473 The Wonderful World of Drugs in Anesthesia – Michelle Gaines

In terms of drugs, the world of anesthesiology can be mystifying to the outside world. Michelle Gaines, an expert nurse anesthesiologist, breaks down different aspect of drug use in anesthesiology, from legal to illegal.

She explains the delicacy of mixing drugs to bring a patient out of anesthesia and explains while, though it is rare, some patients do wake up before the surgery is complete.

Though laypeople would be surprised to learn that anesthesiology, as well as other realms of medicine, use non-FDA-approved drugs, Michelle highlights the immense value of drugs that have never received that approval. She also outlines the huge cost to a pharmacy company of getting the FDA to approve a drug.

She candidly reveals the extent to which those who work in anesthesiology may become addicted to certain drugs and describes the medical and legal implications of working while under a drug’s influence. Michelle also describes the long and laborious process by which a practitioner who has overcome an addiction can return to practice. Michelle and Pat also discuss the “gray” area of marijuana use and its effects on anesthesia.

Join me in this episode of Legal Nurse Podcast to learn about a Nurse Anesthesiologist – Who is at the Head of the Bed

• What can cause confusion for LNCs studying anesthesia records?

• How valid is the fear of waking up while still in surgery?

• Why does medicine use non-FDA-approved drugs?

• What’s the cause of high drug abuse in the anesthesia world?

• How can this abuse impact a medical malpractice case?


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Your Presenter

Michelle Gaines, owner of Gaines Medical Consulting , provides expert consultation in reviewing medical records and testifying expert services in anesthesia related cases. She is a practicing certified registered nurse anesthetist (CRNA)> She started her career as an ICU nurse in a thirty-two bed medical/surgical ICU. Within two years of beginning her career she obtained her certification in critical care nursing (CCRN) and had preceptor and charge nurse duties. She attended graduate school at the University of Kansas where she obtained her Master of Science in Nurse Anesthesia. She presented her thesis, Narcotic Sparing Effects of Ketorolac in Cesarean Patients, at the annual national meeting of the AANA that year.

Michelle started her career with an anesthesia group in central Texas. At that time she also taught paramedics at the associate degree level at Blinn College in Bryan, Texas . She also taught Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) to healthcare practitioners.

During her twenty-six years in nurse anesthesia Michelle has worked in many different care settings including: tertiary care hospital, rural hospital, rural surgery center, suburban surgery center, suburban hospital and doctor office suites. Michelle’s provider history includes delivering anesthesia for open heart surgery, trauma, neurology, labor and delivery, orthopedics, general surgery, sexual transition and well child surgery.

She has worked in team anesthesia care models and independently. Her practice also includes regional anesthetics. Michelle has served as chief nurse anesthetist. Currently she enjoys mentoring new hires. When not in the operating room or at her desk reviewing cases you can find her and her two golden retrievers out on the local trails.

Connect with Michelle https://www.linkedin.com/in/gainesmedicalconsultinglegalnurseconsultants

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