What is a Nurse Anesthetist?

Administering Anesthesiology

To administer anesthesiology, you must be a licensed and credentialed physician (anesthesiologist) or nurse (nurse anesthetist).

A nurse anesthetist is a specially-trained nurse who administers anesthesia in the form of medications to patients who are undergoing surgeries or specific procedures. They not only administer the anesthesia, but stay with the patients during the course of the procedure in order to keep them safe and comfortable.

Nurse anesthetists have a unique approach to patient care, grounded in a nursing perspectice. The job isn't just about pharmacology and physiology, but caring for the human spirit while patients receive an anesthetic.

Nurse Anesthetists

Did you know that everyday Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs) are involved in the majority of anesthetics given to Americans?

Nurse anesthetists work in a wide variety of settings, including hospitals, surgery centers, pain management clinics, and military installations. Sometimes working as a team with a physician anesthesiologist and sometimes working alone with a surgeon, CRNAs are involved in the majority of anesthetics in many U.S. rural hospitals.

The need for additional CRNAs and anesthesiologists is projected to continue in order to help assure adequate access to care for all Americans.

Growing Need

Currently, the American Association of Nurse Anesthetists reports there are just over 30,000 Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs) actively practicing in the United States. CRNAs administer approximately 27 million anesthetics in the US each year. They are the sole anesthesia providers in approximately two thirds of all U.S. rural hospitals. The need for additional CRNAs is projected to continue in order to help assure adequate access to care for all Americans

History

Nurses have been providing anesthesia care to patients since the creation of the science and art of anesthesiology in the late 1800’s. As pioneers in advanced practice nursing, nurse anesthetists collaborate with physicians and surgeons, other nurses and the entire health care team to ensure a safe and comfortable perioperative experience for the patients entrusted to their care.