CRNA practice at Cleveland Clinic
A variety of job opportunities are available to CRNAs at Cleveland Clinic Health Systems. Job opportunities include, but are not limited to the following areas: Cardiothoracic Anesthesiology, General Anesthesiology, Pediatric Anesthesiology and Regional Practice.
Regional practice:
The Cleveland Clinic Foundation's Regional Practice of Anesthesia provides anesthesia, pain management and critical care medical services to community hospitals and ambulatory centers throughout Ohio. We are committed to bringing our world class anesthesia care to every patient we serve.
General Anesthesia:
The Department of General Anesthesiology provides comprehensive perioperative anesthesia services for all non-cardiac surgical procedures at the Main Campus of the Cleveland Clinic. The department practice features the anesthesia care team, including Staff Anesthesiologists, Nurse Anesthetists, Residents, and Student Nurse Anesthetists. Anesthetizing locations include 38 non-cardiac operating rooms, 5 pediatric non-cardiac operating rooms, 4 procedure rooms in the Crile Ambulatory Surgery Center, 4 procedure rooms in the Cole Eye Institute, the Birthing Center, the Endoscopy Suite, and the Interventional Radiology Suite. Over 36,000 anesthesia cases and over 100,000 anesthesia hours will be supported in these venues in 2001. The Department organization includes clinical direction of over 50 Post Anesthesia Care Unit beds and 18 Surgical Intensive Care Unit beds and 18 Surgical Intensive Care Unit beds.
All anesthetic techniques are used by the anesthesia care team in our broad clinical practice. The Department is organized into 13 subspecialty Sections, including the Sections of Anesthesia for : Acute Perioperative Care, Ambulatory Surgery, Cole Eye Institute, Colorectal Surgery, ENT Surgery, Urology Institute, General Surgery & Liver Transplantation, Minimally Invasive Surgery, Neurological Surgery, Obstetrics & Gynecology, Orthopedic Surgery, and Vascular Surgery.
Cardiothoracic Anesthesiology:
The department of cardiothoracic anesthesiology at Cleveland Clinic provides anesthesia each year for more than 4,000 heart surgeries and 1,500 thoracic procedures, including more than 400 pediatric congenital surgeries. Surgical procedures performed in this area include, but are not limited to transplantation, congenital repairs and corrections, ventricular remodeling, dysrhythmia surgery, and thoracic aorta surgery.
CRNA Profiles
Jason Beedlow
Chief CRNA Department of General Anesthesiology 216.444.8658
Jason Beedlow CRNA, MSN was appointed Chief CRNA in the Department of General Anesthesiology on Oct 1, 2009. Mr. Beedlow attended Kent State University and was awarded a Bachelors of Science in Nursing. Upon graduation he practiced in the Cardiothoracic Intensive Care Units at the Cleveland Clinic. In 2001 Mr. Beedlow graduated from Case Western Reserve University with a Masters of Science in Nursing and received his Certificate in Nurse Anesthesia from the Cleveland Clinic. In addition to his managerial responsibilities Mr. Beedlow remains an active practitioner in the Section of Urological Anesthesia. Mr. Beedlow also enjoys participating in the Cleveland Clinic School of Nurse Anesthesia as a clinical instructor and lecturer.
Brittany Irwin
Chief CRNA Department of Pediatric Anesthesiology 216.445.4872
In 1999, Brittany Irwin received her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Case Western Reserve University. In 2004, she received a Master of Science in Nursing also from Case Western Reserve University, and a Certificate in Nurse Anesthesia from the Cleveland Clinic. Brittany practiced in the Department of General Anesthesia from 2004 to 2006, and then joined the initiative to create a Department of Pediatric Anesthesiology. Brittany was named Chief Nurse Anesthetist in the Department of Pediatric Anesthesiology in March of 2007, and she remains very active in the anesthetic care of the pediatric patient. Additionally, Brittany is a member of the Advance Practice Nursing Council for the Cleveland Clinic, and serves as pediatric clinical coordinator for the Cleveland Clinic Nurse Anesthesia Program.
Joseph Piero
CRNA, Anesthesiology Institute Nursing Director, 216.445.4519
Carol Ratcliff
CRNA, Clinical Instructor
Carol Ratcliff received her Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree from Kent State University, and her certificate in Nurse Anesthesia from the Cleveland Clinic Foundation. After practicing in Akron for 3 years, Carol Ratcliff returned to the Cleveland Clinic Main Campus in 1986 to work in the Cardiothoracic department. In 1996 she began assuming some supervisory responsibilities for the CRNAs in the Cardiothoracic department, and in 2000 she became the department's first Chief CRNA. As a CRNA in the Cardiothoracic department she participates in the anesthesia care for all cardiac and thoracic procedures including transplants, aneurysms, complex redo operations, and esophageal and thoracic procedures. Her chief responsibilities include scheduling, orienting new employees, and liaison between CRNAs and other cardiac team members. Carol also participates in the clinical instruction and lecturing of the students in the Case Western Reserve University School of Nurse Anesthesia.
Employment Opportunities
The following credentials are required to practice as a Nurse Anesthetist in the State of Ohio, and will be requested at the first employment interview:
- Current RN license for the State of Ohio
- Current Certificate of Authority for the State of Ohio
- Current certification / re-certification from the Council on Certification of the American Association of Nurse Anesthetists.
How to arrange an interview
To arrange an interview, please contact Joseph Piero, MSN, CRNA, Director of Nursing - Anesthesiology Institute, 216.445.4519 pieroj@ccf.org.
Benefits package
Nurse Anesthetist Compensation Package
- Nurse Anesthetist positions are salaried with opportunities for additional shifts.
- Paid time off (PTO), including holidays and sick time, is provided at 33 days annually for employment years 1-5, 35 days for years 6-16, 38 days for years 16-24 and 40 days for 25 years or more.
- Five professional meeting days with $3000 and under in educational allowance.
- Flexible work schedules.
- A flexible benefit package which features options for health insurance, dental insurance, prescription insurance, long term disability insurance, and life insurance. The life insurance core benefit is equal to twice the individual's annual salary.
- Cleveland Clinic contributes to the pension plan (Account Balance Plan or ABP), with vesting after 3 years. A Savings and Investment Plan (SIP) is available for self-directed, tax-deferred investments. Cleveland Clinic will match 50% of the employee's first 6% contribution into SIP.
- Malpractice insurance is paid through The Cleveland Clinic Foundation.
- Ample CEU's are available within the Institute and Cleveland Clinic.
- Tuition assistance $2000; >5 years $2500.
- Opportunities to participate in didactic teaching with the School of Nurse Anesthesia are also available.
School of Nurse Anesthesia
History:
The School of Nurse anesthesia was founded to address the chronic shortage of nurse anesthetists in Cleveland. The program was founded in the winter of 1968-1969 by Marietta "Del" Porter CRNA, Audrey Spence CRNA, with the support and encouragement of Carl Wasmuth MD, Chairman of the Department of Anesthesiology. Dr. Wasmuth appointed Del Porter, a dedicated and respected CRNA, to become the school's first director. In January 19 69 the program had its' first students enrolled; and by the following year 17 students were being trained to become nurse anesthetists. Upon graduation, the hospital employed many of the first graduates. The school continued as a 24 month hospital based certificate program until 1989 when the School of Nurse Anesthesia affiliated with the Frances Payne Bolton School of Nursing, Case Western Reserve University. This new affiliation brought together a nationally recognized School of Nursing and a nurse anesthesia program set in an internationally recognized health care institution. The program's length was increased to 28 months. Our graduates continue to receive their certificates from the hospital and their Master of Science in Nursing degree from the Case Western Reserve University.
The program has over 400 graduates to its credit and it continues to flourish. In 2011, the Nurse Anestetia Graduate Program was ranked #7 in the nation by U.S. News and World Report. Our graduate students, on average, administer 800 anesthetics and obtain 1800 hours of clinical time in the operation room during their time here. In addition to clinical training at the Cleveland Clinic's main campus, graduate students also rotate to Cleveland Clinic facilities through the health system, Fairview hospital for obstetric anesthesia, and Marymount Ambulatory Surgical Center for outpatient anesthesia.
The nurse anesthesia program is accredited by the Council on Accreditation for Nurse Anesthesia educational programs through 2013.
Financial Support:
The Cleveland Clinic's Anesthesiology Institute provides financial support to the graduate students in the form of a stipend. Students are paid $1000 each month for 28 months, are employed by the Cleveland Clinic, and are provided healthcare and malpractice insurance at no cost. For this support, Cleveland Clinic requires each student to sign a contract for a 2.5 year employment commitment after graduation in one of Cleveland Clinic's hospitals or surgery centers. Graduates are paid a competitive wage based on annually reviewed salary surveys. This is an ideal opportunity for nurses to not only receive an education at Cleveland Clinic, but to apply their knowledge and skills post-graduation in a supportive, Cleveland Clinic, environment.
Prerequisites:
Applicants to the program must meet the following criteria:
- Registered nurse with Ohio licensure
Bachelor of Science in Nursing
- A minimum of one year's experience as a registered nurse in an acute care setting (acute care defined as nursing experience in an intensive care unit, post-anesthesia recovery unit (PACU), or emergency room (ER)).
How to apply:
To receive an application for the program, candidates should first contact the School of Nursing, Case Western Reserve University at madmissions@fpb.cwru.edu . All applications will be processed through the university. Applicants must first be admitted to graduate school at the university to be granted an interview for the nurse anesthesia program. The number of applicants to the program always exceeds the number of available clinical positions.
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