Nurse Anesthetists

Manage patients' airway or pulmonary status, using techniques such as endotracheal intubation, mechanical ventilation, pharmacological support, respiratory therapy, and extubation.

Select, prepare, or use equipment, monitors, supplies, or drugs for the administration of anesthetics.

Monitor patients' responses, including skin color, pupil dilation, pulse, heart rate, blood pressure, respiration, ventilation, or urine output, using invasive and noninvasive techniques.

Select, order, or administer anesthetics, adjuvant drugs, accessory drugs, fluids or blood products as necessary.

Perform pre-anesthetic screenings, including physical evaluations and patient interviews, and document results.

Develop anesthesia care plans.

Respond to emergency situations by providing airway management, administering emergency fluids or drugs, or using basic or advanced cardiac life support techniques.

Obtain informed consent from patients for anesthesia procedures.

Assess patients' medical histories to predict anesthesia response.

Select, order, or administer pre-anesthetic medications.

Perform or evaluate the results of diagnostic tests, such as radiographs (x-rays) and electrocardiograms (EKGs).

Perform or manage regional anesthetic techniques, such as local, spinal, epidural, caudal, nerve blocks and intravenous blocks.

Prepare prescribed solutions and administer local, intravenous, spinal, or other anesthetics, following specified methods and procedures.

Administer post-anesthesia medications or fluids to support patients' cardiovascular systems.

Evaluate patients' post-surgical or post-anesthesia responses, taking appropriate corrective actions or requesting consultation if complications occur.

Calibrate and test anesthesia equipment.

Select and prescribe post-anesthesia medications or treatments to patients.

Insert peripheral or central intravenous catheters.

Discharge patients from post-anesthesia care.

Read current literature, talk with colleagues, and participate in professional organizations or conferences to keep abreast of developments in nursing.

Request anesthesia equipment repairs, adjustments, or safety tests.

Insert arterial catheters or perform arterial punctures to obtain arterial blood samples.

Instruct nurses, residents, interns, students, or other staff on topics such as anesthetic techniques, pain management and emergency responses.

Disassemble and clean anesthesia equipment.