The Opioid Crisis and the CRNA: Providing Emergency Care for Patients With Opioid Use Disorder.

Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs) care for patients with opioid use disorder frequently. Goals are to support recovery, prevent relapse, and effectively and safely treat perioperative pain. During emergencies, care may be urgent to prevent patient harm, potentially interfering with helpful interventions. This article discusses care principles that CRNAs should follow to assure that the anesthetic care goals are achieved during emergent care of patients with opioid use disorder.