NURSE ANESTHETIST

NURSE ANESTHETIST

            Nurse anesthesiology is an area of specialization in nursing whose specialists work in various fields, including labour and delivery units, pediatric units, cardiothoracic units, critical care units, and surgical pain management. According to Dulisse & Cromwell (2010), nurse anesthetist performs the same functions as an anesthetist, although an anesthetist is often a medical doctor.

ROLE

Anesthesiology nursing is an area of specialization in nursing whose nurses; Assess a pre-operative patient through physical exam and history taking to ensure the safety of the patient when anesthetic agents are administered and document findings. After the nurse anesthetist evaluates the patient, he/she can order and review laboratory findings for the patient. The nurse anesthetist also obtains informed consent for anesthesia and related procedures from the patient (Matsusaki & Sakai 2011). After the patient has been evaluated and is fit for anesthesia and informed consent has been gained, the nurse anesthetist then develops and implements an anesthesia care plan (Matsusaki & Sakai 2011). This entails the nurse obtaining and preparing equipment for use to sedate, induce anesthesia, and pain management during the intraoperative period, and performs safety checks as required.

The nurse anesthetist then administers analgesics, anesthetic agents, adjuvants, blood products, and intravenous fluids as per the assessment findings of the patient. Matsusaki & Sakai (2011) stipulates that after administration of the drugs, blood products and IV fluids, the nurse anesthetist performs airway management of the patient, which includes intubation, and evaluates the patient’s response to anesthesia. After surgery, the nurse anesthetist also assesses the patient and administers reversal agents to facilitate emergence and recovery from anesthesia. Besides, the nurse anesthetist ensures adequate respiratory support for the patient and takes appropriate actions in cases of emergencies in the post-operative period. Also, the nurse anesthetist provides pain management, anesthesia follow-up, and discharges the patient from the post-operative care unit.

EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS

To become a nurse anesthetist, a nurse should have a Bachelor of Science degree in nursing and must have passed the NCLEX examination (Wilson, 2012). Also, one must have an unrestricted license as an RN and must have clinical experience of at least one year in a critical care setting. The candidate must also have completed at least a master’s degree in nursing from an accredited nurse anesthesia education program, which is recognized by the Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Education Programs. Dulisse & Cromwell (2010), argues that the AANA, however, plans to require all certified registered nurse anesthetist to upgrade from masters level to doctorate in nursing by 2025.

HOW I WILL ACHIEVE MASTERS IN NURSE ANESTHESIA IN THE NEXT FIVE YEARS

After completion of my BSN education, I will sit for the NCLEX examination. Currently, I am preparing for the exam using several reading resources. After passing the licensure exam, I will like to work in a critical care unit to gain the skills necessary to work as a nurse anesthetist, which includes nursing skills, communication skills, teamwork, and decision-making skills (Matsusaki  & Sakai 2011). After a year, I am planning to enroll in Boston College for Masters in Anesthesia, which will take approximately 27 months to complete.

REFERENCES

Dulisse, B., & Cromwell, J. (2010). No harm found when nurse anesthetists work without supervision by physicians. Health Affairs, 29(8), 1469-1475.

Matsusaki, T., & Sakai, T. (2011). The role of certified registered nurse anesthetists in the United States. Journal of anesthesia, 25(5), 734-740.

Wilson, W. O. (2012). Nurse anesthesia: a past, present, and future perspective. Nursing Clinics, 47(2), 215-223.