January 22-28, 2023, is National Certified Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA) Week. CRNAs are registered nurses who have received additional education and national certification in anesthesia care. CRNAs are part of the care team helping to provide pain control for Blessing Health patients, including surgical patients.
There are different types of anesthesia. The bottom line is that anesthesia is a medication or mixture of medications that reduce the pain a patient feels during certain medical procedures. The proper selection of medication or medications, dosing of anesthesia and monitoring of the patient’s reaction is vital to their safety. This is why CRNAs complete additional education and certification.
CRNAs often work as part of a team with anesthesiologists – who are medical doctors – as they do at Blessing Health.
The CRNAs role and responsibilities vary based on the state where they are certified. Some of a CRNAs job responsibilities may include:
- Being up-to-date on patient medical history to ensure anesthesia is safely administered
- Providing care before, during, and after anesthesia
- Assisting physicians with anesthesia administration
- Monitoring vital signs during procedure
- Overseeing patient recovery
- Providing pain management
- Performing epidurals or spinal blocks
- Discussing anesthesiology side-effects with patients
For Blessing Health patients in need of pain control - particularly those receiving surgical care in Quincy, Pittsfield and Hannibal - CRNAs are vital members of the care team. On behalf of those patients, and all staff at Blessing Health, we thank CRNAs for their contribution to the exceptional care available in the region.