Descriptors of anesthesia support personnel from the perspective of practicing certified registered nurse anesthetists.

Anesthesia support personnel provide direct support to anesthesia providers. They bring extra supplies or equipment, prepare equipment for the case, maintain and clean equipment, and generally function as directed by the anesthesia provider. Given the importance of anesthesia support personnel in maintaining equipment essential to safe anesthesia practice, it is necessary to ensure that these individuals are properly trained and capable of complying with safety standards. However, the literature describing this population is limited and shows variation in the utilization and qualifications of these personnel. A prospective, descriptive survey of Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists was conducted to describe the education, training, job functions, and work environment of anesthesia support personnel. Results (N = 354) indicated that utilization of anesthesia support personnel varies by hospital but has a propensity to be greater at larger medical centers that have a level I or II trauma center. Formal supervision of these personnel is limited. Their tasks tended to be more frequently directed at equipment management, with a smaller portion of anesthesia support personnel performing tasks related to direct patient care. Further research is needed to adequately describe this population.