Lead Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA)

Job Description Summary

Under the general direction of the Department Chair and the Director of Anesthesia Operations, the Lead CRNA develops, implements, and maintains a program that supports the goals of the Department of Anesthesiology and aligns with South Shore Health’s strategic initiatives and core values. This role provides leadership and coordination of administrative responsibilities including hiring, onboarding, training, scheduling, education, and performance evaluation of department CRNAs. The Lead CRNA also maintains clinical practice to ensure competency and alignment with departmental standards

Job Description

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Recruitment & Selection
  • Interviews and selects potential CRNA candidates in collaboration with the Department Chair and the Director of Anesthesia Operations.
  • Research and attends local recruitment events.
  • Attend weekly HR CRNA meetings, when applicable.
  • Collaborate with HR, Compensation, Department Chair and Director of operations to evaluate local and regional compensation quarterly for fair market value.
• Onboarding & Education Oversight
  • Develops and oversees the onboarding and educational processes for new CRNAs, ensuring a structured and supportive transition to organizational standards.
  • Collaborates with departmental leadership to develop/implement orientation programs for all new CRNAs.
  • Acts as liaison and contact for onboarding CRNAs during the hiring process, ensuring collaboration between Anesthesia, Onboarding group and HR.
• Performance Follow‑Up & Feedback
  • Provides timely follow‑up, coaching, and performance feedback to CRNAs in collaboration with the Department Chair and the Director of Anesthesia Operations.
• Standards & Policy Development
  • Creates, updates, and implements standards for the CRNA role as well as policies that support safe, high‑quality anesthesia care.
• Information Systems
  • Collaborate with EPIC analysts and Department Chair regarding EPIC anesthesia platform utilization, workflow and evaluate for alignment with departmental practice.
• Scheduling Oversight
  • Develops and oversees CRNA scheduling in collaboration with the Department Chair and the Director of Anesthesia Operations to ensure safe and efficient daily operations at all anesthesia locations.
  • Create departmental guidelines for scheduling, including but not limited to PTO request process, vacation selection process, CME scheduling.
  • Manages daily schedule needs, including but not limited to sick call coverage, floating requirements and low-census PTO based on departmental needs.
  • Proficient in scheduling programing skills to cover scheduling as needed if Scheduler is unavailable or scheduler position is vacant. See CRNA scheduler description.
• Review Process
  • Completes annual CRNA performance evaluations in collaboration with the Department Chair and the Director of Anesthesia Operations.
  • Complete a 90-day review process for new employees.
• Team Meetings
  • Facilitates monthly CRNA team meetings to support communication are clinical practice and relevant CRNA and Departmental information.
  • Communicate CRNA pertinent information at monthly Department meetings, in collaboration with Department Chair.
• Payroll Management
  • Manages payroll for CRNAs in accordance with organizational pay practices.
• Competency Documentation
  • Maintains competency-based orientation checklists for all CRNAs and ensures documentation is current and complete.
  • Ensure required licensures and documentation is up to date, including but not limited to Prescriptive Practice Guidelines.
• Quality
  • Collaborate with the perioperative teams on intradepartmental quality improvement initiatives.
  • Participate or designate a representative to be involved in departmental QA/QI meetings
• Annual Needs Assessment
  • Conduct/coordinate ongoing educational needs assessment for the CRNA team.
  • Coordinate in-services, guest speakers etc to meet needs of the department.
• Mandatory Education Coordination
  • Coordinates and assists with mandatory education, ensuring completion and compliance.
• Department Website
  • Maintain and update pertinent departmental website information surrounding departmental anesthesia practices and operations.
• Pharmacy
  • Collaborate with OR pharmacy regarding medication use in operating room
  • Assist in monitoring-controlled substance audits to ensure compliance.
• Anesthesia Technicians
  • Collaborate with Anesthesia Techs as pertinent departmental practices and procedures, new equipment and changes as appropriate.
  • Support growth and development of the Anesthesia Techs.
• Program Development
  • Develops educational programs based on identified needs and departmental goals.
  • Maintains a continued and proactive approach to newly identified departmental educational needs throughout the year.
• Student Registered Nurse Anesthetist (SRNA)
  • Collaborate with SRNA coordinator to support a safe and structured training location for SRNAs.
• Metric Program
  • Collaborate with Department Chair and Directory of Anesthesia operations to manage and maintain eligible CRNAs in departmental metric program.

  • CLINICAL RESPONSIBILITIES

  • Provide comprehensive pre‑anesthetic preparation and patient evaluation.
  • Verify patient identity and obtain appropriate health history.
  • Recommend, request, and evaluate pertinent diagnostic studies.
  • Document pre‑anesthetic evaluation and obtain informed consent.
  • Select, prepare, and administer anesthetic agents and adjunct medications.
  • Communicate effectively with anesthesiologists, surgeons, and procedural teams regarding changes in patient condition.
  • Provide anesthesia induction, maintenance, emergence, and post anesthesia care.
  • Insert invasive lines and catheters as appropriate.
  • Perform tracheal intubation, extubation, and advanced airway management.
  • Provide mechanical ventilation management.
  • Perform venous and arterial punctures and obtain blood samples.
  • Perform and manage regional anesthesia techniques.
  • Manage fluid, blood, electrolyte, and acid base balance.
  • Provide perianesthetic invasive and non‑invasive monitoring.
  • Recognize and treat cardiac dysrhythmias.
  • Evaluate patient response during emergence and recovery.
  • Provide post anesthesia follow-up and evaluate potential complications.
  • Maintain clinical practice to ensure ongoing competency and licensure.

  • REQUIREMENTS

  • Bachelor's degree in nursing or relevant undergraduate degree.
  • Current RN license.
  • Two years of leadership experience preferred
  • Graduate of an accredited nurse anesthesia program.
  • State Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA) designation.
  • ACLS and BLS required; PALS preferred.
  • Skilled in airway management and acute pain management techniques.
  • Strong patient assessment skills.
  • Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
  • Demonstrated proficiency in current anesthesia practices and techniques.
  • Demonstrated skill in oral and written communication, customer service, adaptability, and change management.
  • Proficiency in word-processing and PC applications.