatives that foster a positive workplace culture.
• Provide leadership, mentoring, coaching, and professional development opportunities for CRNA staff and emerging leaders.
• Complete annual performance evaluations in collaboration with Clinical Alignment Leads and Operational Leads.
• Oversee Focused Professional Practice Evaluation (FPPE) and Ongoing Professional Practice Evaluation (OPPE) processes.
• Support leadership development within the CRNA department.
• Provide leadership in addressing employee performance concerns through coaching, counseling, and progressive disciplinary processes.
• Collaborate with Clinical Alignment Leads and Operational Leads to investigate concerns involving provider conduct, professionalism, or performance.
• Partner with Human Resources, Risk Management, and physician leadership as appropriate regarding employee relations matters.
• Promote a respectful, inclusive, and psychologically safe work environment that values collaboration and accountability.
• Facilitate conflict resolution among interdisciplinary teams to promote positive working relationships and improved patient care.
• Lead communication of departmental goals, strategic initiatives, policy changes, and organizational priorities.
• Facilitate CRNA leadership meetings and collaborate in the planning of CRNA meetings across all campuses.
• Ensure timely dissemination of information throughout the CRNA department.
• Represent CRNA Services at organizational, departmental, and interdisciplinary meetings.
• Develop collaborative relationships with physician anesthesiologists, nursing leadership, perioperative services, pharmacy, quality, administration, and academic partners.
• Advocate for CRNA practice while supporting interdisciplinary collaboration.

Serves as the CRNA representative on committees including, but not limited to:

• • Administrator on Call (AOC)

• • Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN) Credentialing Committee

• • Advanced Practice Provider (APP) Peer Review Committee

• • CRNA and Physician Leadership Meetings

• • Department Leadership Touchpoint Meetings

• • Executive Committee

• • Perioperative and Operational Committees

• • Quality Improvement and Patient Safety Committees

• • Physician and Provider Wellness

• • Additional organizational committees as assigned

• Must be able to perform the professional, clinical and or technical competencies of the assigned unit or department.
• These statements are intended to describe the essential functions of the job and are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities. Skills and duties may vary dependent upon your department or unit. Other duties may be assigned as required.

Required Education and Experience

• Master's degree Nursing in related medical discipline
• 5 or more years clinical experience as Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA)

Required Licensure and Certification

• Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) - American Heart Association (AHA)
• Basic Cardiac Life Support (BLS or BCLS) - American Heart Association (AHA)
• Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA) - State Board of Nursing Current license for the State of Kansas
• Maintain appropriate continuing education credits for CRNA recertification as defined by the AANA and the Council on Recertification of Nurse Anesthetists

We are an equal employment opportunity employer without regard to a person’s race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, gender identity and sexual orientation), national origin, ancestry, age (40 or older), disability, veteran status or genetic information.