Anesthesiology

Nurse Anesthetists

(443) 849-2202
E-mail:  lhook@gbmc.org

Anesthesia is a Recognized Specialty in Both Medicine and Nursing

Nurse anesthetists are educated in the specialty of anesthesia at the graduate level. Graduates of accredited nurse anesthesia programs must meet all requirements prescribed by the Council on Certification of Nurse Anesthetists in order to write the national examination for certification as a nurse anesthetist. Those who pass this examination are licensed and certified to practice as a CRNA. Recertification is a practice and continuing education requirement that must be met every two years. From the beginning of the professional education in nursing, a minimum of seven years of education and training is involved in the preparation of a CRNA.

Nurse anesthetists have been providing quality anesthesia services in this country for more than a century. Approximately 80% of the Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs) work as partners in care with anesthesiologists. CRNAs working with anesthesiologists, surgeons, podiatrists, dentist, and other health care providers, administer approximately 65% of all anesthetics given in the U.S. CRNAs provide anesthesia for every age group and type of procedure. They are trained to utilize the full range of anesthesia techniques, drugs and technology that characterize contemporary anesthesia. At GBMC, CRNAs work with anesthesiologists in the general operating room, the ambulatory surgical centers and the labor and delivery suite.

Key Concepts of CRNAS and Anesthesiologists Working Together

1. CRNAs are responsible for their actions in the care of patients and in the provision of anesthesia services.
2. CRNAs practice according to their licensure, certification and expertise.
3. The anesthesiologist is the medical specialist who provides perioperative services and collaborates with the CRNA in the provision of anesthesia services.

The Anesthesia Services Provided by the CRNA or the Anesthesiologist Practicing Together Include:

1. Performing and documenting a pre-anesthetic assessment and evaluation of the patient.
2. Developing and implementing the anesthesia care plan.
3. Selecting and initiating the planned anesthetic technique which may include general anesthesia, regional anesthesia, or sedation.
4. Selecting and administering anesthetics, adjunctive drugs and monitoring the patient's responses to the surgery or anesthesia.
5. Selecting, applying, and inserting appropriate non-invasive and invasive monitoring for continuous evaluation of the patient's physical status.
6. Managing the patient's airway and pulmonary status.
7. Managing the patient's emergence and recovery from anesthesia.
8. Providing post-anesthesia follow-up evaluation and care, including discharge of patients from a post-anesthesia care unit.
9. Ordering, initiating or modifying pain relief therapy.
10. Responding to emergency situations by providing airway management, administration of emergency fluids or drugs, and advanced cardiac life support techniques.

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