Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist

Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA) is a nursing specialization that focuses on the administration of anesthesia. CRNAs are advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) who have completed a graduate level education and a board certification in anesthesia.

Education and Training

To become a CRNA, a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) or another appropriate baccalaureate degree is required. Following this, a candidate must obtain a Registered Nurse (RN) license and gain experience in an acute care setting.

After gaining the necessary experience, a candidate can apply to a graduate program in nurse anesthesia. These programs typically require a minimum of a master's degree, but many are transitioning to offering only doctoral degrees. The program includes both classroom education and clinical training.

Upon completion of the program, candidates must pass the National Certification Examination (NCE) to become a CRNA.

Role and Responsibilities

CRNAs provide anesthesia in collaboration with surgeons, anesthesiologists, dentists, podiatrists, and other qualified healthcare professionals. They are involved in the preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative care of patients undergoing anesthesia.

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, plastic surgeons, and pain management specialists; and U.S. military, Public Health Services, and Department of Veterans Affairs healthcare facilities.

Regulation and Practice

In the United States, CRNAs are nationally certified and may also be required to hold a state license. The American Association of Nurse Anesthetists (AANA) is the professional association representing CRNAs.

CRNAs are recognized by the Joint Commission and Medicare as licensed independent practitioners. As of 2001, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) changed the federal physician supervision rule for CRNAs, allowing states to opt out of this requirement if it is in the best interest of the state's citizens.

See Also

• Anesthesiologist
• Nurse Practitioner
• Physician Assistant