What is the role of individual CRNAs?
A CRNA takes care of a patient’s anesthesia needs before, during and after surgery or the delivery of a baby by: • Performing a physical assessment participating in preoperative teaching • Preparing for anesthetic management • Administering anesthesia to keep the patient pain free • Maintaining anesthesia intra-operatively • Overseeing recovery from anesthesia • Following the patient’s postoperative course from recovery room to patient care unit. • Because CRNAs are licensed as nurses, they provide services in conjunction with a qualified physician — for instance, a surgeon, dentist, podiatrist, or anesthesiologist.
