CRNA's on COVID-19 Airway Team

USA.   Nurse Anesthetists or "CRNA's" (Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists) on the COVID-19 Airway team. These CRNA's are taking care of the most critical patients in the world at this moment. This is the closest they can come to each other prior to starting the shift, and after that, no contact. Nurse.org

What do nurse anesthetists do?

…….According to AANA’s 2016 Practice Profile Survey, nurse anesthetists administer more than 43 million anesthetics each year in the U.S. They are relatively independent professionals who have direct reimbursement rights under the Medicare program. They were the first nursing specialty to have this privilege granted by Congress in 1986.

The AANA details some of the responsibilities of nurse anesthetists:

Administering anesthesia during surgical, therapeutic, diagnostic, and obstetric procedures

Performing epidural, spinal, or nerve blocks

Providing care before, during, and after anesthesia

Examining patients’ medical histories for allergies or illnesses to ensure safe provision of pain management

Discussing any contraindications or side effects of anesthesia with patients

Monitoring vital signs during medical procedures

https://www.nursepractitionerschools.com/faq/what-is-a-nurse-anesthetist/