Where do CRNAs practice?

CRNAs can be found in all medical settings where anesthesia is delivered. Some examples are rural hospitals, surgical suites in hospitals, delivery rooms, dental offices, offices of plastic surgeons, and pain management centers. CRNAs also work with the US Military, in Public Health, and with Veterans Affairs.

What are the advantages of becoming a CRNA?

You will have both independence and respect as an advanced practice nurse. That's because you will have a high degree of responsibility and workload, your compensation package will reflect this.

How do I become a CRNA?

Education and experience required to become a CRNA include:

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


2.A current license as a registered nurse


3.At least one year of experience as a registered nurse in an acute care setting

4.Graduation with a master’s degree from an accredited nurse anesthesia educational program. As of February 2008, there were 109 nurse anesthesia programs with more than 1,800 affiliated clinical sites in the United States. These programs range from 24-36 months, depending upon university requirements. All programs include clinical training in university-based or large community hospitals.


5.Pass a national certification examination following graduation

History

Did you know that nurses have been providing anesthesia services for over 150 years? Credentialing for Nurse Anesthetists came about in 1956.

When it came to the military, nurse anesthetists have been recognized as key providers of anesthesia to military men and women since WWI. Nurses first provided this type of service during the Civil War! Nurses in this field are currently working with our troops in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Statistics

"According to a report from the Institute of Medicine, anesthesia care is nearly 50 times safer than it was in the early 1980s. Numerous outcomes studies have demonstrated that there is no difference in the quality of care provided by CRNAs and their physician counterparts."

"CRNAs are anesthesia professionals who safely administer approximately 30 million anesthetics to patients each year in the United States, according to the American Association of Nurse Anesthetists' (AANA) 2007 Practice Profile Survey"

CRNAs are highly represented in rural hospitals and in many states are the only providers of anesthesia services in almost 100% of rural hospitals.