Joseph Brake
Summary
Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist with strong clinical skills and deep understanding of anesthesia administration. Skilled in patient assessment, anesthesia planning, and postoperative care. Highly adaptable team player focused on delivering safe, effective patient outcomes. Known for calm demeanor under pressure and strong problem-solving abilities.
Overview
21
21
years of professional experience
Work History
CRNA
Tower Health Reading Hospital
10.2024 - Current
- Provides pre-anesthetic preparation and patient evaluation.
- Recommends, orders and evaluates patient pertinent diagnostic studies.
- Stayed current with advancements in anesthesia practices through continuing education courses and professional development opportunities.
- Provides anesthesia induction, maintenance, and emergence, as well as post anesthesia care to all surgical patients.
- Manages patients fluid, blood and electrolyte and acid-base balance.
- Recognizes and treats cardiac dysrhythmia through use of perianesthetic electrocardiogram monitoring.
Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist
St. Joseph's Medical Center
07.2016 - Current
- The CRNA will provide anesthesia for surgical procedures in the general OR, Cath lab, MRI, or in OB rooms
- Anesthesia can be delivered either by general, TIVA, sedation or regional anesthesia
- The CRNA will assist the Anesthesiologist in placing regional blocks as necessary
- The CRNA will place central lines, A-lines and other invasive catheters as necessary per case
- During each surgical procedure, the CRNA will intubate the patient, maintain an appropriate level of anesthesia, and extubate the patient when the they have met certain ASA parameters
- The CRNA will pre-op each patient before the procedure to assess their health status and develop an appropriate anesthesia plan
- The CRNA will deliver IV fluids and blood products as necessary based on the procedure and estimated blood loss during the surgery
- The patient's vital signs will be monitored continuously and the CRNA will treat any adverse changes with vasoactive medications
Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist
LocumTenens
02.2024 - 10.2024
- Tucson Medical Center November 2023-February 2024
- Will develop and execute an effective and safe anesthetic plan
- Manage the patient's airway and respiratory status during surgery
- Prepare operating room, set up equipment and prepare the necessary gases or IV anesthetics as required by each individual patient's needs
- Provide post operative orders and direct PACU nurses to monitor the patient safely threw the surgical recovery period
- Communicate with the healthcare team as necessary to schedule tests or other procedures as appropriate for each individual's needs
US Army Reserves CRNA
US Army
03.2016 - 03.2024
- Served as a resource for nursing staff regarding anesthesia-related questions or concerns, fostering collaboration across departments.
- Deliver anesthesia through various methods such as inhalational, intravenous, or regional blocks during surgical procedures.
- Increased efficiency in the operating room by managing airway devices and ensuring proper placement of intravenous lines.
- Evaluating soldiers medical history and assessing their readiness for surgery.
- Collaborated with surgeons to develop customized anesthesia plans tailored to individual soldiers needs.
- Prepare and stock the CRNA emergency bag for possible deployments into the field or GHOST mission with an FRST.
- Be ready to give and interpret a 9 line soldier status update to the proper evacuation helicopter.
Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist
US Digestive Health
08.2022 - 01.2023
- Provide MAC anesthesia for Colonoscopies and EGD's
- Patient's range from and ASA 1 to ASA 3
- The CRNA will pre-op every patient and provide an anesthesia plan based off of their comorbidities and health status
- Will use appropriate medication for each patient that will help the patient maintain a safe hemodynamic state during the procedure
- Will assist the GI physician to locate and identify polyps or colon cancer as needed during procedure
- Be ready to perform any advanced airway interventions as needed during the procedure to maintain adequate oxygenation and perfusion
Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist
WellSpan Ephrata Hospital
01.2008 - 12.2022
- The CRNA will provide the necessary anesthesia and accompanying drugs and IV fluids to the patient that is needed throughout the surgical procedure
- The CRNA will monitor the patient for any adverse drug reactions and treat these accordingly
- The CRNA will administer blood, platelets, and IV fluids as needed by the patient based on the estimated blood loss from each procedure in order to maintain homeostasis
- The CRNA, upon the end of procedure, will extubate the patient when it is appropriate following ASA guidelines
- The CRNA will be available to respond to emergency situations throughout the hospital and will be responsible for the patient's airway management, emergency drugs, fluid management, and any other life support measures needed
- The CRNA, along with the Anesthesiologist, will develop a safe and appropriate anesthesia plan for each patient based on surgery and their past medical history
Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist
Main Line Endoscopy Center
01.2016 - 06.2017
- The CRNA will administer deep sedation or monitored anesthesia care to patients who are undergoing a colonoscopy or upper endoscopy
- The CRNA will obtain IV access and take a detailed health history from each patient
- The patients will be assigned an ASA status of I,II or III, per facility policy
- The CRNA will administer IV anesthetic medications during the procedure to keep the patient comfortable and cooperative
- The CRNA will take the patient to the PACU and give a detailed report to recovery room nurse
- The CRNA will maintain current ACLS and BLS certifications as needed
Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist
United Anesthesia Associates
01.2014 - 10.2016
- The CRNA will provide a safe and effective anesthesia plan for patients of all ages (infant, child, and adult)
- The CRNA will be experienced in providing general anesthesia as well as regional and monitored anesthesia care
- The CRNA will respond to airway emergencies, both inside and outside the operating room
- The CRNA will assist the Anesthesiologist in the management of the parturient and their epidural catheter
- In the event of a fetal emergency, the CRNA can initiate general anesthesia to begin a stat C section independently
- The CRNA will provide deep sedation for the patients undergoing colonoscopies, upper endoscopies and TEE's
Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist
Society Hill Anesthesia Associates
01.2012 - 01.2014
- The CRNA will perform an anesthesia assessment of all patients prior to their scheduled surgery
- They will refer the patient to any consulting physicians as needed to optimize the patient's health status
- The CRNA will develop an anesthesia plan based on the patient's comorbidities and document the level of care needed for the specific surgery
- Also, the CRNA will dictate the anesthesia plan for the post operative patient while in PACU
- This can include include post-operative pain management and airway management strategies for the sedated patient
- The CRNA can give anesthesia by general, TIVA, MAC or regional
- The CRNA will give medications as needed during surgery to keep the patient pain free and monitor vital signs at least every 5 minutes per ASA guidelines
Registered Nurse
Paoli Hospital
01.2004 - 02.2008
- Perform duties of the Registered nurse on a critical care floor such as administering medications to optimize the patients health status
- Perform treatments to protect against skin breakdown and to manage various pressure ulcers
- The nurse will also manage vasoactive medications to maintain blood pressure and heart rate within specific parameters
- The nurse will also assist with ventilator management of the critically ill patient
- The critical care nurse will also be a member of the code team that will respond to emergencies on the floors as needed
- The nurse will update the physician on their patients condition and provide recommendations as appropriate
- The nurse will assume care of the fresh CABG patient (first 24 hours post op), which includes interpreting the swan catheter values, monitoring chest tubes and pacing wires and assisting in early ambulation in the CCU.
Education
MSN - Master of Science Nursing, Nurse Anesthesia
Villanova University
Villanova, PA11.2010
BSN - Bachelor of Science-Nursing
University of Delaware
Newark, DE06.1995
Purdue University
West Lafayette, IN06.1992
Skills
- Level 1 and II trauma center experience
- Experience with doing Hearts
- Placing and managing epidurals
- US Army deployments
Timeline
CRNA
Tower Health Reading Hospital
10.2024 - Current
Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist
LocumTenens
02.2024 - 10.2024
Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist
US Digestive Health
08.2022 - 01.2023
Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist
St. Joseph's Medical Center
07.2016 - Current
US Army Reserves CRNA
US Army
03.2016 - 03.2024
Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist
Main Line Endoscopy Center
01.2016 - 06.2017
Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist
United Anesthesia Associates
01.2014 - 10.2016
Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist
Society Hill Anesthesia Associates
01.2012 - 01.2014
Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist
WellSpan Ephrata Hospital
01.2008 - 12.2022
Registered Nurse
Paoli Hospital
01.2004 - 02.2008
BSN - Bachelor of Science-Nursing
University of Delaware
Purdue University
MSN - Master of Science Nursing, Nurse Anesthesia
Villanova University
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