Nurse Anesthetist As A Profession

The CRNA has deeper understanding of disease processes, pharmacological treatment and technological interventions when caring for patients. Advance practice comes with a high level of responsibility; furthermore, increased autonomy is why I aspire to advance my nursing practice. I want to be the nurse that eases my patient’s way through what may be the most stressful time in their life. During my anesthesia shadowing experience I witnessed the complexity and compassionate care that the CRNA provided safely and efficiently. Most importantly I observed clear communication that was vital to all involved in the care of the patient’s unique needs. My shadowing experience fueled my drive to continue to pursuing CRNA School and extend my knowledge at the

Nurse Anesthetists are also known as CRNA, which means Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists. Being a CRNA, one has big shoes to fill when it comes to their job. CRNA’s work with anesthesiologist surgeons and other physicians and medical professionals to give anesthesia to patients undergoing medical and surgical procedures. CRNA’s care for patients before, during and after a medical or surgery by doing a patient assessment , preparing the patient for anesthesia, they must maintain the anesthesia throughout the whole procedure to secure the proper sedation, and pain management, and as a CRNA they must make sure the patient recovers from the anesthesia properly. CRNA’s usually overshadow anesthesiologists. They perform much of the work

Certified registered nurse anesthetists are advanced practice nurses who are certified and specialized in the administration of anesthesia (“Position description,” 2014). CRNAs make their own independent decisions and judgments regarding the application of anesthesia, and, in most states, physician supervision of CRNAs is not required (“Legal issues,” 2010). The profession was introduced to the United States during the

They also take care of patients anesthesia before, during, and after surgery. They even give mothers epidurals during child birth for pain management. A CRNA can also perform physical assessments, participate in preoperative teaching, administer anesthesia to keep patients pain free, oversee recovery from anesthesia, prepare for anesthetic management, and follow the patients postoperative course from recovery to the patient care unit. These types of nurses are the only certified personnel to deliver anesthesia in most rural hospitals in the United States (Lippincott Williams & Wilkins 42).

With change comes evolution. Most professions, specifically nurse anesthetist, as we know them today did not begin in the state they are in today. They grew through trial and error. Before revealing the history of this profession and most important, its leading pioneer, one must be familiar with the role of a nurse anesthetist. Nurse anesthetists, often confused with anesthesiologists, are nurses with baccalaureate degrees in nursing and master degrees in anesthesia who are responsible for administering anesthetics to patients preoperational. Contrary, anesthesiologists are physicians whose education requires a baccalaureate degree as well as medical schooling with special education in anesthesia. However, the anesthesia part of the education is very similar for both providers (KANA. 2011).

The history of the Nurse Anesthetist dates back prior to the Civil War and were considered by many as the pioneers of the practice of anesthesia. As the complexity of administering anesthesia increased, physicians deemed the practice of anesthesia to be equivalent to the practice of medicine. As time progressed, some physicians attempted to have the practice of anesthesia banned from the nursing scope of practice. It was not until a case was brought in front of the California Supreme Court where they ultimately established the legal precedent granting nurse anesthesia its legality. Specifying that nurses can administer anesthesia and that they would be operating under their scope of practice as long as it was done under the guidance of a supervising physician (Hamric, Tracy, & O 'Grady, 2014). That law was federally mandated until 2001, when the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid changed the federal supervision rule of Anesthesiologist and Nurse Anesthetists in order for facility to receive reimbursement of care ("Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists Fact Sheet", 2016). This offered states an “opt-out” rule allowing the unsupervised practice of nurse anesthetists. This change led to conflict in the anesthesia community between physicians and Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNA) as the debate of a CRNA’s ability to practice autonomously was now the center of attention. With the costs of healthcare rising and the

The US News ranked a Nurse Anesthetist number 4 in the top 100 best jobs of 2016. Although satisfying, a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA) is a highly stressful nursing specialty (Phillips, 2010). According to Gouveia (2016), a registered nurse is ranked top 5 in most stressful jobs. Some of the brightest and best CRNAs, even past presidents of the American Association of Nurse Anesthetists (AANA) have taken their own life because of addiction (Quinlan, 2009). Substance abuse and addiction is a well-known topic unfortunately, it continues to be an issue and struggle everyday for some anesthesia providers. CRNAS are well-educated individuals; however, the prevalence, and relapse rates for substance abuse are alarming. The

The history of nurse anesthesia cannot be accurately studied without a thorough analysis of the pioneer and transformational leader, Alice Magaw. Charles Mayo called her the Mother of Anesthesia for many good reasons (CRNA Profiles, n.d.). It is worthy of the student anesthetist’s time to study the life, education, employment, leadership, publications, and legacy of Alice Magaw.

CRNAs carry a cumbersomely hefty load of responsibility and are compensated accordingly. The reported average annual salary in 2012 was approximately $157,000 with more experienced CRNAs earning up to $214,000 each year. The prospects for finding a good job in this field are excellent for the future. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, there is a consequential and growing desideratum for CRNAs across the country. More and more community hospitals are opting to employ a team of highly eligible CRNAs than a single, high-cost anesthesiologist. Projected job magnification for CRNAs between 2012-2022: 25% (more expeditious than the 19% magnification projected for RNs and the 11% average for all

With all of the different specialties in healthcare, some get overlooked or may be under the radar. An uncommon and often disregarded career choice in healthcare is that of a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist or a Doctorate of Nurse Anesthesia Practice. Although not many people know about these healthcare careers, they play a vital role within the healthcare team. This field is growing rapidly and the likelihood of coming into contact with a nurse anesthetist during a hospital stay is on the rise. Knowing the history, education, responsibilities, and career outlook for a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist or a Doctorate of Nurse Anesthesia Practice can aide in understanding their very specific role in the care of patients.

After shadowing a CRNA I witnessed firsthand the amount of autonomy, respect, and knowledge that a nurse anesthetist possesses; I have never been more motivated to be a part of such an elite field. I have discovered through my critical care experience, the very aspects that excite me in the work environment are those that align with the daily responsibilities of a nurse anesthetist. I thrive off the challenge and critical thinking that accompanies caring for a critically ill patient, while managing multiple drips, devices, and vent

The recommendations of the FON report by the IOM (2011) can have an important impact on the nursing workforce. The first recommendation discusses withdrawing restriction on the scope of practice of APRNs. Currently nurse practitioners (NPs), clinical nurse specialists (CNSs), certified nurse midwives (CNM), and certified nurse anesthetists (CRNAs) licensing and regulations related to their scope of practice vary from state to state. According to several reports (Hain & Fleck, 2014; IOM, 2010) only one-third of states grant NPs the ability to practice and prescribe medications without working under a physician. Allowing APRNs to practice to have full practice authority will increase the number of nurses who further their education to become

In the past, there have been providers who were threatened by the role of the advance practice nurse either due to lack of trust in their skills or the fact it may take away from their roles and/or reimbursements. One example of this would be the history of the nurse anesthetist. The nurse anesthetists’ profession started just by an anesthesiologist having a layperson assist with the administration of chloroform. Through the years there was ongoing debate on the legality of a nurse being able to administer medication without a medical license. Providers filed lawsuits trying to deter the use of nurse anesthetist, but the courts ruled in favor of the nurses’ role. War, reimbursements, and education levels/degrees, also played a role in the alternating

It was the twentieth century when two-thousand hospitals were put up in the United States. After the wars ended, there were few nursing jobs because of the large number of nurses. As a result, nursing became an “honorable profession,” which required college degrees. Technological advances were well thought out and processed as nursing began to thrive. People began to study an environment in which the sick healed. Scientists and doctors developed a routine that would help them study the human body more precisely.

The evolution of nursing as a profession had showed through time that it is both an art and science. Before the 19th century, the military and religious orders are the ones who perform the duties of how nurses work today. As time went by, different events throughout history such as wars and epidemics had shaped nursing to its present organization. Nowadays, nursing is pushing further towards the future in improving itself as a profession for better care and service to the community. The objective of this paper is to discuss the historical development of