WHAT IS A CRNA?
Certiļ¬ed Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs) are advanced practice nurses
who provide high quality anesthesia services. Nurse Anesthetists have
been administering anesthesia to patients in the United States for over
150 years. The path to becoming a CRNA involves extensive education and
training, as well as years of experience in intensive care nursing.
The credential CRNA (Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist) came
into existence in 1956. CRNAs are anesthesia professionals who safely
administer more than 34 million anesthetics to patients each year in the
United States, according to the American Association of Nurse
Anesthetists (AANA) 2012 Practice Profile Survey.
CRNAs are the primary providers of anesthesia care in rural America, enabling
healthcare facilities in these medically under-served areas to offer
obstetrical, surgical, pain management and trauma stabilization
services. In some states, CRNAs are the sole providers in nearly 100
percent of the rural hospitals.