LOTS of Questions!!!!! Please stop in, if you can...

loisane · Jun 28, 2004

*Do you guys do most of the positioning in the OR? If your stature is small or if you are feeling weak, is it the other nurses'/surgeon's jobs to help you position?

It is a team effort. Some places have more help than others. No need to avoid nurse anesthesia due to physical strength issues.

*Is it usual to have to stop surgery in order to reposition the equipment on the patient (the monitors, ect)? Do surgeons get pissed off at you for this?

Fairly unusual, but not impossible. Shouldn't be an issue unless you make a habit of it.

*How many of you work with surgeons who usually play music or laugh and joke around during surgery? Does the surgeon pretty much set the mood for the work environment?

Varies. When everyone gets along in a team spirit, that usually makes the best work environment to me. You learn to adapt to whatever comes along. Or you find yourself a permanent position that suits your personality.

*Is it really necessary to fit in and bond with your surgeon/surgical team in order for surgery to go smooth? Is it necessary that u be a top team player and play the diplomat in the OR?

IMO, the most succesful CRNAs are able to go with the flow, and be a team player. Anesthesia can make or break the flow of surgical cases. The better we are at keeping things moving, the more benefit we are to the system, and that is usually a good thing.

*How often does a patient get up/move/shake/wake up partielly during surgery? Is it that hard to keep them asleep and still? How often does this cause the surgeon to mess up something that really hurts the patient?

Very rare, but not impossible. We are very skilled and experienced at preventing, and/or responding to such situations. Even when it happens, it is usually of no real consequence.

*Is it your duty to unplug the breathing machines for patients who are going off life-support? ( i heard this somewhere)

No, this is an ICU issue

*Is it your duty to take part in the hospital's cardiac arrest code and if so, is your role the airway?

Varies. CRNAs are the airway experts many places. Some places they may help with other aspects of the code, depending on the institutional resources.

*Do you insert catheters or is that another OR nurse's responsibilty?

Usually the surgery nurse, but I bet I still have that skill, if it were ever needed. See above, about keeping things moving.

*Is there often a code brown in surgery due to all the muscle relaxants being used (I'm guessing that the bowel muscles muscle relax too and so a person is likely to have a bowel movement)?

Rare occurence, not related to skeletal muscle relaxants.

*Have you ever seen a patient die due to anesthesia and not due to his condition or the surgery or any other factors?

Thankfully, no. Although rare, it is far from impossible. Vigilance, anticipation, be ready for any emergency, recognize and respond quickly-these are all the basic foundations of our education.

I get the impression you are not yet a RN. Don't get hung up on what looks like monumental tasks. These are skills and abilities you gain by years of experience. When the time comes, you are prepared.

loisane crna

susanna · Jun 28, 2004

WOW! I didnt know someone would come along and answer ALL of my questions!!! Thanks Loisane! : )

Future SRNA · Jun 28, 2004

WOW! I didnt know someone would come along and answer ALL of my questions!!! Thanks Loisane! : )

Susana:

I am not sure if you are an RN yet, but if you are the best you could do for yourself and to answer your questions is to Shadow a CRNA for a few days.

That is what I did, and it helped to make an educated decision regarding my career.

I hope this helps.:)

Kiwi, BSN, RN · Jun 28, 2004

Thanks Loisane

athomas91 · Jun 28, 2004

as usual - great answers loisiane...

meredithxm · Jun 29, 2004

what is the best way to go about asking a CRNA to let you shadow them? I dont know any CRNA's and was wondering if I should make a post in a lounge or find a hospital listing an leave messages? how would you all want to be approached? any CRNA's in chicago on here? :)

Kiwi, BSN, RN · Jun 29, 2004

and asked if I could speak to a CRNA. The head MDA came out and was very happy to leave a written message in the CRNA lounge. Going to the surgery center of your hospital would be the best bet.

TennRN2004 · Jul 3, 2004

I worked at a local hosptial during NS as a nurse tech. I got to know lots of people and the director on my floor was great about contacting someone for me to discuss my career goals with. I was able to talk to the head of the anesthesia dept and set up a day to come in and watch several CRNAs. I also got to do a surgery rotation in clinicals two different semesters and shadow a CRNA both times.

TennRN2004 · Jul 3, 2004

I worked at a local hosptial during NS as a nurse tech. I got to know lots of people and the director on my floor was great about contacting someone for me to discuss my career goals with. I was able to talk to the head of the anesthesia dept and set up a day to come in and watch several CRNAs. I also got to do a surgery rotation in clinicals two different semesters and shadow a CRNA both times.