Will AI Replace Nurse Anesthetists?

Manage patients' airway or pulmonary status, using techniques such as endotracheal intubation, mechanical ventilation, pharmacological support, respiratory therapy, and extubation.

physical manipulation — ALS requires hands-on airway, drugs, defibrillation

Respond to emergency situations by providing airway management, administering emergency fluids or drugs, or using basic or advanced cardiac life support techniques.

physical manipulation — Hands-on emergency resuscitation and physical intervention

Monitor patients' responses, including skin color, pupil dilation, pulse, heart rate, blood pressure, respiration, ventilation, or urine output, using invasive and noninvasive techniques.

decision support — In-procedure patient monitoring is hands-on clinical work

Select, order, or administer anesthetics, adjuvant drugs, accessory drugs, fluids or blood products as necessary.

decision support — Prescribing medications is licensed high-stakes judgment

Select, prepare, or use equipment, monitors, supplies, or drugs for the administration of anesthetics.

decision support — Medical equipment selection needs patient exam and accountability

Assess patients' medical histories to predict anesthesia response.

decision support — Treatment goals need clinical accountability and context

Perform or manage regional anesthetic techniques, such as local, spinal, epidural, caudal, nerve blocks and intravenous blocks.

physical manipulation — Anesthesia administration is high-risk hands-on clinical act

Develop anesthesia care plans.

decision support — Medical plans need exam, liability, and clinical judgment

Obtain informed consent from patients for anesthesia procedures.

text generation — Healthcare forms processed digitally; human verifies edge cases

Prepare prescribed solutions and administer local, intravenous, spinal, or other anesthetics, following specified methods and procedures.

physical manipulation — Medication preparation needs precise hands-on work

Perform pre-anesthetic screenings, including physical evaluations and patient interviews, and document results.

interpersonal — Patient history requires live elicitation and judgment

Calibrate and test anesthesia equipment.

visual inspection — Hands-on examination of medical instruments

Evaluate patients' post-surgical or post-anesthesia responses, taking appropriate corrective actions or requesting consultation if complications occur.

interpersonal — Treatment planning collaboration is accountable clinical work

Administer post-anesthesia medications or fluids to support patients' cardiovascular systems.

physical manipulation — IV medication administration is skilled manual procedure

Select and prescribe post-anesthesia medications or treatments to patients.

decision support — Prescribing medications is licensed high-stakes judgment

Perform or evaluate the results of diagnostic tests, such as radiographs (x-rays) and electrocardiograms (EKGs).

visual inspection — Image interpretation assists; radiologist owns diagnosis

Select, order, or administer pre-anesthetic medications.

decision support — Prescribing medications is licensed high-stakes judgment

Insert peripheral or central intravenous catheters.

physical manipulation — Diagnostic instruments applied to patients by hand

Insert arterial catheters or perform arterial punctures to obtain arterial blood samples.

physical manipulation — Invasive specimen collection needs hands-on clinical skill

Discharge patients from post-anesthesia care.

text generation — Healthcare forms processed digitally; human verifies edge cases

Read current literature, talk with colleagues, and participate in professional organizations or conferences to keep abreast of developments in nursing.

information retrieval — AI summarizes medical updates; human retains judgment

Request anesthesia equipment repairs, adjustments, or safety tests.

physical manipulation — Hands-on medical instrument maintenance

Instruct nurses, residents, interns, students, or other staff on topics such as anesthetic techniques, pain management and emergency responses.

interpersonal — Provider training is clinical, hands-on, accountable

Disassemble and clean anesthesia equipment.

physical manipulation — Physical cleaning of equipment and facilities