Before giving patients anesthesia, nurse anesthetists may talk to patients and make them feel comfortable. Nurse anesthetists use needles to give some patients their anesthetic. Other patients receive anesthetic in gas form through a mask. Anesthetists operate equipment that regulates the flow of oxygen and gases. During surgery, they observe the color and dilation of the patient's pupils.
Anesthetists watch equipment that monitors the patient.
Periodically, they inform the doctor of the patient's condition. After the surgery, nurse anesthetists may monitor patientsrecovery from the effects of the drugs. Nurse anesthetists are registered nurses who have taken additional coursework. Nurse Anesthetists is a specialty of Registered Nurses. For more information, see the Registered Nurses occupation.