A certified nurse anesthetist, or CNA, is a type of nurse anesthesiologist. These are registered nurses who have completed additional years of study and practice in the field of anesthesiology at the graduate level. They may work alone or with an anesthesiology team to administer anesthesia for surgeries, procedures, and things like childbirth, depending on the state or country in which they practice.
A nurse anesthesiologist can perform a variety of tasks. When working alone, they could consult with people prior to surgery to obtain their medical history, information about previous drug reactions, and specific weight and height information. They frequently not only obtain information from patients, but also provide it explaining how anesthesia works and how patients may feel afterward. This pre-surgical interview is frequently used a good CNA to help calm patients and alleviate some of their fears about the medical procedure they are about to undergo.
The CNA can then determine which drugs are most appropriate for the procedure the person is having. CNAs must not only select appropriate medications, but also calculate dosages based on the size of the patient and the length of time the patient will require medication. Because the length of the same procedure can vary each time it is performed, the second part of the calculation is less predictable.
The nurse anesthesiologist administers medication as needed during the procedure. It should be noted that anesthesia can refer to a variety of things. The majority of people only think of general anesthesia. Lighter forms of sedation, such as twilight sleep, and local anesthesia, such as epidurals, are also available from CNAs.
The CNA stays with a patient throughout anesthesia administration in many cases, especially when general anesthesia is used. He or she keeps an eye on the patient and determines when more or less medication is needed to maintain sedation or patient comfort. In most cases, a nurse anesthesiologist will not stop patient monitoring until the patient is fully awake and has completed the procedure.
A nurse anesthesiologist may work in a variety of settings. Some work in birthing centers, dental offices, or dermatology and plastic surgery practices. Hospitals employ a large number of CNAs. Depending on where these nurses work, the job duties described above may differ. Some work in anesthesiology teams with other anesthesiologists. Instead of working alone, they may assist an anesthesiologist during procedures, and country or state laws may play a role. The CNA may be supervised an anesthesiologist and perform some basic anesthesia procedures, but the anesthesiologist must be called in for more complex anesthesia needs or if problems arise.