Employment Resources

Every day, CRNAs/nurse anesthesiologists are required to use negotiation and dispute resolution skills as part of their professional lives. Dealings with physicians, patients, hospitals, payors, etc., often present differences of opinion that have to be resolved. CRNAs/nurse anesthesiologists who are involved in their state’s advocacy efforts have additional pressures: dealing with legislators, members of the nursing board, or coalition members—or even members of their own state association board. These interactions are often rife with conflicts that need to be addressed.

People often express an unwillingness to engage in negotiations and dispute resolution because they feel the process is stressful, chaotic, and hostile. The tips in the below articles can help bring sense and opportunity for mutual gain to a dispute resolution, making a fair outcome more probable. While there remains the possibility of negotiations turning hostile, these tools can help improve your odds of success.

• Best Practices in Negotiation
• What Does it Mean to “Win” a Negotiation?
• When to Play Hardball
• Positions vs. Interests
• Using Objective Criteria

Resources from the Harvard Law School Program on Negotiation:

• Daily Blog
• Negotiating Skills and Negotiation Techniques: Use Integrative Negotiation Strategies to Create Value at the Bargaining Table
• Why First Impressions Matter
• Characteristics of Negotiation Styles: Are You Ready to Negotiate?
• Advanced Negotiation Strategies and Concepts: Identify Your Negotiation Style 

Other helpful articles on negotiations and dispute resolution:

• The Unethical Side of Negotiation
• The Myths of Negotiating
• Value Creation in Negotiations
• The ABC’s of ADR. A comprehensive guide to alternative dispute resolution
• Top Ten Effective Negotiation Skills

You can also check out the Negotiation Principles, Considerations Checklist to make sure you have everything you need before beginning a negotiation.

Access important information on the NPDB:

• Have You Been Reported to the National Practitioner Data Bank? AANA NewsBulletin, January 2019
• Have I Been Reported to the National Practitioner Data Bank?, AANA Insurance Services
• How to Self-Query the National Practitioner Data Bank, AANA NewsBulletin, January 2019
• The National Practitioner Data Bank
• The National Practitioner Data Bank Guidebook
• Jordan LM, Ouraishi JA, Liao J. The National Practitioner Data Bank and CRNA Anesthesia Related-Malpractice Payments AANA J. Jun 2013;81(3):178-182.
• Jordan LM, Quraishi JA, Liao J. The National Practitioner Data Bank: What CRNAs Need to Know AANA J. Apr 2013;81(2):97-102.
• National Practitioner Data Bank Expanded to Include Licensure Information on CRNAs AANA NewsBulletin, June 2010

HIPAA protects the privacy and security of health information and gives individuals rights to their health information. Here are resources available to you as a provider:

• HIPAA Basics for Providers: Privacy, Security, and Breach Notification
• Patient Care
  • Communicating with a Patient’s Family, Friends, or Others Involved in the Patient’s Care
• Covered Entities and Business Associates
  • Are You a Covered Entity Under HIPAA?
  • More About Business Associates
• Emergency Situations
  • Disclosures in Emergency Situations
  • HIPAA Privacy in Emergency Situations
• Security
  • Security Risk Assessment
  • Guide to Privacy and Security of Electronic Health Information
    • Cybersecurity
      • Special Publication (SP) 800-66 Revision 2, Implementing the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) Security Rule: A Cybersecurity Resource Guide
      • Department-wide Cybersecurity Strategy
      • Cybersecurity Resources for HIPAA-Regulated Entities
      • How the HIPAA Security Rule Can Help Defend Against Cyber-Attacks
      • Cybersecurity and Privacy Reference Tool (CPRT)
      • Cybersecurity Guidance Material
      • Voluntary Performance Goals to Enhance Cybersecurity
• FAQs About the Disposal of Protected Health Information

Find resources from OSHA on providing safe and healthy workplaces.

• OSHA Launches Webpage to Provide Employers and Workers with Strategies and Tools to Prevent Healthcare Workplace Violence
• Worker Safety in Hospitals: Caring for our Caregivers
• OSHA Hospital eTool
  • The eTool focuses on hazards and controls found in the hospital setting, and describes standard requirements as well as recommended safe work practices for employee safety and health
• Waste Anesthetic Gases
  • Waste Anesthetic Gases Resources
  • Waste Anesthetic Gases Hazard Recognition
  • Anesthetic Gases: Guidelines for Workplace Exposures
• Infection Control
  • OSHA FAQs Bloodborne Pathogens Standard
  • OSHA Bloodborne Pathogens Standard
  • Healthcare Acquired Infections
  • Needlestick/Sharps Injuries
• Respiratory Protection
  • Hospital Respiratory Protection Program Toolkit: Resources for Respirator Program Administrators, 2015
  • OSHA Respiratory Protection Standard
• Workplace Violence
  • Guidelines for Preventing Workplace Violence for Healthcare and Social Service Workers, 2015
  • Workplace Violence Resources
• Emergency Preparedness
  • OSHA Emergency Preparedness and Response Resources

Get information from NIOSH on the latest health and safety problems affecting the healthcare industry.

• Healthcare Workers: Workplace Safety & Health Topics
• Personal Protective Equipment
  • NIOSH Research Highlights Importance of Rigorous Standards for Gowns Used to Protect Healthcare Workers, July 22, 2015
• Stress and Fatigue
  • Exposure to Stress: Occupational Hazards in Hospitals, 2008
• Patient Handling
  • Safe Patient Handling Resources