CRNA

JOB SUMMARY

The Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA) functions in a highly specialized area of nursing under the direct supervision of an Anesthesiologist. CRNA provides safe quality age appropriate anesthesia using established guidelines of clinical privileges approved by the Director of Anesthesia. They are advanced practice nurses responsible for administering anesthesia and monitoring patients during surgeries and other medical procedures. Due to their specialized skill set, they are experts in critical care and airway managements. The Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA) provides professional and competent anesthesia care to a wide variety of patients from neonatal through lifespan population, requiring surgical, obstetrical and other anesthesia services. Supports and contributes to the patient-centered care philosophy that everyone who cares about the needs of each patient.

DUTIES AND ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Demonstrates perioperative response to age appropriate patient needs.
• Supervises, instructs and evaluates Student Nurse Anesthetists to promote the growth of CRNA’S in the healthcare field.
• Documents appropriately according to departmental and hospital standards.
• Maintains flexibility with scheduling, promptness and readiness with equipment and case.
• Professionalism through teamwork and support.
• Conserves resources to address cost containment.
• Ensures age/developmentally appropriate patient care is provided in accordance with Age-Specific Care Guidelines for the specific age groups served.
• Provides pre-anesthetic preparation and patient evaluation.
• Ensures patient identification and obtains appropriate health history.
• Recommends, requests and evaluates pertinent diagnostic studies.
• Documents pre-anesthetic evaluation
• Obtains informed consent for anesthesia
• Selects prepares and administers anesthetic agents or other agents administered in management of anesthetic care.
• Informs and /or surgeon of changes in patients condition.
• Provides anesthesia induction, maintenance, emergence and post anesthesia care.
• Inserts invasive line catheter/ devices.
• Performs tracheal intubation and extubation, airway management.
• Provides mechanical ventilation
• Performs venous and arterial punctures
• Obtains blood samples. Performs and manages regional anesthetic.
• Manages patients fluid, blood, electrolyte and acid base balance
• Provides peri-anesthetic invasive and non-invasive monitoring utilizing current standards and techniques.
• Recognizes and treats cardiac dysrhythmias through use of electrocardiogram monitoring.
• Evaluates patient response during emergence from anesthesia, Institutes Pharmacological or supportive treatment to insure adequacy of patient recovery from anesthesia and adjuvant drugs.
• Provides post anesthesia follow-up, report, and evaluation of patient’s response to anesthesia and for potential anesthetic complication.
• Cleans equipment and notifies supervisor of needed equipment adjustments\repairs.

EDUCATION/LICENSE/CERTIFICATION/OTHER REQUIREMENTS

Minimum requirement:

• Graduate of an accredited school of Nurse Anesthesia
• Current licensure as an Advanced Nurse Practitioner and Registered Nurse
• Certified or eligible for certification by the Council on Certification of Nurse Anesthetist
• Current licensure as a Registered Nurse
• Current CRNA, BLS, PALS, and ACLS certifications