KVCH celebrates nurse anesthetists week
KVCH is proud to recognize
The men behind the masks
Randy McGee has been with KVCH for 16 years, his career in nursing began at the
Ken Gano also received his master’s of science degree with the nurse anesthesia program at VCU; he began the program one year prior to McGee. Gano earned his bachelor’s in nursing in
Well respected in their field, McGee and Gano have been involved in the education of other health care providers over the years. Most recently they taught ultrasound techniques to fellow nurse anesthetists at the Oregon Association of Nurse Anesthetists meeting in
Both men provide a full range of anesthetic services for the smallest of patients, such as pediatric patients, to the largest of patients with a complex lung issues. The nurse anesthetists remain with the patient from the initial pre-operative patient interview, through delivery and maintenance of the anesthesia to post-operative care, ensuring the patient is safe and as comfortable as possible. Gano said, “Until we can safely pass the patient onto the recovery room, they are with us. We don’t break the chain of care until they reach recovery.”
Besides the extensive years of the experience the nurse anesthetists have, they contribute KVCH’s excellent anesthetic care to the state-of-art equipment in the hospital’s surgical department.
High tech equipment
“The anesthesia equipment here is some ofthe best in the state,” said McGee. KVCH recently purchased two new anesthesia machines with ventilation capabilities that, according to McGee and Gano, can handle various pressure situations and can compensate for amount of air (volume) that a patient needs. “The machine is “smart” and can sense how much the patient is breathing and if they need help, it provides the adequate amount of artificial breath.”
A new ultrasound machine was also purchased to locate specific nerves. Once the nerve is located, the CRNA can administer local anesthesia around the nerve to assure the effectiveness of the anesthesia and to prevent damage to the nerve. The machine’s software produces superior image quality. “The better image means a higher quality anesthetic for the patient,” Gano said.
The operating room is also equipped with a video laryngoscope for tricky situations when a patient may have a blocked airway. The device which uses a video camera mounted on the tip of the scope provides access and view the larynx for proper placement of a breathing tube. This allows the safe placement of the tube in certain patients who would otherwise be considered a “difficult intubation”, and lessens the chance of dental or oral damage.
Shay Ehler, RN, director of surgical services at KVCH said, “The combination of high-tech equipment in the operating room and high-skill level that CRNAs provide patients are critical for safe effective care. KVCH is very fortunate to have both in one organization. But unlike the equipment, Randy and Ken are unique in their experience and capabilities. They provide exceptional care to complex as well as routine procedures. They really are the unsung heroes in the quality of surgical experience and it is a privilege to have them at KVCH.”
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About nurse anesthetists
Nurse Anesthetists have been in existence for well over 100 years. The credential CRNA came into existence in 1956 and is the oldest subspecialty of nursing. CRNAs are anesthesia professionals who safely administer approximately 32 million anesthetics to patients each year in the
CRNAs practice in every setting in which anesthesia is delivered: traditional hospital surgical suites and obstetrical delivery rooms; critical access hospitals; ambulatory surgical centers; the offices of dentists, podiatrists, ophthalmologists, plastic surgeons, and pain management specialists; and U.S. military, Public Health Services, and Department of Veterans Affairs healthcare facilities.
