CRNA

Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA)

CRNAs within Mountain West Anesthesia (MWA) are advanced practice providers (APPs), practicing within the scope of the anesthesia care team performing duties to allow for safe, effective, high-quality patient care. They are tasked to directly care for patients providing anesthesia services to patients under the direction, supervision, and/or in conjunction with MWA physicians servicing the anesthetic needs of patients, surgeons, and hospital systems at-large.

Qualifications

• Holds current active State of Utah licensure as a registered nurse and complies with any applicable state statutory and regulatory requirements concerning CRNAs.
• Graduate of a nurse anesthesia educational program accredited by the Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs or its predecessor.
• Is currently certified or re-certified by the National Board of Certification and Recertification for Nurse Anesthetists.
• Insurable by an appropriate medical malpractice insurer for the limits required by the institutions in which they will be working and/or state.
• Demonstrates current competency in the clinical responsibilities specified below.

Clinical Duties

Clinical responsibilities of the CRNA are delineated by the individuals clinical privileges and the demands/constraints of the care team in which they will practice. These may include:

• Work in conjunction and collaboration with assigned MWA physicians; providing clear, accurate, and salient communication as indicated by situation and individual practice when caring for patients.
• Function as a full, respected member of the Anesthesia Care Team, and work towards the safe delivery of anesthetics in OR, outside OR and other settings.
• Perform and document the pre-anesthesia assessment and evaluation of the patient.
• Review, request, and order, laboratory/diagnostic studies.
• Obtain informed consent for anesthesia and related services.
• Select, obtain, order, and administer pre-anesthetic medication or treatment.
• Collaborate in the development and implementation of anesthesia care plans.
• Select, obtain, prepare, and use equipment, invasive and non-invasive monitors, supplies, and drugs for the administration of sedation and anesthesia; perform safety checks as needed.
• Select, order, obtain, and administer analgesic and anesthetic agents, adjuvant drugs, accessory drugs, fluids, or blood products necessary to provide anesthesia services.
• Perform all aspects of airway management, including fiberoptic intubation.
• Facilitate emergence and recovery from anesthesia by evaluating patient response, and selecting, ordering, and administering medications, fluids, and ventilator support to maintain patient stability during transfer.
• Initiate and administer post-anesthesia pharmacological or fluid support of the cardiovascular system.
• Initiate and administer respiratory support to ensure adequate ventilation and oxygenation in the post-anesthesia period.
• Evaluate the patients response to anesthesia and surgery; take appropriate corrective action during the post-anesthesia period.
• Provide post-anesthesia follow-up evaluation and care.
• Discharge the patient from the post-anesthesia care unit.
• Manage emergency situations by assessing, stabilizing, and determining the disposition of patients, including providing airway management, administration of emergency drugs and fluids, and using basic and advanced cardiac life support techniques.
• Accurately document complete medical records in ICentra including billing fields and deliver charge tickets for all services performed.
• Provide and/or manage anesthetic-rated procedures, as delineated by his or her clinical privileges or clinical need, and may include:
• Subarachnoid
• Epidural
• Intravenous regional analgesia
• Insert peripheral or arterial catheters
• Provide patient and caregiver education
• Perform arterial puncture to obtain arterial blood samples

Clinical responsibilities and duties may be added and/or modified as additional education and experience is obtained by the individual practitioner and/or according to the needs of the anesthesia care team.

Non-clinical

Additional non-clinical responsibilities of the CRNA may include, but are not limited to:

• Quality assessment and quality assurance.
• Didactic and clinical education of students and staff.
• Interdepartmental liaison responsibilities.

Patient Safety

Supports patient safety when performing his or her job functions and through participation in facility, department or unit patient safety initiatives.

• Takes action to correct observed risks to patient safety.
• Reports adverse events and near misses to appropriate management authority.
• Identifies possible risks in processes, procedures, devices and communicates the same to those in charge.

Professional Development

• Participates in required educational programs.
• Participates in regularly occurring departmental meetings and QA forums.
• Seeks ongoing professional educational growth.
• Maintains current licensure requirements for CRNA practice.

Knowledge, Skills, Abilities

• Ability to perform clinically as a nurse anesthetist in the facility setting on a regular basis.
• Ability to effectively function as a part of the anesthesia care team and work collaboratively with other members of that team; working to provide optimal and safe patient care.
• Ability to operate, use, and interpret data from a wide variety of equipment to perform anesthesia care as well as necessary perioperative or operating room care to support the safety and wellbeing of the patient while they are under the direct care of the CRNA.
• Effective verbal and written communication skills are required to effectively collaborate with various clinical staff and other disciplines.
• Ability to demonstrate knowledge and skills necessary to provide care appropriate to the patient population(s) served.
• Ability to demonstrate knowledge of the principles of growth and development over the life span and ability to assess data reflective of the patients requirements relative to his or her population-specific and age-specific needs.
• Knowledge of infection prevention and control techniques.
• Ability to maintain confidential records.
• Ability to implement and adhere to facility policies and procedures.
• Must be able to lift 50 pounds and assist in lifting, moving, and transporting patients.