select text size A A

News & Events

January 22, 2010

AAA Celebrates National Nurse Anesthetist Week, January 24 - 30, 2010

Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs) from Asheville Anesthesia Associates tell Western North Carolina "We Never Miss a Beat" as they celebrate the 11th annually National Nurse Anesthetist Week, January 24 -30, 2010.

This year's catchphrase, "We Never Miss a Beat" touts the high quality of care that nurse anesthetists pride themselves on giving to patients. To provide the safest anesthesia possible, nurse anesthetists remain by their patients' side every moment of their procedure, monitoring their vital signs to help ensure a comfortable and safe anesthesia experience. Using the Care Team approach, the Asheville Anesthesia Anesthesiologists and CRNAs work together to make sure patients receive safe and proper anesthesia care.

"The CRNAs at Asheville Anesthesia are some of the most skilled and well trained in the country" noted Rodney Pugh, MD, Chairman of Asheville Anesthesia Associates. "National Nurse Anesthetist week was created to recognize the important services provided by CRNAs and to educate the public about anesthesia safety."

"As anesthesia providers, it is important to be aware of every heartbeat, every breath, and be ready to quickly respond if necessary. Which is why CRNAs are so proud to belong to a profession that has maintained a sterling record of providing patient safety for more than 150 years" said Doug Roberts, CRNA and CRNA Administrator for Asheville Anesthesia Associates. "It is a privilege to be a part of a profession with a focal point that is dedicated to providing patient safety. Historically, CRNAs have played a considerable role in advancing trends related to monitoring technology, anesthetic drugs, and patient education. In fact, anesthesia today is nearly 50 times safer than it was in the early 1980s."

CRNA Barbara Sneed will be celebrating 37 years of service with Asheville Anesthesia in March and has personally observed many of the advancements over the years. "I have seen so many positive changes in nurse anesthesia care" Ms. Sneed remarked. "The most obvious changes are the use of state-of-the-art monitoring equipment and the improvement in sterile, non-reusable equipment and much safer medications with fewer side effects. In 1973, patients just had very basic monitoring of vital signs due to the equipment available. Today, a patient having a tonsillectomy receives the same intense monitoring as a patient undergoing general surgery. I feel we give excellent anesthesia care and we do so in a very safe environment."

Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs) are advanced practice registered nurses who are certified to administer anesthesia after completing anesthesia graduate school programs and a rigorous national exam. CRNAs administer all types of anesthetics and monitor patient care throughout diagnostic and surgical procedures.

Anesthesiologists are licensed medical doctors who specialize in anesthesiology after completing medical school and extensive residency programs. Asheville Anesthesia Associates anesthesiologists prepare anesthesia care plans and supervise CRNAs and the anesthesia care provided to patients.

Asheville Anesthesia has served the community for nearly 40 years and provides anesthesia services to area hospitals and surgery centers throughout Western North Carolina.