Nurse Anesthetists at a Glance:

Nurse anesthetists have been providing anesthesia care in the United States for over 100 years. More than 90% of this country's nurse anesthetists are members of the American Association of Nurse Anesthetists (AANA).

Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs) are anesthesia specialists. They administer approximately 65% of the 26 million anesthetics given to patients each year in the United States.

CRNAs are the sole anesthesia providers in more than 65% of rural hospitals in the United States, enabling these healthcare facilities to provide obstetrical, surgical, and trauma stabilization services.

According to a 1999 report from the Institute of Medicine, anesthesia care today is nearly 50 times safer than it was 20 years ago.

CRNAs provide anesthetics to patients in collaboration with surgeons, anesthesiologists, dentists, podiatrists and other qualified healthcare professionals. When anesthesia is administered by a nurse anesthetist, it is recognized as the practice of nursing; when administered by an anesthesiologist, it is recognized as the practice of medicine.

As advanced practice nurses, CRNAs practice with a high degree of autonomy and professional respect. They carry a heavy load of responsibility and are compensated comensurate with education, experience, and skills

CRNAs practice in every setting in which anesthesia is delivered: traditional hospital surgical suites and obstetrical delivery rooms; critical access hospitals; ambulatory surgical centers; the offices of dentists, podiatrists, ophthalmologists, and plastic surgeons; and U.S. Military, Public Health Services and Veterans Administration healthcare facilities.

Managed care plans recognize CRNAs for providing high-quality anesthesia care with reduced expense to patients and insurance companies. The cost-efficiency of CRNAs helps control escalating healthcare costs.

Since 1988, nurse anesthetist professional liability premiums have decreased across the country.

Legislation passed by Congress in 1986 made nurse anesthetists the first nursing specialty to be accorded direct reimbursement rights under the Medicare program.

A total of 45% of the nation's 30,000 CRNAs are men, versus approximately 5 percent in the nursing profession as a whole.

Education and experience required to become a CRNA include:

• A Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) or other appropriate baccalaureate degree.

• A current license as a registered nurse.

• At least one year's experience in an acute care nursing setting.

• Graduation from an accredited graduate school of nurse anesthesia. There are 88 nurse anesthesia educational programs in the United States. They range from 24-36 months, depending upon university requirements, and offer a master's degree.
• All programs include clinical training in university-based or large community hospitals.
• Pass a national certification examination following graduation.

From: The American Association of Nurse Anesthetists
Updated August 2003