About Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNA)
» CRNAs have been providing anesthesia for over 150 years. They are the first recognized anesthesia providers.
» In Ohio, CRNAs practice in every setting in which anesthesia is delivered: traditional hospital surgical suites, obstetric delivery rooms; critical access hospitals, ambulatory surgical centers; the offices of dentists, podiatrists, ophthalmologists, and plastic surgeons.
» As Advanced Practice Registered Nurses, CRNAs practice with a high degree of autonomy and professional respect.
» CRNAs can be the sole anesthesia provider at a facility and this is especially the case in Ohio's rural communities.
» CRNAs are required to carry their own malpractice coverage, no different from an anesthesiologist.
» Nationally recognized studies examining CRNA provided care, as well as the safety and economic implications of care provided by CRNA’s have shown that there is no difference in the care provided by a CRNA versus that of an anesthesiologist
CRNAs are required to obtain a Doctorate in Nurse Anesthesia from an accredited Nurse Anesthesia Program. A Doctorate in Nurse Anesthesia
program is an advanced professional degree which builds up the knowledge and skills acquired during the individual’s previous nursing education and
experience. These programs typically span 24 to 36 months and provide comprehensive education and training in anesthesia principles,
pharmacology, physiology, and clinical practice.
Following graduation from a nurse anesthesia program, individuals must pass the National Certification Examination administered by the National
Board of Certification and Recertification for Nurse Anesthetists (NBCRNA).
The Role of a CRNA?
A CRNA takes care of a patient’s anesthesia needs before, during and after surgery or the delivery of a baby by:
» Performing a physical assessment
» Participating in preoperative teaching
» Preparing for anesthetic management
» Administering anesthesia to keep the patient pain free
» Maintaining anesthesia intra-operatively
» Overseeing recovery from anesthesia
» Following the patient’s postoperative course from recovery room to patient care unit.
