Job Summary
Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA) is a licensed nurse with advanced training in anesthesia. The CRNA administers, monitors, and adjusts anesthetic doses for patients of all ages during surgery and other procedures.
Limited to select locations based on unique workplace dynamics.
Essential Functions of the Role
- Interprets physician's pre-anesthetic evaluation and lab data.
- Reviews health history, including psychosocial and biophysical aspects, and all current laboratory data.
- Performs pre-induction examination and inspection of body parts or organ systems related to an anesthetic plan; reviews the proposed surgery with the patient.
- Performs a brief physical assessment of the patient, dentures, prosthetic devices, allergies, and NPO status; verifies that all prescribed safety standards have been met before anesthesia induction; checks the machine checklist, functional suction equipment, airway management equipment, proper placement of monitoring and electrosurgical electrodes, and physical positioning.
- Induces and maintains general anesthesia at safe levels; uses techniques prescribed by the staff anesthesiologist or customary department methods.
- Selects and administers anesthetic techniques, medications, and adjunctive drugs according to accepted departmental guidelines.
- Performs intratracheal intubation and extubation protecting the patient at all times.
- Identifies and manages emergency situations according to departmental policies and procedures.
- Performs regional anesthesia using techniques customarily used within the department.
- Selects and administers regional anesthetic techniques, medications, and adjunctive drugs according to accepted departmental guidelines.
- Monitors life support functions, records various data, and verifies equipment is working; employs all available noninvasive monitoring equipment on patients receiving general anesthesia (BP, EKG, oximeter, pre‑cardial stethoscope/esophageal stethoscope, temperature, oxygen analyzer, and SARA); records data as specified.
- Manages fluid, blood, and electrolyte loss and replacement within the guidelines of the Department of Anesthesia policies and procedures.
- Performs basic perioperative diagnostic testing, documents it in the anesthetic record, monitors life functions; in case of an adverse drug response, takes corrective action and consults the senior Staff Anesthesiologist promptly; records all important events during the procedure, including tourniquet time and pressure, changes in the operation site, and drug injections by the surgeon; documents all unusual events in the anesthetic record.
- Terminates anesthesia in a timely fashion, ensuring patient safety to post‑anesthetic recovery room; reverses anesthetic according to departmental guidelines.
- Protects the patient during transportation to the Recovery Room; gives a detailed report to the assigned Recovery Room personnel; follows the post‑anesthetic course to recognize anesthetic‑related complications; documents post‑anesthetic visits in the Progress Note form up to 24 hours post‑anesthetic; includes date, time, patient status information, and the visitor's signature.
Key Success Factors
- Obtains 40 CEUs every two years.
- Maintains certification and registration.
- Keeps informed of current trends and updated procedures.
- Knows about the current concepts of cardiopulmonary resuscitation.
- Demonstrates ability to accept and initiate change.
- Demonstrates ability to communicate effectively and work collaboratively with others.
- Functions as part of a health care/anesthesia team.
- Ability to work variable hours.
- Ability to share on call duties and be able to respond in the acceptable time frame.
Qualifications
QUALIFICATIONS- Education: Bachelor’s degree.
- Experience: Minimum 3 years of experience.
- Certification/license/registration: Nurse Anesthetists (CRNA).
- ACLS: ACLS in 30 days of hire or transfer.
- BLS: Basic Life Support in 30 days of hire or transfer.