Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists appreciated at Naval Hospital Bremerton

Photo By Douglas Stutz | Although the 19th annual National Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CNRAs) Week concluded at Naval Hospital Bremerton without much fanfare, it wasn't due to lack of respect, but because all CNRAs were simply too busy providing direct support handling the daily patient caseload throughout the hospital (Official Navy phot by Douglas H Stutz, NHB Public Affairs).  

BREMERTON, WA, UNITED STATES

02.01.2018

Story by Douglas Stutz    

Naval Hospital Bremerton/Navy Medicine Readiness and Training Command Bremerton

The 19th annual National Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CNRAs) Week concluded at Naval Hospital Bremerton without much fanfare.

There was no elaborate celebration Jan. 21-27, 2018, due to all CNRAs too busy providing direct support handling the daily patient caseload throughout the hospital.

“We do wear many hats and work in many places,” said Lt. Lisa O'Driscoll, assigned to NHB along with Cmdr. Christina Frix, Lt. Cmdr. Marc Silfies, and Lt. Cmdr. Trevor Eborn.

CNRA Week was initially established by the American Association of Nurse Anesthetists to recognize the anesthetist profession's long history, enduring record of patient safety, and many contributions with this year’s theme, ‘Quality and Excellence in Anesthesia Care.’

Capt. Jeffrey Bitterman, NHB commanding officer, addressed his entire staff and acknowledged the legacy and efforts of the command’s CNRAs.

“This is a tremendous opportunity to recognize the many contributions that our CNRAs make. Nurse Anesthetists are advanced practice registered nurses who administer more than 43 million anesthetics in the United States each and every year. Practicing in every setting where anesthesia is available, CNRAs are frequently the sole anesthesia professional in a vast majority of rural hospitals. CNRAs have also had a history of significant military presence and have been providing anesthesia care to U.S. service men and women on the front lines since World War One. Thanks for all you do on a daily basis to provide safe high quality care to our patients,” stated Bitterman.

Last year there were 1,141 surgical cases performed at NHB, for a monthly average of 143 and a daily norm of six procedures, all supported by a NHB CNRA.

“We have responsibilities throughout the hospital and have a lot of leadership roles,’ said Eborn, recent returned from temporary assigned duty to USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74), noting that CNRAs work in such areas as Labor and Delivery, Endoscopy, the Main Operating Room, and even the Urgent Care Clinic for consultation.

CNRAs provide critical care services such as reviewing a patient’s medical history and providing anesthesia to that patient before the surgery/procedure, monitoring the patient’s vitals during the surgery/procedure and afterwards overseeing the patient’s recovery from the anesthesia and help provide any additional post-operative care.

“From patient assessments to providing proper sedation, administering IVs, and airwave management, we do it all,” Eborn said.

NHB CNRAs continue with their commitment to all patients and patient safety, even if it means missing a designated week in their honor.

• Date Taken: 02.01.2018
• Date Posted: 02.02.2018 09:48
• Story ID: 264409
• Location: BREMERTON, WA, US