Five Ways CRNA’s Provide Safe & Effective Anesthesia Care for Every Patient
Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs) will be educating the public about the role CRNAs take in providing safe and effective anesthesia care for every patient during the 20th annual National CRNA Week celebration taking place January 20-26, 2019.
CRNAs’ emphasis on safe, effective anesthesia care highlights one of the many hallmarks of nurse anesthesia; in fact, it is the motto of the American Association of Nurse Anesthetists (AANA). Five ways CRNAs make a difference every day include:
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Safety First: CRNAs are highly trained anesthesia professionals who safely administer more than 45 million anesthetics to patients each year in the United States, according to the AANA 2017 Practice Profile Survey.
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Rural America: CRNAs are the primary providers of anesthesia care in rural America, enabling healthcare facilities in these medically underserved areas to offer obstetrical, surgical, pain management and trauma stabilization services. In some states, CRNAs are the sole providers in nearly 100 percent of the rural hospitals.
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Military Presence: Nurse anesthetists have been the main providers of anesthesia care to U.S. military personnel on the front lines since WWI. Nurses first provided anesthesia to wounded soldiers during the Civil War.
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Practice Settings: 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 more.
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Cost-Efficiency: Managed care plans recognize CRNAs for providing high-quality anesthesia care with reduced expense to patients and insurance companies. The cost-efficiency of CRNAs helps control escalating healthcare costs.
“It is an honor and a privilege to take our patients through anesthesia and a safe surgical experience,” said Dan Bryson, Chief Anesthetist for J.C. Blair Memorial Hospital. “Surgery and anesthesia can be intimidating, but we stay with our patients, administering their anesthetics and watching over their vital signs – advocating for them throughout surgery. We take great pride in being there for every heartbeat.”
For more information about the role and value of CRNAs, visit the AANA’s website at www.aana.com/ and the “CRNAs: The Future of Anesthesia Care Today” campaign website at www.future-of-anesthesia-care-today.com.
Pictured, J.C. Blair anesthesia staff including, seated (l-r): Carolyn Wright, CRNA, and Tonya Brown, CRNA. Standing (l to r): anesthesiologist Atif Victor Faraq, M.D.; Chief Anesthetist Dan Bryson, CRNA; and Eugene Moore, CRNA. Missing from photo is anesthesiologist Danny Forsythe, M.D. and Jeff Taylor, CRNA.
About the American Association of Nurse Anesthetists
Founded in 1931 and located in Park Ridge, Ill., and Washington, D.C., the American Association of Nurse Anesthetists (AANA) is the professional organization representing nearly 53,000 Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs) and student registered nurse anesthetists across the United States. As advanced practice registered nurses and anesthesia specialists, CRNAs administer more than 45 million anesthetics to patients in the United States each year and are the primary providers of anesthesia care in rural America. In some states, CRNAs are the sole anesthesia professionals in nearly 100 percent of rural hospitals. For more information, visit www.aana.com/ and www.future-of-anesthesia-care-today.com.