By Boniface Oudia, Dennis Olela, and Moses Charo

In Kenya, a nurse anesthetist is a nursing professional with either a diploma and/or a degree in nursing who has undertaken 18 months training in nurse anesthesia. Once trained, the nurse anesthetist can provide safe anesthesia services in both surgical and non-surgical cases (like CT or MRI scans that may require sedation). They are a core part of a surgical team caring for the patient in the perioperative period. Anesthetists have been known to take the lead role in emergencies that require patient resuscitation.

Their first task is always to carry out a perioperative assessment of the patient. This involves physical assessment, request for lab analysis of blood, urine and other samples as well as taking a thorough patient history. This is where the anesthetist conducts an assessment of the patient’s fitness for surgery and develop a treatment plan based on the unique needs of the patient. They also prepare the patient and their family members before surgery by assuring them, explaining to them anesthesia techniques along with their pros and cons for them. This information provided should help the patient make an informed decision when consenting to undergo surgery, having a clear understanding of the risks and complications
that may arise.

During the surgery, the nurse anesthetist is responsible for the administration of anesthesia drugs to
optimize the patient intra-operatively. In addition to ensuring pain-free operation, the nurse anesthetist must ensure that the body function remains within normal parameters. They do so through monitoring patient heart function, blood pressure, temperature, and breathing during the operation. They also keep track of the blood loss and work to maintain body fluid through carefully fluid and blood replacement, where needed. They administer the treatment that ensures the patient has limited consciousness, unable to vividly remember the surgery which if not done, is potentially psychologically traumatic/stressful to the patient.

They follow up with the patient to assess their recovery. They provide the perioperative nursing team with clear notes on what happened during surgery.
During patient handover, they provide the post-operative nursing team with
guidance on what signs and symptoms they need to watch out for during the post-operative monitoring.

For the delivery of quality care, a nurse anesthetist must be competent, vigilant, attentive to details, and compassionate. They must adequately prepare for every case, ensuring they have the right equipment, drugs, and other supplies, to provide the best standard of care. This also means they must know their limits too and know when to refer a patient in cases where the patient may need more specialized care like intensive care, that is not available in all our settings. They must also ensure that they are physically able to work and have an alert mind in order to keep track of the patient and monitor them adequately in the OR. A nurse anesthetist must also have strong communication skills, able to work effectively with the surgeon and the surgical team to ensure the patient remains stable and that the surgery is completed successfully.

A nurse anesthetist is an important member of the surgical team.

There can be NO surgery without safe anesthesia.

By Boniface Oudia, Dennis Olela, and Moses Charo

In Kenya, a nurse anesthetist is a nursing professional with either a diploma and/or a degree in nursing who has undertaken 18 months training in nurse anesthesia. Once trained, the nurse anesthetist can provide safe anesthesia services in both surgical and non-surgical cases (like CT or MRI scans that may require sedation). They are a core part of a surgical team caring for the patient in the perioperative period. Anesthetists have been known to take the lead role in emergencies that require patient resuscitation.

Their first task is always to carry out a perioperative assessment of the patient. This involves physical assessment, request for lab analysis of blood, urine and other samples as well as taking a thorough patient history. This is where the anesthetist conducts an assessment of the patient’s fitness for surgery and develop a treatment plan based on the unique needs of the patient. They also prepare the patient and their family members before surgery by assuring them, explaining to them anesthesia techniques along with their pros and cons for them. This information provided should help the patient make an informed decision when consenting to undergo surgery, having a clear understanding of the risks and complications
that may arise.

During the surgery, the nurse anesthetist is responsible for the administration of anesthesia drugs to
optimize the patient intra-operatively. In addition to ensuring pain-free operation, the nurse anesthetist must ensure that the body function remains within normal parameters. They do so through monitoring patient heart function, blood pressure, temperature, and breathing during the operation. They also keep track of the blood loss and work to maintain body fluid through carefully fluid and blood replacement, where needed. They administer the treatment that ensures the patient has limited consciousness, unable to vividly remember the surgery which if not done, is potentially psychologically traumatic/stressful to the patient.

They follow up with the patient to assess their recovery. They provide the perioperative nursing team with clear notes on what happened during surgery.
During patient handover, they provide the post-operative nursing team with
guidance on what signs and symptoms they need to watch out for during the post-operative monitoring.

For the delivery of quality care, a nurse anesthetist must be competent, vigilant, attentive to details, and compassionate. They must adequately prepare for every case, ensuring they have the right equipment, drugs, and other supplies, to provide the best standard of care. This also means they must know their limits too and know when to refer a patient in cases where the patient may need more specialized care like intensive care, that is not available in all our settings. They must also ensure that they are physically able to work and have an alert mind in order to keep track of the patient and monitor them adequately in the OR. A nurse anesthetist must also have strong communication skills, able to work effectively with the surgeon and the surgical team to ensure the patient remains stable and that the surgery is completed successfully.

A nurse anesthetist is an important member of the surgical team.

There can be NO surgery without safe anesthesia.

By Boniface Oudia, Dennis Olela, and Moses Charo

In Kenya, a nurse anesthetist is a nursing professional with either a diploma and/or a degree in nursing who has undertaken 18 months training in nurse anesthesia. Once trained, the nurse anesthetist can provide safe anesthesia services in both surgical and non-surgical cases (like CT or MRI scans that may require sedation). They are a core part of a surgical team caring for the patient in the perioperative period. Anesthetists have been known to take the lead role in emergencies that require patient resuscitation.

Their first task is always to carry out a perioperative assessment of the patient. This involves physical assessment, request for lab analysis of blood, urine and other samples as well as taking a thorough patient history. This is where the anesthetist conducts an assessment of the patient’s fitness for surgery and develop a treatment plan based on the unique needs of the patient. They also prepare the patient and their family members before surgery by assuring them, explaining to them anesthesia techniques along with their pros and cons for them. This information provided should help the patient make an informed decision when consenting to undergo surgery, having a clear understanding of the risks and complications
that may arise.

During the surgery, the nurse anesthetist is responsible for the administration of anesthesia drugs to
optimize the patient intra-operatively. In addition to ensuring pain-free operation, the nurse anesthetist must ensure that the body function remains within normal parameters. They do so through monitoring patient heart function, blood pressure, temperature, and breathing during the operation. They also keep track of the blood loss and work to maintain body fluid through carefully fluid and blood replacement, where needed. They administer the treatment that ensures the patient has limited consciousness, unable to vividly remember the surgery which if not done, is potentially psychologically traumatic/stressful to the patient.

They follow up with the patient to assess their recovery. They provide the perioperative nursing team with clear notes on what happened during surgery.
During patient handover, they provide the post-operative nursing team with
guidance on what signs and symptoms they need to watch out for during the post-operative monitoring.

For the delivery of quality care, a nurse anesthetist must be competent, vigilant, attentive to details, and compassionate. They must adequately prepare for every case, ensuring they have the right equipment, drugs, and other supplies, to provide the best standard of care. This also means they must know their limits too and know when to refer a patient in cases where the patient may need more specialized care like intensive care, that is not available in all our settings. They must also ensure that they are physically able to work and have an alert mind in order to keep track of the patient and monitor them adequately in the OR. A nurse anesthetist must also have strong communication skills, able to work effectively with the surgeon and the surgical team to ensure the patient remains stable and that the surgery is completed successfully.

A nurse anesthetist is an important member of the surgical team.

There can be NO surgery without safe anesthesia.

By Boniface Oudia, Dennis Olela, and Moses Charo

In Kenya, a nurse anesthetist is a nursing professional with either a diploma and/or a degree in nursing who has undertaken 18 months training in nurse anesthesia. Once trained, the nurse anesthetist can provide safe anesthesia services in both surgical and non-surgical cases (like CT or MRI scans that may require sedation). They are a core part of a surgical team caring for the patient in the perioperative period. Anesthetists have been known to take the lead role in emergencies that require patient resuscitation.

Their first task is always to carry out a perioperative assessment of the patient. This involves physical assessment, request for lab analysis of blood, urine and other samples as well as taking a thorough patient history. This is where the anesthetist conducts an assessment of the patient’s fitness for surgery and develop a treatment plan based on the unique needs of the patient. They also prepare the patient and their family members before surgery by assuring them, explaining to them anesthesia techniques along with their pros and cons for them. This information provided should help the patient make an informed decision when consenting to undergo surgery, having a clear understanding of the risks and complications
that may arise.

During the surgery, the nurse anesthetist is responsible for the administration of anesthesia drugs to
optimize the patient intra-operatively. In addition to ensuring pain-free operation, the nurse anesthetist must ensure that the body function remains within normal parameters. They do so through monitoring patient heart function, blood pressure, temperature, and breathing during the operation. They also keep track of the blood loss and work to maintain body fluid through carefully fluid and blood replacement, where needed. They administer the treatment that ensures the patient has limited consciousness, unable to vividly remember the surgery which if not done, is potentially psychologically traumatic/stressful to the patient.

They follow up with the patient to assess their recovery. They provide the perioperative nursing team with clear notes on what happened during surgery.
During patient handover, they provide the post-operative nursing team with
guidance on what signs and symptoms they need to watch out for during the post-operative monitoring.

For the delivery of quality care, a nurse anesthetist must be competent, vigilant, attentive to details, and compassionate. They must adequately prepare for every case, ensuring they have the right equipment, drugs, and other supplies, to provide the best standard of care. This also means they must know their limits too and know when to refer a patient in cases where the patient may need more specialized care like intensive care, that is not available in all our settings. They must also ensure that they are physically able to work and have an alert mind in order to keep track of the patient and monitor them adequately in the OR. A nurse anesthetist must also have strong communication skills, able to work effectively with the surgeon and the surgical team to ensure the patient remains stable and that the surgery is completed successfully.

A nurse anesthetist is an important member of the surgical team.

There can be NO surgery without safe anesthesia.

By Boniface Oudia, Dennis Olela, and Moses Charo

In Kenya, a nurse anesthetist is a nursing professional with either a diploma and/or a degree in nursing who has undertaken 18 months training in nurse anesthesia. Once trained, the nurse anesthetist can provide safe anesthesia services in both surgical and non-surgical cases (like CT or MRI scans that may require sedation). They are a core part of a surgical team caring for the patient in the perioperative period. Anesthetists have been known to take the lead role in emergencies that require patient resuscitation.

Their first task is always to carry out a perioperative assessment of the patient. This involves physical assessment, request for lab analysis of blood, urine and other samples as well as taking a thorough patient history. This is where the anesthetist conducts an assessment of the patient’s fitness for surgery and develop a treatment plan based on the unique needs of the patient. They also prepare the patient and their family members before surgery by assuring them, explaining to them anesthesia techniques along with their pros and cons for them. This information provided should help the patient make an informed decision when consenting to undergo surgery, having a clear understanding of the risks and complications
that may arise.

During the surgery, the nurse anesthetist is responsible for the administration of anesthesia drugs to
optimize the patient intra-operatively. In addition to ensuring pain-free operation, the nurse anesthetist must ensure that the body function remains within normal parameters. They do so through monitoring patient heart function, blood pressure, temperature, and breathing during the operation. They also keep track of the blood loss and work to maintain body fluid through carefully fluid and blood replacement, where needed. They administer the treatment that ensures the patient has limited consciousness, unable to vividly remember the surgery which if not done, is potentially psychologically traumatic/stressful to the patient.

They follow up with the patient to assess their recovery. They provide the perioperative nursing team with clear notes on what happened during surgery.
During patient handover, they provide the post-operative nursing team with
guidance on what signs and symptoms they need to watch out for during the post-operative monitoring.

For the delivery of quality care, a nurse anesthetist must be competent, vigilant, attentive to details, and compassionate. They must adequately prepare for every case, ensuring they have the right equipment, drugs, and other supplies, to provide the best standard of care. This also means they must know their limits too and know when to refer a patient in cases where the patient may need more specialized care like intensive care, that is not available in all our settings. They must also ensure that they are physically able to work and have an alert mind in order to keep track of the patient and monitor them adequately in the OR. A nurse anesthetist must also have strong communication skills, able to work effectively with the surgeon and the surgical team to ensure the patient remains stable and that the surgery is completed successfully.

A nurse anesthetist is an important member of the surgical team.

There can be NO surgery without safe anesthesia.

By Boniface Oudia, Dennis Olela, and Moses Charo

In Kenya, a nurse anesthetist is
a nursing professional with either a diploma and/or a degree in nursing who has
undertaken 18 months training in nurse anesthesia. Once trained, the nurse
anesthetist can provide safe anesthesia services in both surgical and non-surgical
cases (like CT or MRI scans that may require sedation). They are a core part of
a surgical team caring for the patient in the perioperative period. Anesthetists
have been known to take the lead role in emergencies that require patient
resuscitation.

Their first task is always to
carry out a perioperative assessment of the patient. This involves physical
assessment, request for lab analysis of blood, urine and other samples as well
as taking a thorough patient history. This is where the anesthetist conducts an
assessment of the patient’s fitness for surgery and develop a treatment plan
based on the unique needs of the patient. They also prepare the patient and
their family members before surgery by assuring them, explaining to them
anesthesia techniques along with their pros and cons for them. This information
provided should help the patient make an informed decision when consenting to
undergo surgery, having a clear understanding of the risks and complications
that may arise.

During the surgery, the nurse
anesthetist is responsible for the administration of anesthesia drugs to
optimize the patient intraoperatively. In addition to ensuring pain-free operation,
the nurse anesthetist must ensure that the body function remains within normal
parameters. They do so through monitoring patient heart function, blood
pressure, temperature, and breathing during the operation. They also keep track
of the blood loss and work to maintain body fluid through carefully fluid and
blood replacement, where needed. They administer the treatment that ensures the
patient has limited consciousness, unable to vividly remember the surgery which
if not done, is potentially psychologically traumatic/stressful to the patient.
They follow up with the patient to assess their recovery. They provide the
perioperative nursing team with clear notes on what happened during surgery.
During patient handover, they provide the post-operative nursing team with
guidance on what signs and symptoms they need to watch out for during the post-operative
monitoring.

For the delivery of quality care,
a nurse anesthetist must be competent, vigilant, attentive to details, and compassionate.
They must adequately prepare for every case, ensuring they have the right
equipment, drugs, and other supplies, to provide the best standard of care.
This also means they must know their limits too and know when to refer a
patient in cases where the patient may need more specialized care like
intensive care, that is not available in all our settings. They must also
ensure that they are physically able to work and have an alert mind in order to
keep track of the patient and monitor them adequately in the OR. A nurse anesthetist
must also have strong communication skills, able to work effectively with the
surgeon and the surgical team to ensure the patient remains stable and that the
surgery is completed successfully.

A nurse anesthetist is an important member of
the surgical team. There can be no surgery without anesthesia.