Chief Nurse Anesthetist

Why UT Southwestern?

With over 75 years of excellence in Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas, UT Southwestern is committed to excellence, innovation, teamwork, and compassion. As a world-renowned medical and research center, we strive to provide the best possible care, resources, and benefits for our valued employees.

Ranked as the number 1 hospital in Dallas-Fort Worth according to U.S. News & World Report, we invest in you with opportunities for career growth and development to align with your future goals.

Our highly competitive benefits package offers healthcare, PTO and paid holidays, on-site childcare, wage, merit increases and so much more. We invite you to be a part of the UT Southwestern team where you'll discover a culture of teamwork, professionalism, and a rewarding career!

Job Summary

The Chief Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (Chief CRNA) provides executive-level clinical, operational, and administrative leadership for the CRNA and Anesthesia Technicians practice across UT Southwestern Medical Center, in a role that is 80%25 administrative and 20%25 clinical.

Reporting to the Director of Clinical Anesthesiology Services and Associate Vice President (AVP) of Perioperative Services, this role ensures the delivery of safe, high-quality, efficient, and evidence-based anesthesia care across all clinical settings.

The Chief CRNA oversees CRNA and Anesthesia Technicians workforce strategy, clinical practice standards, operational performance, academic engagement, and regulatory compliance while fostering a culture of professionalism, collaboration, innovation, and patient-centered care.

Essential Functions

Job Duties (80%25 administrative, 20%25 clinical)

Clinical Leadership

Establishes and maintains the highest standards of anesthesia care, patient safety, and clinical outcomes.

Develops, implements, and evaluates anesthesia practice policies, procedures, and protocols aligned with institutional and regulatory standards.

Maintains an active clinical practice delivering anesthesia care across a broad range of surgical and procedural settings.

Serves as a clinical expert, mentor, and role model for CRNAs, RRNAs, Anesthesia Technicians, and interdisciplinary staff.

• Collaborates with anesthesiologists and perioperative leaders to optimize care for high-acuity patients.
• Leads quality improvement, patient safety, and evidence-based practice initiatives.

Operational Management

Directs day-to-day operations of CRNA and Anesthesia Technician services across hospitals, ambulatory surgery centers, and procedural areas.

Oversees staffing models, scheduling, deployment, and productivity management to ensure safe and efficient coverage.

Partners with perioperative and hospital leadership to improve throughput, on-time starts, and resource utilization.

• Monitors key operational and quality metrics; implements performance improvement strategies as needed.
• Participates in disaster preparedness, emergency response planning, and staffing contingency management.

Oversees recruitment, onboarding, credentialing, privileging, and retention of CRNA and Anesthesia Technician staff.

Ensures compliance with institutional policies, Texas regulations, CMS Conditions of Participation, and accreditation standards (e. g. The Joint Commission, AANA).

Contributes to budget planning, labor management, and financial stewardship of CRNA and Anesthesia Technician services.

Personnel Leadership

• Recruits, develops, mentors, and retains a high-performing and engaged CRNA and Anesthesia Technician workforce.
• Fosters a culture of accountability, inclusion, professionalism, and continuous learning.
• Conducts performance evaluations, coaching, and corrective actions in accordance with HR policies.
• Supports leadership development and succession planning within the CRNA and Anesthesia Technician group
• Promotes staff wellness, resilience, and workforce sustainability initiatives.

Academic & Educational Responsibilities

• Supports the academic mission through collaboration with nurse anesthesia educational programs.
• Provides clinical teaching, mentorship, and supervision for RRNAs and trainees.
• Oversees onboarding, competency validation, and continuing education programs.
• Encourages participation in research, evidence-based practice, publications, and professional organizations.

Financial & Strategic Leadership

• Participates in strategic planning and growth initiatives for anesthesia and procedural services.
• Analyzes staffing, productivity, and financial performance to optimize efficiency and cost-effectiveness.
• Evaluates new technologies, clinical programs, and care delivery models.

Regulatory & Compliance

• Ensures compliance with all federal, state, and institutional requirements governing CRNA and Anesthesia Technicians’ practice.
• Maintains readiness for audits, surveys, and accreditation reviews.
• Oversees licensure, certification, credentialing, and competency documentation.
• Promotes adherence to infection prevention, documentation standards, and patient privacy regulations.

Collaborative Leadership

• Serves as a key liaison among CRNAs, Anesthesiologists, Anesthesia Technicians, Surgeons, Nursing leaders, and hospital administration.
• Participates in departmental, hospital, and system-wide committees.
• Leads interdisciplinary initiatives related to patient safety, quality improvement, and operational excellence.
• Supports effective communication, teamwork, and conflict resolution across clinical teams.

Qualifications

Education

• Graduate of accredited school of nursing and graduate of school of nurse anesthesia accredited by the AANA; master's degree minimum
• Doctoral degree (DNP, DNAP, PhD, or equivalent) preferred.

In-depth knowledge of AANA Scope and Standards of Practice, TJC accreditation requirements, and applicable federal and state regulations.

Experience

• Minimum 5 years of clinical CRNA experience.
• Minimum 5 years in progressive leadership, supervisory, or administrative roles.
• Experience in a large academic medical center, tertiary care hospital, or multi-site health system preferred.

Experience with trauma, transplant, cardiac, pediatric, obstetric, and/or high-acuity anesthesia environments preferred.

Licensure & Certification

Current, unencumbered licensure as a Registered Nurse in the State of Texas (or eligibility for Texas licensure).

• Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN) licensed by the Board of Nurse Examiners for the State of Texas.
• Current CRNA certification by the National Board of Certification and Recertification for Nurse Anesthetists (NBCRNA).
• BLS and ACLS certification accredited by the American Heart Association (AHA).

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Advanced expertise in anesthesia practice across multiple subspecialties.
• Strong leadership, communication, and team-building capabilities
• Operational and financial acumen, including staffing and productivity management.
• Knowledge of regulatory, accreditation, and compliance standards.
• Ability to manage complex, multi-site clinical environments.
• Excellent interpersonal, organizational, and conflict resolution skills.
• Demonstrated commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and professional development.

Work Environment & Physical Demands

• Practices across hospitals, surgery centers, and procedural settings.
• Combination of clinical care and administrative responsibilities.
• Ability to respond to emergent and high-acuity clinical situations.
• Physical demands include prolonged standing, walking, and assisting with patient care.
• Requires lifting, pushing, and maneuvering patients and equipment.
• Exposure to radiation, anesthetic agents, chemicals, and infectious materials; appropriate PPE required
• Reasonable accommodations provided for qualified individuals with disabilities.

Security and EEO Statement

Security

This position is security-sensitive and subject to Texas Education Code 51.215, which authorizes UT Southwestern to obtain criminal history record information.

EEO

UT Southwestern Medical Center is committed to an educational and working environment that provides equal opportunity to all members of the University community. As an equal opportunity employer, UT Southwestern prohibits unlawful discrimination, including discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, disability, genetic information, citizenship status, or veteran status.