Lived Experiences of Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists Regarding Anesthesia Provision: A Heuristic Inquiry

The purpose of this study was to explore lived experiences of certified registered nurse anesthetists (CRNAs) regarding anesthesia provision. This was a phenomenological qualitative study conducted using a Heuristic Inquiry approach. One-on-one interviews were conducted with 17 American Association of Nurse Anesthesiology (AANA)-member CRNAs responding to an invitation sent by the AANA. The interview explored the attitudes, understandings, and opinions each CRNA held regarding their anesthesia provision behaviors. Interview questions were based on the Integrated Behavior Model (IBM). The IBM posits that intentional behaviors in a phenomenon are influenced by constructs of attitudes, beliefs, and personal agency. Analysis using the Colaizzi strategy method identified themes in three areas: 1) participant-identified important components of anesthesia provision (skills, clinical knowledge, vigilance, permeated trust); 2) feelings or attitudes experienced (performance quality, value, confidence); 3) agency beliefs held (provision ability, personal commitment, personal fulfillment). The study also revealed the theme of 'empowerment' as the meaningful essence of anesthesia provision by CRNAs. Beliefs that CRNAs hold regarding anesthesia provision, feelings about their provision of anesthesia, and beliefs about their ability to perform important anesthesia components are affected by empowerment or disenfranchisements they experience in anesthesia provision.