ABOUT
US
Founded in 1961, the Alaska Association of Nurse Anesthetists
(AkANA) is a representative organization of Nurse Anesthetists
practicing within the state of Alaska. We are dedicated
to the continued development of our profession through the
promulgation of education and practice standards and guidelines.
The AkANA offers consultation to both private and governmental
entities regarding Nurse Anesthetists and their practice.
CRNAs AT A GLANCE
Nurse anesthetists have been providing anesthesia care in
the United States for over 125 years. Nurses first provided
anesthesia to wounded soldiers during the Civil War. More
than 90% of this country’s nurse anesthetists are
members of the American Association of Nurse Anesthetists
(AANA).
Certified Registered Nurse
Anesthetists (CRNAs) are anesthesia professionals who
personally administer approximately 65% of all anesthetics
given to patients each year in the United States.
CRNAs are the sole anesthesia
providers in approximately two thirds of all rural hospitals
in the United States, enabling these healthcare facilities
to offer obstetrical, surgical, and trauma stabilization
services. In some states, CRNAs are the sole providers
in nearly 100% of the rural hospitals.
According to a 1999 report
from the Institute of Medicine, anesthesia care today
is nearly 50 times safer than it was 20 years ago.
CRNAs provide anesthetics
to patients in collaboration with surgeons, anesthesiologists,
dentists, podiatrists, and other qualified healthcare
professionals. When anesthesia is administered by a nurse
anesthetist, it is recognized as the practice of nursing;
when administered by an anesthesiologist, it is recognized
as the practice of medicine.
As advanced practice registered nurses,
CRNAs practice with a high degree of autonomy and professional
respect. They carry a heavy load of responsibility and
are compensated accordingly.
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.
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.
Across the country, nurse
anesthetist professional liability premiums are 39% lower
than 15 years ago.
Legislation passed by Congress
in 1986 made nurse anesthetists the first nursing specialty
to be accorded direct reimbursement rights under the Medicare
program.
Approximately 41% of the nation’s 44,000 nurse anesthetists who work full time are men, compared with 10% in the nursing profession as a whole
Education &
experience required to become a CRNA include:
- A Bachelor of Science
in Nursing (BSN) or other appropriate baccalaureate
degree.
- A current license as
a registered nurse.
- At least one year of
experience as a registered nurse in an acute care setting.
- Graduation with a minimum of a master’s degree from an accredited nurse anesthesia program. As of April 2010, there were 108 nurse anesthesia programs with more than 1,700 clinical sites in the United States. They range from 24-36 months,
depending upon university requirements. All programs
include clinical training in university-based or large
community hospitals.
- Pass the national certification
examination following graduation.
In order to maintain their certification, CRNAs must obtain
a minimum of 40 hours of continuing education every two
years.
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