Last week, our CRNA community engaged deeply in discussions about the nuances of anesthesia practice. Members shared experiences and insights on managing patients with complex pharmacological profiles, particularly focusing on the interactions between common medications and anesthesia agents. There was also a lively exchange of tips and techniques to streamline procedures, reflecting a collective drive towards efficiency and precision in our work.
This Week’s Hot Topics
Ketamine on SSRIs makes BIS chatty
This thread dives into the fascinating interplay between ketamine and SSRIs and its unexpected effects on BIS readings. It’s a must-read for anyone dealing with such medication combinations in their practice. Read more here
Ultrasound presets that speed regional starts
A valuable discussion for those looking to enhance their regional anesthesia techniques with optimized ultrasound presets. It has practical tips that could shave crucial minutes off your procedure times. Read more here
Thanks for staying engaged and contributing to our community. Looking forward to more valuable exchanges in the coming week.
Since these are ‘posted in real-time,’ I set alerts on https://jobs.avma.org and fire the application within an hour; that landed me a tele-triage screen last month. @l_clark88 is right on speed, but check the fine print — some ‘remote’ roles still require weekend on-call or an initial on-site week.
What’s worked for me: I lead with a brief “case snapshot” at the top of my resume — signalment, problem, action, outcome — so reviewers spot judgment fast. I also include licensure states and a Calendly link for a quick chat, though some clinics prefer you propose times instead. If you haven’t done teleconsults yet, offer a short paid trial shift to show workflow and communication.
Building on last week’s BIS talk, I’ve seen in SSRI patients that even a small ketamine bolus (0.25–[redacted]/kg) can cause a brief “BIS spike” from EMG without any clinical lightening, so I treat BIS as trend-only and lean on prop/remi plus exam for 10–15 minutes after dosing. If they’re on multiple serotonergic meds or have brittle BP, I skip the bolus and use a slow infusion instead.