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About AANA
CRNA
Professional Info
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Nurse Anesthetists and Anesthesiologists Practicing Together
Anesthesia is a
recognized specialty in both medicine and nursing. Approximately 80% of
Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs) work as partners in care
with anesthesiologists, while the remaining 20% function as sole
anesthesia providers working and collaborating with surgeons and other
licensed physicians. The American Association of Nurse Anesthetists
(AANA) supports both practice models and believes that quality outcomes
are excellent in both.
The AANA supports mutual
respect and open, forthright relations between CRNAs and
anesthesiologists working in a collaborative fashion.
When CRNAs and
anesthesiologists work together to provide patient care, the following
are key concepts:
- CRNAs are responsible
for their actions in the care of patients and in the provision of
anesthesia services.
- CRNAs practice
according to their licensure, certification and expertise.
- The anesthesiologist
is the medical specialist who provides perioperative services and
functions collaboratively with the CRNA in the provision of
anesthesia and related services.
- Patient care needs
should dictate appropriate personnel resources of both
anesthesiologists and CRNAs, rather than predetermined numerical
ratios.
The anesthesia and
related services provided by either the CRNA or the anesthesiologist
when working together include, but are not limited to:
- Performing and
documenting a pre-anesthetic assessment and evaluation of the
patient, including ordering and administering pre-anesthetic
medications, and requesting consultations and diagnostic studies.
- Developing and
implementing the anesthesia care plan.
- Selecting and
initiating the planned anesthetic technique which may include
general, regional, or local anesthesia, or sedation.
- Selecting and
administering anesthetics and adjunct drugs and monitoring the
patient's responses to surgery or anesthesia.
- Selecting, applying,
and inserting appropriate non-invasive and invasive monitoring
modalities for continuous evaluation of the patient's physical
status.
- Managing the patient's
airway and pulmonary status.
- Managing emergence and
recovery from anesthesia.
- Providing
post-anesthesia follow-up evaluation and care, including discharge
of patients from a post-anesthesia care area.
- Ordering, initiating
or modifying pain relief therapy.
- Responding to
emergency situations by providing airway management, administration
of emergency fluids or drugs, and advanced cardiac life support
techniques.
References
Nurse Anesthetists and Anesthesiologists Practicing Together. In:
Professional Practice Manual for the Certified Registered Nurse
Anesthetist. Position Statement No. 1.9. Park Ridge, Illinois: American
Association of Nurse Anesthetists. Adopted August 1996. Revised November
1996.
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