 |
|
| nesthesia is the use of drugs, gases, and nerve blocks
to provide a |
| partial or total loss of pain during surgery.
Caring for patients |
| before, during, and after surgical
procedures, nurse anesthetists blend |
| nursing skills with the practice of
anesthesia. They provide services similar |
| to those of anesthesiologists (physicians
specializing in anesthesia), and may |
| work independently or under the
supervision of a physician. Nurse |
| anesthetists administer more than 65
percent of the anesthetics given in this |
| country and are often the sole anesthesia
provider in rural areas. These |
| nurses interview patients before surgery
and design a customized plan of care |
| based on medical history and type of
surgery. During surgery, nurse |
| anesthetists administer anesthetic drugs,
monitor the patient's vital signs |
| (blood pressure, heart function,
temperature, etc.) and adjust the doses of |
| anesthetics and other medications to
assure optimal patient safety and |
| comfort. They also manage the
patient's airway and control breathing. |
| Nurse anesthetists have the critical
responsibility of safeguarding patients |
| during surgery, and as a result, practice
in one of the highest paid nursing |
| specialties. |
