As a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist, it is an honor and a privilege to take my patients through anesthesia and a safe surgical experience. Surgery and anesthesia can be intimidating, but I stay with my patients, administering their anesthetics and watching over their vital signs – advocating for them throughout surgery. I take great pride in being there for every heartbeat.
Let us look at some common queries related to anesthesia, and the nurses who provide anesthesia care.
Anesthesia Q&A
Q: Is anesthesia safe?
A: Statistics show that anesthesia today is safer and more effective than ever before. New technologies, extensive specialty training and high professional standards have made the administration of anesthesia one of the safest aspects of a surgical or obstetrical procedure.
Q: Who administers anesthesia?
A: In the majority of cases, anesthesia is administered by a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA). CRNAs work with your surgeon, dentist or podiatrist, and may work with an anesthesiologist. CRNAs are advanced practice nurses with specialized graduate-level education in anesthesiology. For more than 150 years, nurse anesthetists have been administering anesthesia in all types of surgical cases, using all anesthetic techniques and practicing in every setting in which anesthesia is administered.
Q: Will a nurse anesthetist stay with me throughout my surgery?
A: The nurse anesthetist stays with you for the entire procedure, constantly monitoring every important function of your body and individually modifying your anesthetic to ensure your maximum safety and comfort.
Q: Are there different types of anesthesia?
A: There are three basic types of anesthesia: General anesthesia produces a loss of sensation throughout the entire body; Regional anesthesia produces a loss of sensation to a specific region of the body; and Local anesthesia produces a loss of sensation to a small, specific area of the body.
Q: What determines which type of anesthesia is best for me?
A: The anesthesia chosen for you is based on factors such as your physical condition, the nature of the surgery and your reactions to medications.
Q: Do different types of patients require different types of anesthesia?
A: Many factors go into determining the best anesthetic and administration technique for each person. Pregnant patients, children, older adults and patients with hereditary disorders such as diabetes or sickle cell anemia all require special consideration. Even lifestyle choices such as tobacco and alcohol use can influence the anesthesia selection process.
Q: Why haven’t I heard about CRNAs? Are you a new profession?
A: Nurse anesthesia was established in the late 1800s as the first clinical nursing specialty in response to the growing need surgeons had for anesthetists. Nurse anesthetists, pioneers in anesthesia, have been administering anesthesia for more than 150 years and have played significant roles in developing the practice.
Q: What is the difference between a CRNA and anesthesiologist?
A: The most substantial difference between CRNAs and anesthesiologists is that prior to anesthesia education, anesthesiologists receive medical education while CRNAs receive nursing education. However, the anesthesia part of the education is very similar for both providers. They are both educated to use the same anesthesia process in the provision of anesthesia and related services.
Q: Tell me what to expect when I go for my anesthesia?
A: During the procedure, anesthesia allows you to be free of pain. All anesthesia care is provided with the highest degree of professionalism, including constant monitoring of every important body function. In addition to the nurse anesthetist’s role in the procedure itself, they also make many preparations for the patient before surgery. So it is important that the patient take an active role in these preparations by communicating and cooperating with their nurse anesthetist and surgeon. For example, frank and open discussion with the nurse anesthetist is key in the selection of the best anesthetic. In particular, the patient must speak freely and follow instructions closely regarding the intake of medications, food, or beverages before anesthesia. Such substances can react negatively with anesthetic drugs and chemicals.
Q: Where can consumers get more information about anesthesia?
A: Consumers are encouraged to visit the American Association of Nurse Anesthetists’ web sites at www.aana.com or www.future-of-anesthesia-care-today.com.
Five Ways CRNAs Provide Safe and Effective
CRNAs will be educating the public about the role CRNAs take in providing “safe and effective anesthesia care for every patient” during the 19th annual National CRNA Week celebration taking place January 21-27, 2018.
This year’s emphasis on safe, effective anesthesia care highlights one of the many hallmarks of nurse anesthesia, as well as the new motto of the American Association of Nurse Anesthetists (AANA).
Five ways CRNAs make a difference every day include:
1. Safety First: CRNAs are highly trained anesthesia professionals who safely administer approximately 43 million anesthetics to patients each year in the United States, according to the AANA 2016 Practice Profile Survey.
2. Rural America: CRNAs are the primary providers of anesthesia care in rural America, enabling healthcare facilities in these medically underserved areas to offer obstetrical, surgical, pain management and trauma stabilization services. In some states, CRNAs are the sole providers in nearly 100 percent of the rural hospitals.
3. Military Presence: Nurse anesthetists have been the main providers of anesthesia care to U.S. military personnel on the front lines since WWI. Nurses first provided anesthesia to wounded soldiers during the Civil War.
4. Practice Settings: CRNAs practice in every setting in which anesthesia is delivered: traditional hospital surgical suites and obstetrical delivery rooms; critical access hospitals; ambulatory surgical centers; the offices of dentists, podiatrists, ophthalmologists, plastic surgeons and pain management specialists; and more.
5. Cost-Efficiency: Managed care plans recognize CRNAs for providing high-quality anesthesia care with reduced expense to patients and insurance companies. The cost-efficiency of CRNAs helps control escalating healthcare costs.