News - Local
Colorado to allow nurses to give anesthesia
Posted: Sep 28, 2010 6:14 AM by Bea Karnes, News First 5
Updated: Sep 28, 2010 6:15 AM
Colorado has joined 15 other states in allowing advanced-practice nurses to administer anesthesia without a doctor's supervision.
Gov. Bill Ritter said Monday he made the change to help rural hospitals that don't have anesthesiologists on staff.
Anesthesiologists fought the proposal, saying it would put lives at risk.
Rural hospitals without anesthesiologists currently allow nurse specialists to administer anesthesia under a doctor's supervision. However, they say doctors are wary of taking on that responsibility.
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