Certified Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA)

Under general supervision of the Medical Director and the Clinical Nurse Manager of Surgical Services, the incumbent provides anesthesia services to patients. Reviews patients’ medical history, assists in selection of type of anesthesia, administers anesthetic, monitors patient during procedure, and provides immediate post-anesthesia care. Incumbent is responsible for supplying documentation of continued registration as a CRNA (Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist). Additionally, incumbent must be flexible to cross cover multiple locations, depending on need.

• Obtain health and medical history, perform physical examination, and construct problem lists
• Perform preoperative evaluations, including phone screening
• Collect, record, and interpret patient data
• Order appropriate laboratory, radiologic, and other diagnostic studies
• Interpret studies performed/ordered
• May initiate consultation and referrals
• Provide administration of general anesthesia (intravenous/inhalation), neuraxial anesthesia, regional anesthesia and monitored anesthesia care to appropriate patients
• Monitors the life support functions of patient during period of anesthesia as needed
  • Assesses, interprets, and treats physiologic responses to anesthesia that include oxygenation, circulation, ventilation, temperature and metabolism 
  • Keeps supervisor informed of patient's condition and documents pertinent information concerning anesthetic course on patients’ clinical chart
• Provide direct patient care before, during, and after procedures requiring anesthesia
• Make professional decisions for anesthesia care based upon a comprehensive health assessment
• Maintain professional standards of health care before, during, and after an anesthetic
• Prepare and evaluate the safety of anesthetic equipment, supplies and drugs
• Works with the staff of the pharmacy department in handling and use of drugs and related agents.  Properly waste drugs in approved and consistent manner
• Insert invasive monitoring lines required for patient care during anesthesia and interpret the data
• Provides observation and care in immediate post-procedural period until a report of pertinent information has been given to and responsibility for patient accepted by the RN or MD covering the appropriate recovery area.
• Obtain informed consent for the following anesthesia and related procedures: 
  • General anesthesia
  • Monitored anesthesia care
  • Neuraxial anesthesia
  • Regional anesthesia
  • Arterial lines 
  • Spinals/Epidurals
  • Blood Transfusion
• Provides coverage at additional site locations, as needed

Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs) are licensed, registered, advanced practice nurses who have completed a post graduate certificate, a master's, or doctorate degree in anesthesia. Nurse anesthetists must become certified by successfully completing a national qualifying examination in the specialty of anesthesia. To maintain their license to practice anesthesia, CRNAs must be recertified biannually by attending 40 contact hours of continuing education programs. CRNAs must have current ACLS (required) and PALS (recommended) certifications and continue to maintain these certifications.

Required Experience

• Must be comfortable in a fast-paced, dynamic, team-based care setting, with the ability to work independently as well as part of a team to deliver high quality care
• As this is an ambulatory surgical center, skill in addressing the needs of short-stay patients
• Effective interpersonal skills to work with surgeons, proceduralists, and staff in a variety of cases
• Flexibility to work according to the OR patient schedule, making changes as needed
• Able to use electronic patient record system (Epic)
• Fluent in verbal and written language skills
• Cultural competence and language skills for patient population is desired