Certified Registered Nurse Anethesist

PURPOSE AND SCOPE

A Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA) in an advanced practice registered nurse (APRN) who practices both autonomously and in collaboration with a variety of health providers on the interprofessional team to deliver high-quality, holistic, evidence-based anesthesia and pain care services. The CRNA cares for patients at all acuity levels across the lifespan in a variety of settings for procedures including, but not limited to, surgical, obstetrical, diagnostic, therapeutic, and pain management.

PRINCIPAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Perform and document the pre anesthesia assessment and evaluation of the patient.
• Review, request, and order (as permitted by state law), laboratory/diagnostic studies.
• Obtain informed consent for anesthesia and related services.
• Select, obtain, order, and administer preanesthetic medication or treatment.
• Develop and implement an anesthesia care plan.
• Select, obtain, prepare, and use equipment, invasive and non-invasive monitors, supplies, and drugs for the administration of sedation, anesthesia, and pain management services; perform safety checks as needed.
• Select, order, obtain, and administer analgesic and anesthetic agents, adjuvant drugs, accessory drugs, fluids, necessary to provide anesthesia services.
• Document a time-based record of events during peri-anesthetic care.
• Perform all aspects of airway management, including fiberoptic intubation.
• Facilitate emergence and recovery from anesthesia by evaluating patient response, and selecting, ordering, and administering medications, fluids, and ventilator support to maintain patient stability during transfer.
• Initiate and administer post-anesthesia pharmacological or fluid support of the cardiovascular system.
• Initiate and administer respiratory support to ensure adequate ventilation and oxygenation in the post anesthesia period.
• Evaluate the patient’s response to anesthesia and surgery; take appropriate corrective action post anesthesia.
• Provide post anesthesia follow-up evaluation care.
• Discharge the patient from the post anesthesia care unit.
• Implement acute and chronic pain management modalities.
• Manage emergency situations by assessing, stabilizing, and determining disposition of patients, including providing airway management, administration of emergency
• Place and manage regional anesthetic techniques, as delineated by his or her clinical privileges or granted special privileges.
• Insert and manage peripheral, arterial, pulmonary catheter, or central venous lines and catheters.
• Provide patient and caregiver education.
• Consult with respiratory care providers and
• Implement respiratory and ventilator care when appropriate.
• Supports patient safety when performing his or her job functions and through participation in facility, department, or unit patient safety initiatives.
• Takes action to correct observed risks to patient safety.
• Reports adverse events and near misses to appropriate management authority.
• Identifies possible risks in processes, procedures, devices and communicates the same to those in charge.
• Uses an interdisciplinary approach, including consultation or referral to another clinician, as appropriate.
• Performs advanced and interventional pain management using drugs, regional anesthetic techniques, or other accepted pain relief modalities with or without fluoroscopic guidance.
• Utilizes ultrasound, fluoroscopy, as appropriate.
• Participates in center quality meetings, medical executive meetings and other management meetings upon request from the Medical Director.
• Review and comply with the Code of Business Conduct and all applicable company policies and procedures, local state and federal laws and regulations