Director, Department of Nurse Anesthesia

Job Summary

The Director of the Department of Nurse Anesthesia provides visionary leadership and administrative oversight for the development, implementation, accreditation, and continuous improvement of the Nurse Anesthesia program within the Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) framework. This role ensures the program's alignment with the mission and strategic goals of Lamar University and the JoAnne Gay Dishman School of Nursing, while fostering academic excellence, faculty development, and student success. The Director builds, maintains, and sustains a collaborative working environment with the departments faculty and with students enrolled in the DNP CRNA program. This includes implementing the AACN Essentials into the curriculum for Level Two (APRN) students to meet accreditation standards meet national Council on Accreditation (COA), state, and agency educational and accreditation standards. Additionally, the Council on Accreditation requires that the CRNA program administrator is full time and has current certification or recertification by the National Board of Certification and Recertification for Nurse Anesthetists (NBCRNA). Additionally, the CRNA Program Administrator has the authority to prepare and administer the program budget.

Essential Job Functions

Academic Leadership and Program Oversight:

• Lead the strategic planning, development, and implementation of the Nurse Anesthesia program within the DNP curriculum.
• Ensure compliance with accreditation standards, regulatory requirements, and professional guidelines.
• Oversee curriculum design, course scheduling, and instructional delivery in alignment with program goals and student learning outcomes.
• Coordinate clinical site placements, secure affiliation agreements, and ensure clinical experiences meet academic and regulatory standards.
• Monitors and ensure compliance with the Educational Standards, Policies, and Guidelines established by the Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Programs (COA). Seeks input from communities of interest (students, faculty, clinical sites, NA Program Evaluation Committee, alumni, graduate employers, DNP Council, SON Dean as appropriate) and initiates corrective actions when areas of noncompliance occur.

Faculty and Staff Management:

• Recommend faculty teaching assignments and oversee workload distribution.
• Conduct performance evaluations for Nurse Anesthesia faculty and staff.
• Participate in the recruitment, hiring, and onboarding of new faculty and clinical personnel.
• Foster a collaborative and inclusive departmental culture that supports faculty development and scholarly engagement.

Student Affairs and Support:

• Coordinate student registration, orientation, and progression within the Nurse Anesthesia program.
• Address student concerns and grievances, escalating unresolved issues to the Associate or Assistant Dean as appropriate.
• Ensure compliance with ADA, HIPAA, FERPA, and other relevant policies and regulations.

Accreditation, Assessment, and Reporting:

• Prepare and submit reports for institutional, state, and national accreditation bodies.
• Lead programmatic assessment and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Maintain accurate and timely documentation related to program operations, faculty workload, and student outcomes.
• Monitors and publishes annually accurate data and information in concert with COA Accreditation Policies and Procedures: program accreditation and the specific academic program covered by the accreditation status, the name, address, telephone number, and URL of the Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs, student attrition for the most recent graduating class, NBCRNA NCE pass rate for first-time takers for the most recent graduating class, 6 month post-graduation employment rate for the most recent graduating class. publication will include posting the information on a website that is linked to the Council's List of Accredited Educational Programs.

Administrative and Fiscal Responsibilities:

• Prepare and administer the departmental budget
• Present planning and resource allocation for the Nurse Anesthesia program to the Dean.
• Generate faculty workload forms and adjunct/clinical supervisor contracts.
• Contribute to the development and revision of the catalog, student handbook, and related publications.

Institutional Engagement and Teaching:

• Represent the department on School, College, and University committees.
• Promote the mission and values of the Department, School, College, and University to internal and external stakeholders.
• Maintain teaching responsibilities and engage in scholarly or research activities consistent with faculty expectations.