Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist

JOB SUMMARY

The Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA) administers general, regional and monitored anesthesia care for scheduled and emergency surgical and obstetrical procedures and perform anesthesia-related procedures. The CRNA evaluates, formulates, and carries out an anesthesia care plan including monitoring and recording patient reaction to anesthesia and modifying the anesthetic plan accordingly. The CRNA transports patients to and from an anesthetizing location and ensures appropriate care during the postoperative period. The CRNA may supervise, instruct, and provide feedback to student nurse anesthetists to ensure patient safety.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

• 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 and/or administers pre-anesthetic medications.
• Selects prepares and administers anesthetic agents or other agents administered in management of anesthetic care.
• Informs anesthesiologist and/or surgeon of changes in patient’s 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 patient’s fluid, blood, electrolyte and acid base balance.
• Provides perianesthetic invasive and non-invasive monitoring utilizing current standards and techniques.
• Responds to abnormal findings with corrective action.
• Recognizes and treats cardiac dysrhythmias through use of perianesthetic 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.
• Identifies and manages emergency situations. Initiates or participates in cardiopulmonary resuscitation.
• Performs or orders equipment safety checks as needed.
• Cleans and sterilizes equipment and notifies supervisor of needed equipment adjustments/repairs.
• May perform patient care to the extent necessary to maintain clinical expertise, competency and licensing necessary to fulfill job responsibilities and to direct the provision of care.
• Other duties as assigned.

Organizational Expectations:

• Provides a positive and professional representation of the organization.
• Promotes culture of safety for patients and employees through proper identification, reporting, documentation, and prevention.
• Maintains standards for a clean and quiet patient environment to maintain a positive patient care experience.
• Maintains competency and knowledge of current standards of practice, trends, and developments in related scope of job role or practice.
• Adheres to infection-control policies and protocols, medication administration and storage procedures, and controlled substance regulations.
• Participates in ongoing quality improvement activities.
• Maintains compliance with organization’s policies, as well as established practices, protocols, and procedures of the position, department, and applicable professional standards.
• Complies with organizational and regulatory policies for handling confidential patient information.
• Demonstrates excellent customer service through his/her attitude and actions, consistent with the standards contained in the Vision, Mission, and Values of the organization.
• Adheres to professional standards, policies and procedures, federal, state, and local requirements, and/or standards from other accrediting bodies, such as The Joint Commission, Rural Health, and Center for Medicare Services.

Requirements:

National Provider Identifier (NPI) and Taxonomy code required at time of hire

Certification Requirements:

• Certified as a Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA) by the American Association of Nurse Anesthetists (AANA)
• Current BLS for Healthcare Provider by the American Heart Association, American Red Cross, or Military Training Network
• Certified in Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) by the American Heart Association, American Red Cross, or Military Training Network

Licensing Requirement:

Current Kentucky RN and APRN license or valid compact state license.

Education Requirements:

• Graduate of accredited nurse anesthesia program
• Level of Education:  Masters Degree, minimum