A Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA) is responsible for the pre-operative, intra-operative, and immediate post-operative care of the patient requiring anesthesia for surgical, medical, therapeutic, or diagnostic procedures. This care includes, but is not limited to, pre-operative assessments, anesthetic care plans, assembly and care of specialized equipment; application, insertion and interpretation of data from anesthetic monitors; airway management; delivery of general, regional anesthesia, and monitored anesthetic care; induction, maintenance, and emergence of the patient; care of the patient in the immediate post-operative setting; and post-operative assessments in collaboration with a physician member of the Department of Anesthesiology. These services are rendered in the main operating rooms, Labor and Delivery, and designated "Out of OR" anesthesia locations (i.e., Radiology, MRT, etc.) CRNAs also fulfill a teaching function for the Student Registered Nurse Anesthetists that rotate to the BWH from Northeastern University for their clinical experience.

Clinical research may be available as an adjunct for the CRNA who is interested in that area of practice, depending on protocols available, but it is not a department requirement, nor is it usually sponsored by the anesthesia department. All CRNAs must comply with federal, state, hospital, and departmental guidelines as they pertain to the delivery of anesthesia care at the Brigham and Women's Hospital. Education Diploma Nursing required and Master's Degree Nurse Anesthesia Practitioner required Licenses and CredentialsCertified Registered Nurse Anesthetist [CRNA (NBCRNA)]

• National Board of Certification and Recertification of Nurse Anesthetists (NBCRNA) requiredBasic Life Support (BLS) and Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) certification required. Experience Knowledge, Skills and Abilities- The CRNA must show evidence of analytic thinking necessary to care for a group of patients.
• Must demonstrate observational skills and the ability to set priorities.
• Must be able to function under stress with good interpersonal and communication skills.
• Must demonstrate effective skills in applying hospital standards in area of service, teamwork, communication, respect for others, and time/priority management.
• Must have physical abilities and manual dexterity to function as an anesthesia care provider and have the ability to administer all types of anesthetics, using a variety of techniques.
• Clinical Responsibilities
• The following list of anesthesia and related services should be utilized to delineate the clinical responsibilities of the individual who can demonstrate new or continued competency. More clinical responsibilities may be added as additional education and experience are obtained by the individual practitioner. •Pre-anesthesia assessment •Requesting laboratory/diagnostic studies •Pre-anesthetic medication •General anesthesia and adjuvant drugs •Regional anesthesia placement and monitoring •Sedation techniques •Cardiopulmonary resuscitation management •Invasive and noninvasive placement and monitoring •Airway management techniques •Mechanical ventilation/oxygen therapy •Fluid, electrolyte, and acid-base management •Blood, blood products, plasma expanders •Peripheral intravenous/arterial catheter placement •Central venous catheter placement •Pulmonary artery catheter placement •Acute and chronic pain therapy •Post-anesthesia care/discharge •Seeks physician direction based on patient condition