CRNA Program Director

The ETSU College of Nursing seeks a visionary and experienced leader to serve as the Founding Director of the Certified Registered Nurse Anesthesia (CRNA) Program. This is a full-time, on-campus position responsible for launching and directing ETSU’s new nurse anesthesia program.

The Director will provide academic, administrative, and strategic leadership to ensure the program meets accreditation standards, delivers high-quality education, and prepares graduates to excel as advanced practice nurse anesthetists.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• In-depth knowledge of anesthesia principles, techniques, pharmacology, and patient safety standards.
• Comprehensive understanding of the Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Education Programs (CoA) requirements and processes.
• Expertise in designing graduate-level curricula that integrate didactive, simulation, and clinical experiences.
• Knowledge of academic policies, faculty governance, and university operations.
• Familiarity with clinical site management, healthcare delivery models, and interprofessional collaboration.
• Understanding of evidence-based practice, scholarly dissemination, and grant funding processes,
• Skill in designing and implementing student learning outcomes and program evaluation systems.
• Ability to establish a new CRNA program and guide it through initial accreditation and beyond.
• Ability to work effectively across ETSU’s Academic Health Sciences Center with the Colleges of Medicine, Pharmacy, Public Health, and Clinical Sciences.

Required Qualifications

• Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) or Doctor of Nurse Anesthesia Practice (DNAP).
• Must hold current certification from the National Board of Certification and Recertification for Nurse Anesthetists (NBCRNA).
• Most hold or be eligible for APRN licensure in Tennessee with designation as a Nurse Anesthetist.
• Most hold an active RN license and be eligible for licensure in the state of Tennessee.
• Minimum of five (5) years of clinical experience as a CRNA.
• Must meet all requirements for clinical practice and teaching as set forth by ETSU, clinical partners, the Tennessee Board of Nursing, and accrediting bodies.
• Must maintain ongoing certification and licensure in good standing throughout employment.
• Demonstrated leadership experience in academic or clinical settings.
• Commitment to on-campus presence in Johnson City, TN and regional campuses.

Preferred Qualifications

• Prior experience as a program director or assistant director in nurse anesthesia education.
• Strong record of teaching, scholarship, and service.
• Excellent communication, organizational, and interpersonal skills.
• Demonstrated ability to build collaborative partnerships with healthcare organizations.
• Active in research, scholarship, and professional contributions.
• Ability to establish and grow a new academic program from inception.

Physical Demands

• Regular use of computers, audiovisual equipment, and instructional technology.
• Duties are performed in office, classroom, and meeting settings.
• Ability to move between classrooms, offices, labs, and clinical sites on campus and in the community.
• Ability to deliver lectures, presentation, and participate in meetings for extended periods.
• Ability to sit for extended periods of time while working.
• Ability to observe and evaluate student performance in classroom, simulation, and clinical environments.
• Adequate vision, hearing, and speech to effectively communicate, teach, and perform administrative duties.
• Frequent verbal communication with faculty, students, administrators and external partners.
• Occasional travel to clinical partner sites, professional meetings, and conferences.
• Occasional lifting of items.
• Light physical activity such as standing, walking, and carrying instructional materials.

Compensation & Benefits

• Compensation commensurate with education and experience.
• For information on benefits please visit: www.etsu.edu/human-resources/benefits/

Application Instructions

1. Exempt positions are required to be posted for a minimum of fourteen (14) calendar days. The closing date for this posting is subject to change without notice to applicants.
2. All positions at East Tennessee State University are contingent upon sufficient funding.
3. Review of applicants begins immediately and continues until positions are filled.
4. Required documentation to be submitted with application:
   • Current CV
   • Cover Letter
   • Copy of National Board Certification
   • Copies of required nursing licenses
   • Unofficial copies of transcripts
   • 3 – 5 references
5. An official transcript will be required upon hire. Copies and/or unofficial transcripts will be acceptable for application purposes only.
6. Employment is contingent upon a satisfactory background check.

College of Nursing Overview

The College of Nursing is part of the University’s Academic Health Sciences Center, which also includes the James H. Quillen College of Medicine, the Bill Gatton College of Pharmacy, the College of Public Health, and the College of Health Sciences. The College of Nursing is the largest in the State of Tennessee offering multiple tracks for students enrolled in undergraduate and graduate programs. The Department of Undergraduate Programs is home to over 45 full-time faculty and 700 students across five (5) tracks including the Traditional BSN, Accelerated BSN (Johnson City, Kingsport, Sevierville), LPN-BSN, and RN-BSN/Dual Degree. The Department of Undergraduate Programs boasts a record of excellence with 60% of faculty holding specialty certifications and a strong record of collaboration and successful student outcomes. All programs in the College of Nursing are fully accredited by the CCNE.

University Overview

East Tennessee State University (ETSU) is an institution with over 14,000 diverse students highly ranked graduate and undergraduate programs. Located in the Southern Appalachian Mountains of Northeast Tennessee, ETSU serves as a hub for community, discovery, and service. Aligned with the institution’s mission, we value efforts to engage in teaching, scholarship, creative activities, and service that involve community partners and address significant societal needs in our region and beyond. Recognized in 2024 as a Great College to Work For, recent strategic initiatives prioritize the institution’s focus on community engagement.

ETSU is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Disclaimer Statement:

Disclaimer: The Job Summary is intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by individuals in this classification. It is not intended to be a complete list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required. Management reserves the right to revise the job or require different tasks to be performed as assigned to reflect changes in the position. Employee must be able to perform the essential functions of the position satisfactorily with or without reasonable accommodations.