Nurse Anesthetist

GENERAL SUMMARY FUNCTIONAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES Patient Care Provides age-appropriate care to patients of all ages. Acts as a patient advocate while patient is under anesthesia. Administers all types of anesthesia, including general, regional, local, and intravenous sedation. Performs and documents an assessment prior to the induction of anesthesia of the patient. Utilizes appropriate pain management techniques. Maintains the patient#s physiologic homeostasis and corrects abnormal responses to the anesthesia and/or surgery, should they occur. Collects and interprets patient physiological data by selecting, applying or inserting noninvasive monitoring modalities. Performs intubations on the majority of patients, with ease, managing the patient#s airways and pulmonary status through the perioperative process. Performs smooth induction of anesthesia for patients requiring general anesthesia. Enables smooth patient emergence and recovery from anesthesia by maintaining homeostasis, providing relief from pain and anesthesia side effects. Prevents and manages complications through selecting, obtaining, ordering, and administering medications, fluids or ventilator support in the correct dosages and methods. Stays with the patient as long as required by the patient#s condition relative to his/her anesthesia status and until appropriate patient care personnel assume responsibility for the patient#s care. Advises staff responsible for post-anesthesia care of any specific problems related to the patient#s condition. Advises the Director of Anesthesiology or operating surgeon of any situations where administering anesthesia may place the patient#s life in jeopardy, and declines to administer an anesthetic to any patient where the CRNA feels the anesthesia may pose a threat or risk to the patient. Discharges the patient from the Post-Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU) according to established protocol. Provides follow-up evaluation and care related to anesthesia complications and/or side effects. Educates the patient and family regarding pain management. Performs all aspects of patient care in an environment that optimizes patient safety and reduces the likelihood of medical/health care errors. Documentation Documents evidence of informing patients of all risks, potential complications, options and alternatives to anesthesia. Obtains informed consent. Develops, implements, and documents an anesthetic plan of care prior to providing anesthesia, and documents planned anesthesia selection for patient. Records all pertinent events taking place during the induction of, maintenance of, and emergence from anesthesia, including dosage and duration of all anesthetic agents, other drugs, intravenous fluids, and blood/blood components on all patients that have received anesthesia care. Records post-anesthetic visits, including information describing the presence or absence of anesthesia-related complications. Documents at least one post-anesthetic note while the patient is in the surgical unit or PACU. Documents all patient#s narcotic usage and performs narcotic double counts as required by organizational policy and procedures. General Clinical Tasks Follows the five medication rights and reduces the potential for medication errors. Complies with call schedule and arrives for emergency cases within the time frame defined by the department#s policies and procedures. Responds to emergency situations that require anesthesia services, knowledge, or technique, throughout the facility. Checks all resuscitative equipment prior to the beginning of the first surgery of the day. Reports malfunctioning or missing equipment to the Director of Anesthesiology or Director of Surgical Services. POSITION REQUIREMENTS# Knowledge / Skills / Abilities # Minimum of 1 year experience as CRNA Experience # Education # Graduate of a nurse anesthesia program accredited by the AANA Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Education Programs or its predecessor. Current certification or recertification from AANA Council on Certification of Nurse Anesthetists or its predecessor. Current State of NH Registered Nurse License/Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioner license. Current BCLS Current ACLS Current PALS

• GENERAL SUMMARY

• FUNCTIONAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Patient Care

• Provides age-appropriate care to patients of all ages.

• Acts as a patient advocate while patient is under anesthesia.

• Administers all types of anesthesia, including general, regional, local, and intravenous sedation.

• Performs and documents an assessment prior to the induction of anesthesia of the patient.

• Utilizes appropriate pain management techniques.

• Maintains the patient's physiologic homeostasis and corrects abnormal responses to the anesthesia and/or surgery, should they occur.

• Collects and interprets patient physiological data by selecting, applying or inserting noninvasive monitoring modalities.

• Performs intubations on the majority of patients, with ease, managing the patient's airways and pulmonary status through the perioperative process.

• Performs smooth induction of anesthesia for patients requiring general anesthesia.

• Enables smooth patient emergence and recovery from anesthesia by maintaining homeostasis, providing relief from pain and anesthesia side effects.

• Prevents and manages complications through selecting, obtaining, ordering, and administering medications, fluids or ventilator support in the correct dosages and methods.

• Stays with the patient as long as required by the patient's condition relative to his/her anesthesia status and until appropriate patient care personnel assume responsibility for the patient's care.

• Advises staff responsible for post-anesthesia care of any specific problems related to the patient's condition.

• Advises the Director of Anesthesiology or operating surgeon of any situations where administering anesthesia may place the patient's life in jeopardy, and declines to administer an anesthetic to any patient where the CRNA feels the anesthesia may pose a threat or risk to the patient.

• Discharges the patient from the Post-Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU) according to established protocol.

• Provides follow-up evaluation and care related to anesthesia complications and/or side effects.

• Educates the patient and family regarding pain management.

• Performs all aspects of patient care in an environment that optimizes patient safety and reduces the likelihood of medical/health care errors.

• Documentation

• Documents evidence of informing patients of all risks, potential complications, options and alternatives to anesthesia.

• Obtains informed consent.

• Develops, implements, and documents an anesthetic plan of care prior to providing anesthesia, and documents planned anesthesia selection for patient.

• Records all pertinent events taking place during the induction of, maintenance of, and emergence from anesthesia, including dosage and duration of all anesthetic agents, other drugs, intravenous fluids, and blood/blood components on all patients that have received anesthesia care.

• Records post-anesthetic visits, including information describing the presence or absence of anesthesia-related complications.

• Documents at least one post-anesthetic note while the patient is in the surgical unit or PACU.

• Documents all patient's narcotic usage and performs narcotic double counts as required by organizational policy and procedures.

• General Clinical Tasks

• Follows the five medication rights and reduces the potential for medication errors.

• Complies with call schedule and arrives for emergency cases within the time frame defined by the department's policies and procedures.

• Responds to emergency situations that require anesthesia services, knowledge, or technique, throughout the facility.

• Checks all resuscitative equipment prior to the beginning of the first surgery of the day.

• Reports malfunctioning or missing equipment to the Director of Anesthesiology or Director of Surgical Services.

• POSITION REQUIREMENTS

• Knowledge / Skills / Abilities

• Minimum of 1 year experience as CRNA

• Experience

• Education

• Graduate of a nurse anesthesia program accredited by the AANA Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Education Programs or its predecessor.

• Current certification or recertification from AANA Council on Certification of Nurse Anesthetists or its predecessor.

• Current State of NH Registered Nurse License/Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioner license.

• Current BCLS

• Current ACLS

• Current PALS