Nurse Anesthetist

POSITION OVERVIEW:
To provide high quality clinical care to patients of CURE Hospital.  Under the direction of an Anesthesiologist, the Nurse Anesthetists primary responsibility is to provide patients with anesthesia-related care before, during, and after medical procedures.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES:

• Performs pre-anesthetic screenings by discussing with patient and/or parent/guardian the type of anesthetics planned, explain the risks, and answer patient questions to alleviate any anxiety.
• Assesses patients’ medical histories to predict anesthesia response.
• Complete and document preoperative assessments on patients undergoing anesthesia
• Inform senior medical staff members when patients require further treatment before anesthesia and/or when patients may be unstable before, during or after anesthesia.
• Monitors patients’ responses including skin color, pupil dilation, pulse, heart rate, blood pressure, respiration, ventilation, or urine output using invasive and noninvasive techniques.
• Manages patients’ airway or pulmonary status using techniques such as endotracheal intubation and extubation, mechanical ventilation, pharmacological support, and respiratory therapy.
• Selects, prepares, or uses equipment, monitors, supplies, or drugs for the administration of anesthetics.
• Selects, orders, and administers anesthetics, adjuvant drugs, accessory drugs, fluids or blood products.
• Maintain records of all observations and anesthesia provided.
• Responds to emergency situations by providing airway management, administering emergency fluids or drugs, or using basic or advanced cardiac life support techniques.
• Contribute to quality patient care by participating in case planning.
• Performs or manages regional anesthetic techniques such as local, spinal, epidural, caudal, nerve blocks and intravenous blocks.
• Evaluates patients’ post-surgical or post-anesthesia responses, taking appropriate corrective actions or requesting consultation if complications occur. Administers post-anesthesia medications or fluids to support patients’ cardiovascular systems.
• Discharges patients from post-anesthesia care by providing a comprehensive evaluation of the patient to the recovery nurse.  If no recovery nurse, then the nurse is to monitor the patient until fully recovered and ready for discharge to the ward.
• Review of patients post-operatively in the ward and answer any questions the nurses may have concerning the patient and anesthesia.
• Overseeing of equipment, i.e.  Anesthesia machines, monitors and defibrillators in collaboration with the Biomed.

OTHER DUTIES

• Please note this position description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the co-worker for this position. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notice. Co-worker must perform other tasks, duties, and projects as assigned.
• Attend and participate in office devotionals, seminars, in-service education classes, on-the-job training programs, etc.
• May be required to participate in mobile clinics or community outreach.

EDUCATION/EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS:

• Minimum Education Required: Graduate of Bachelor of Science in Nursing
• License/Certificate Required: Nurse anesthetist certification or equivalent from a qualified, recognized institution. Current licensure or registration as a nurse anesthetist.
• Minimum Experience Required: 3 years’ experience in private or hospital practice. 
• Experience in the developing world is strongly preferred.