Anesthetist, CRNA

Job Description

Job Description

1. Provide professional medical services and treatment of patients within the area of medical specialty of anesthesia supervision and management activities in accordance with prevailing standards of care.

• Ensure anesthesia coverage for the Hospital 24/7.
• Administer general anesthetics to render patients insensible to pain during surgical, obstetrical and other medical procedures.
• Takes necessary remedial action to aspirate secretions from throat larynx and trachea as required.
• Establish and maintain an airway and ventilation utilizing mask, LMA and nasal/oral endotracheal intubation.
• Monitor vital signs during course of procedure.
• Take necessary action to insure a near normal physiological status of the patient.
• Assist in moving patient from operating room to recover area.
• Check patient periodically and takes remedial measures to alleviate unfavorable post anesthesia effects as required.
• Maintain responsibility for the preoperative and postoperative evaluation of patients treated.
• Monitor acute pain management.
• Order and interpret labs, pulmonary, vascular and cardiac studies.
• Monitor all patients in the OR with all noninvasive and invasive monitors, anesthesia machines, gas delivery systems, patient/fluid warming devices and IV/Epidural drug administration pumps.

2. Determine, set up and prepare necessary drugs, supplies and equipment for the administration of anesthetics.

• Assemble gas machine and tests to ensure proper functioning.
• Ensure availability of proper type of blood for emergency use.
• Study patient records to determine probably effects of anesthetic on patient.
• Consult with the physician regarding “high risk” factors that are evident in the medical history.
• Assess and monitor functionality of all equipment.
• Disassemble equipment and cleans work area.
• Report equipment repairs and adjustments to proper personnel.

3. Maintain patient confidentiality and compliance with policies/procedures/regulatory requirements.

• Ensure compliance with regulatory, JCAHO/CMS, and State of Iowa requirements.
• Maintain compliance with Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) and other professional and Hospital standards.
• Comply with all departmental and organizational policies and procedures in addition to regulatory requirements (such as OSHA, CMS, Joint Commission, etc.) and participates in corporate/departmental safety and quality activities.
• Adhere to all applicable regulatory and compliance authorities at a national, state and local level and will adhere to appropriate prevailing standards of care.

4. Performs and maintains documentation.

• Document accurate and ongoing assessments of patient status that reflect nursing interventions, patient responses, patient teaching and status of outcomes at discharge.
• Complete shift end check prior to leaving duty.
• Ability to work with electronic medical record system, including billing.

5. Communicates effectively.

• Communicate and collaborate effectively with other health team members regarding patient condition, nursing plan of care, patient satisfaction needs and recommendations for meeting identified outcomes.
• Follow approved shift report format when communicating patient information.
• Identify and recognize abnormal symptoms/changes in patient condition, established priorities, and takes appropriate action. Appropriately reports condition changes to medical provider.

6. Promote and ensure patient and staff safety in all aspects of responsibilities.

• Administer medications, treatments and procedures in a timely and safe manner according to healthcare provider orders and nursing policy, including appropriate performance of standard precautions, using two patient identifiers, and performing patient risk assessments every shift.
• Utilize proper body mechanics, transfer/lifting techniques to minimize fall risk to patient and injury to self.
• Implement infectious disease controls as appropriate including isolation procedures, proper use of hand washing and gloves.
• Follow proper procedures for wasting narcotics and disposal of sharps and hazardous materials.

7. Performs other duties as assigned.