Nurse Anesthetists

CRNA practice at Cleveland Clinic

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 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 the 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/corrections, ventricular remodeling, dysrhythmia surgery and thoracic aorta surgery.

CRNA Profiles

Janeen Yacovone
Chief CRNA Department of General Anesthesiology (216) 445-6873

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.

David Planitz
Chief CRNA Hillcrest Hospital (440) 312-5259

Bert Lovelace
CRNA, Anesthesiology Institute Nursing Director, Lead CRNA Regional Practice (216) 444-8850

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.

Paul R. Blakeley
Director of the School of Nurse Anesthesia, CRNA, MSN
In 1989 Paul R. Blakeley CRNA, MSN was appointed Director of the School of Nurse Anesthesia. Mr. Blakeley received his Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree from Kent State University, his certificate in Nurse Anesthesia from the Cleveland Clinic Foundation and his Master of Science in Nursing degree from Case Western Reserve University. As director, Paul's responsibilities include an active involvement with graduate students in the classroom and  the clinical area. Mr. Blakeley is also an instructor at the Frances Payne Bolton School of Nursing, Case Western Reserve University.  In addition to his responsibilities as program director, Mr. Blakeley serves as the Chairman of the Allied Health Educational Council at the Cleveland Clinic's main campus. He is past President of the Ohio State Association of Nurse Anesthetists and currently serves as a member of the American Association of Nurse Anesthetists' Board of Directors representing Region 6.

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 the Administrator, Anesthesiology Institute, at: (216) 444-0789 or email at breinir@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 up to $3000 educational allowance.
• Flexible wok schedules.
• Flexible benefit package features options for health, dental, prescription, long term disability and life insurance. The life insurance core benefit is equal to two times the annual salary.
• The Cleveland Clinic contributes to the pension plan (Account Balance Plan or ABP), with vesting after 3 years. Savings and Investment Plan (SIP) is available for self-directed, tax-deferred investments. The Cleveland Clinic Foundation matches 50% of the employee's first 6% contribution into SIP.
• Malpractice insurance paid by The Cleveland Clinic Foundation.
• Ample CEU's available within Institute and Cleveland Clinic.
• Tuition assistance $2000; >5 years $2500.
• Opportunity to participate in didactic teaching  in the School of Nurse Anesthesia.

School of Nurse Anesthesia

History of the school of nurse anesthesia:

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 now has over 400 graduates to its credit, and it continues to flourish. Last year it was ranked 11th in the nation by U.S. News and World Report for graduate programs in nurse anesthesia. Our graduate students, on average, administer 800 anesthetics and obtain 1800 hours of clinical time in the operation room. In addition to training clinically at the Cleveland Clinic's main campus, graduate students also rotate to Cleveland Clinic facilities in the health system, Fairview hospital for obstetric anesthesia and Mary mount Ambulatory Surgical Center for outpatient anesthesia.

The nurse anesthesia program is accredited by the Council on Accreditation for Nurse Anesthesia educational programs through 2013 and the School of Nursing, Case Western Reserve University is accredited by the National League for Nursing until 2008.

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/ month for 28 months,are employees of Cleveland Clinic, and provided health care and malpractice insurance at no cost. For this support, the Cleveland Clinic requires the students 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 salary surveys that are annually reviewed. This is an ideal opportunity for nurses to receive an education at Cleveland Clinic and apply their knowledge and skills after graduation in a supportive 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 is required. Our program defines acute care as nursing experience in the intensive care unit, post anesthesia recovery (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 are 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.

Professional links

Frances Payne Bolton School of Nursing
tap://fpb.cwru.edu/

Case Western Reserve University
tap://www.cwru.edu/

American Association of Nurse Anesthetists
tap://www.aana.com/

Ohio State Association of Nurse Anesthetists
tap://www.osana.org/

Ohio Board of Nursing
tap://www.state.oh.us/nur