Anesthetist, CRNA

1. Provide professional medical services and treatment of patients within the area of medical specialty of anesthesia supervision and management activities in accordance with prevailing standards of care.

• Ensure anesthesia coverage for the Hospital 24/7.
• Administer general anesthetics to render patients insensible to pain during surgical, obstetrical and other medical procedures.
• Takes necessary remedial action to aspirate secretions from throat larynx and trachea as required.
• Establish and maintain an airway and ventilation utilizing mask, LMA and nasal/oral endotracheal intubation.
• Monitor vital signs during course of procedure.
• Take necessary action to insure a near normal physiological status of the patient.
• Assist in moving patient from operating room to recover area.
• Check patient periodically and takes remedial measures to alleviate unfavorable post anesthesia effects as required.
• Maintain responsibility for the preoperative and postoperative evaluation of patients treated.
• Monitor acute pain management.
• Order and interpret labs, pulmonary, vascular and cardiac studies.
• Monitor all patients in the OR with all noninvasive and invasive monitors, anesthesia machines, gas delivery systems, patient/fluid warming devices and IV/Epidural drug administration pumps.

2. Determine, set up and prepare necessary drugs, supplies and equipment for the administration of anesthetics. 

• Assemble gas machine and tests to ensure proper functioning.
• Ensure availability of proper type of blood for emergency use.
• Study patient records to determine probably effects of anesthetic on patient.
• Consult with the physician regarding “high risk” factors that are evident in the medical history.
• Assess and monitor functionality of all equipment.
• Disassemble equipment and cleans work area.
• Report equipment repairs and adjustments to proper personnel.

3. Maintain patient confidentiality and compliance with policies/procedures/regulatory requirements.

• Ensure compliance with regulatory, JCAHO/CMS, and State of Iowa requirements.
• Maintain compliance with Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) and other professional and Hospital standards.
• Comply with all departmental and organizational policies and procedures in addition to regulatory requirements (such as OSHA, CMS, Joint Commission, etc.) and participates in corporate/departmental safety and quality activities.
• Adhere to all applicable regulatory and compliance authorities at a national, state and local level and will adhere to appropriate prevailing standards of care.

4. Performs and maintains documentation.

• Document accurate and ongoing assessments of patient status that reflect nursing interventions, patient responses, patient teaching and status of outcomes at discharge.
• Complete shift end check prior to leaving duty.
• Ability to work with electronic medical record system, including billing.

5. Communicates effectively.

• Communicate and collaborate effectively with other health team members regarding patient condition, nursing plan of care, patient satisfaction needs and recommendations for meeting identified outcomes.
• Follow approved shift report format when communicating patient information.
• Identify and recognize abnormal symptoms/changes in patient condition, established priorities, and takes appropriate action. Appropriately reports condition changes to medical provider.

6. Promote and ensure patient and staff safety in all aspects of responsibilities.

• Administer medications, treatments and procedures in a timely and safe manner according to healthcare provider orders and nursing policy, including appropriate performance of standard precautions, using two patient identifiers, and performing patient risk assessments every shift.
• Utilize proper body mechanics, transfer/lifting techniques to minimize fall risk to patient and injury to self.
• Implement infectious disease controls as appropriate including isolation procedures, proper use of hand washing and gloves.
• Follow proper procedures for wasting narcotics and disposal of sharps and hazardous materials.

7. Performs other duties as assigned.