Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA)

Introduction

Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA) is a career that has appealed to me all my adult life. My journey to becoming Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA) began when I was just in my second year at Michigan State University where I discovered how engaging and exciting anesthesiology could be and how much passion I have for helping people in pain. As a Nurse Anesthetist, I am responsible for providing extensive care to patients in need of anesthesia services including those with possible complications like respiratory problems and high blood pressure. A few of my common roles and responsibilities include:

Checking patients’ cardiovascular functions, blood gas levels, and critical signs during surgery

Administering epidurals for women in labor.

Offering relief services and consolation to a child who is about to go into surgery

We normally share activities with anesthesiologist assistants who share some of the workload. Sometimes we work independently or we might work under the supervision of a medical doctor.

As a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist, (CRNA) I get a chance to interact with various patients. The majority of the patients need psychosocial support before they are admitted. I do spend quality time with them during the pre-operative checkup which helps reduce pre-operative fears. I get to talk with patients and go through their medication after which I educate them about the purpose of the medicine they’ll be taking and possible side effects. For instance, assessing patients with diabetes type 1 or type 2 requires familiarity with the endocrine system and the specific risks and interactions associated with the various kinds of diabetes because most patients do not understand how their diabetes relates to their surgery. Through the supportive educative model, patients get to understand their condition and become better able to manage it.

What to do as your career progresses?

As my career progresses, I will continue mastering techniques and staying caught up on the latest research and testing. Because the use of anesthetic is always risky, being directly responsible for administering it is a stressful job, but communication with colleagues and careful time management will help to reduce the impact of that stress over the years to come. I will also be involved in research studies to advance the field of anesthesiology.

A CRNA needs to always be alert and be ready to deal with complications arising during the surgical process. Practicing vigilance and becoming better able to spot problems before they develop will be an important and constant task throughout my career. It would also be a good experience for me to work as part of a surgical team, so I will work toward that goal. I will need to take courses every two years to keep my license up to date and interact with my appropriate state agency to make arrangements for getting licensed where I want to work.

What are educational and other activities required to accomplish this career?

To achieve a career as a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA), an education-oriented toward the sciences (biology, chemistry, physics, geometry, and physiology) and a natural aptitude for these subjects is recommended. Personal traits that make for a good anesthesiologist include extreme vigilance, compassion, poise in stressful situations, and an ability to respond quickly to change. An individual should have a firm nursing philosophy, a bachelor’s degree in nursing and should have a license to practice as a nurse. One and a half years of nursing is required before admission to the graduate nursing program. After completing the graduate education, with a Master’s of Science in Nursing degree, the aspiring anesthesiologist will have to pass the national certification exam in order to practice as a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA).

Working as a CRNA involves long, challenging hours. It is necessary to observe patients throughout the course of recovery from anesthesia and a CRNA has to be ready to deal with sudden patient needs. Good people skills are a must because a CRNA should maintain direct contact with patients, often at some of the most difficult times in their lives.  It is not uncommon to sit through the night with a patient and that level of attention applied with sincere compassion and interest in the patient’s comfort and health can have a profoundly positive effect on recovery (Barnket, 2011).

Equipment is an essential component of a CRNA’s job and learning how to use that equipment, both traditional and cutting edge, is absolutely necessary to develop a strong career as an anesthetist. Some of the tools of the trade that it is necessary to be familiar with include:

Gas anesthesia apparatus

Cardiac output CO monitoring units or accessories

Electronic stethoscopes

Arterial line catheters

Intravenous infusion pumps used for general purposes

Some basic human interaction and problem-solving skills are also required to be an effective CRNA. Listening skills are critical, a CRNA must be able to give full attention to what people tell them, both through with words and through body language, and be prepared to consider and apply what is said in a meaningful way. A CRNA should also be able to think critically and apply reason in problem situation to identify solution options and abide by hospital policies and scientific methods while creatively resolving issues.

Finally, record-keeping and informatics is of the utmost importance in any nursing position and particularly in the field of anesthesiology. A successful CRNA will be proficient at entering data accurately, verifying documentation, and maintaining information in hand-written or electronic formats. CRNAs are also essential to information processing in reports and case studies as they provide a firsthand source of data as well as an interpretive perspective.

References

American Association of Nurse Anesthetists (2010). Fact Sheet Concerning State Opt-Outs And November 13, 2001 CMS Rule. Retrieved July 27, 2009 from http://www.aana.com/Advocacy.aspx?ucNavMenu_TSMenuTargetID=49&ucNavMenu_TSMenuTargetType=4&ucNavMenu_TSMenuID=6&id=2573

Bankert, M.Watchful Care; A History of America's Nurse Anesthetists (2011). New York: The Continuum Publishing Company, p. 144-148.