Certified registered nurse anesthetist

For the global occupation, see Nurse anesthetist.
CRNA
A nurse anesthetist administers a local anesthetic.
Occupation
Activity sectors
Anesthesia, Nursing
Description
Education required
Fields of
employment

A Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA) is a type of advanced practice nurse who administers anesthesia in the United States. CRNAs account for approximately half of the anesthesia providers in the United States and are the main providers (80%) of anesthesia in rural America.[1] Historically, nurses have been providing anesthesia care to patients for over 160 years, dating back to the American Civil War (1861–1865). The CRNA credential was formally established in 1956.[2] CRNA schools issue a Doctorate of nursing anesthesia degree to nurses who have completed a program in anesthesia, which is 3 years in length.[3]

Scope of practice and practitioner oversight requirements vary between healthcare facility and state, with 25 states and Guam granting complete autonomy as of 2024.[4] In states that have opted out of supervision, the Joint Commission and CMS recognize CRNAs as licensed independent practitioners.[5] In states requiring supervision, CRNAs have liability separate from supervising practitioners and are able to administer anesthesia independently of physicians, such as Physician Anesthesiologists.[6][7][8][9]

  1. ^ Daughettry, Lindsay (2010). "Is There a Shortage of Anesthesia Providers in the United States?". RAND Health. Retrieved September 30, 2018.
  2. ^ "CRA Fact Sheet".
  3. ^ Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs (6 January 2020). "Requirements to Practice as a Nurse Anesthetist in the United States". www.coacrna.org.
  4. ^ "Fact Sheet Concerning State Opt Outs" (PDF). American Association of Nurse Anesthesiologists. AANA State Government Affairs Division. Retrieved 10 June 2024.
  5. ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2018-08-04. Retrieved 2018-08-03.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  6. ^ Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations. "Standards Revisions Related to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS)" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2018-08-04. Retrieved 2018-08-03.
  7. ^ Gene Blumenreich. "A Surgeons Responsibility for CRNAs" (PDF). www.aana.com. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2018-08-04. Retrieved 2018-08-03.
  8. ^ American Association of Nurse Anesthetists (2013). "Scope of Nurse Anesthesia Practice" (PDF). www.aana.com. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2018-08-04. Retrieved 2018-08-03.
  9. ^ Gene Blumenreich. "Legal Briefs: Captain of the Ship Doctrine" (PDF). www.aana.com. Retrieved 2018-08-03.