Resources to Inform Your Work on CRNA Workforce Policy
We’ve put together a few one-pagers on issues that directly affect Virginia CRNAs and the communities they serve. Available for download, these resources cover: CRNA Program Graduation Rates in Virginia: This breaks down enrollment and graduation numbers, post-graduation job security, and more to inform workforce planning. Federal Student Loan Caps [...]
How Access to Care Saved the Champion Family
Teresa Champion’s world has always revolved around her kids. An attorney by trade, Teresa raised her children while moving around the country alongside her husband’s military career. In 2000, she returned to Virginia, where she was raised, with her third-grade daughter and her first-grade son, who had recently received an [...]
Update – VANA Statement on Recent Violent Rhetoric
Posted 1.29.26 “The Virginia Association of Nurse Anesthesiology (VANA) is aware of the online reports regarding an employee at VCU Health who made threats against Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents. VCU Health has terminated the employee following its review of the incident. “VANA unequivocally condemns violent rhetoric or threats [...]
VANA Statement on Recent Violent Rhetoric
Posted 1.27.2026 "The Virginia Association of Nurse Anesthesiology (VANA) is aware of online reports alleging that an employee at VCU Health — identified in social media posts as a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA) — made threats against Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents. VCU Health has placed the employee [...]
Column: Nurse anesthesiologists serve a critical role in health care
By Jessica Ray | Guest Columnist PUBLISHED in the Virginian-Pilot: January 20, 2026 at 6:05 PM EST Every year across the United States, certified registered nurse anesthetists (CRNAs), also known as nurse anesthesiologists or nurse anesthetists, safely administer more than 58 million anesthetics to patients. As a practicing CRNA for more than 15 [...]
Position Statement on CRNA Supervision and Training of Anesthesiologist Assistants (AAs) and AA Students
Background In 2025, the Virginia General Assembly enacted Senate Bill 882, establishing licensure for Anesthesiologist Assistants (AAs) under the authority of the Virginia Board of Medicine. The law (Code of Virginia § 54.1-2957.23) specifies that AAs must practice only under the supervision of a licensed anesthesiologist and directs the Board [...]
Congratulations, Graduates!
VANA is excited to celebrate our 2025 cohort of CRNA graduates from universities around the Commonwealth. This summer, Mary Baldwin University celebrated its first graduating class of 23 CRNA graduates. So far, MBU has seen a doubling of their qualified applicant pool ahead of next year, and they look forward [...]
Donate today!
Support the future of Virginia’s nurse anesthetists, donate to VANA’s PAC today! Your contribution helps ensure CRNAs have a strong voice in Richmond, advocating for policies that protect our profession, our patients, and the future of safe, accessible anesthesia care. Every dollar strengthens our impact and keeps CRNA priorities front [...]
AANA Legislative Updates
Federally, there are numerous pieces of legislation that AANA and VANA Government Relations are monitoring closely. The Improving Care and Access to Nurses (ICAN) Act has been reintroduced in the U.S. House and Senate. This legislation will make a real difference for our patients by eliminating many of the barriers [...]
VANA Legislative Updates
This September 26-28, VANA hosted its Annual Fall Conference to reconnect with fellow CRNAs, hold its annual Business Meeting, and hear from cutting-edge lecturers on topics of critical importance to the practice of nurse anesthesia. At the conference, VANA was joined by Delegate Willett to accept the 2025 Legislative Hero [...]