Which activity is included in the CRNA scope of practice regarding perioperative management?

• A. Managing emergence and recovery.
• B. Performing open heart surgery.
• C. Diagnosing unrelated illnesses.
• D. Writing insurance policies.

Answer: (A)

CRNAs provide anesthesia care through the entire perioperative period, including the emergence from anesthesia and recovery. Managing emergence and recovery fits this scope because it involves monitoring the patient as they transition from anesthesia to awake, ensuring the airway remains secure, maintaining hemodynamic and respiratory stability, and providing pain control and nausea management as the patient regains consciousness and moves to postoperative care. The other activities lie outside the CRNA role in perioperative management: performing open heart surgery is a surgical procedure done by a surgeon and surgical team; diagnosing unrelated illnesses falls outside anesthesia practice; writing insurance policies is not a clinical duty.