News & Events

The American Association of Nurse Anesthesiology (AANA) established CRNA Week in 2000 to inform the public about anesthesia safety and the high-quality, accessible care CRNAs provide.

As expert anesthesia providers, CRNAs undergo years of rigorous education and training. They are the only anesthesia professionals who obtain critical care experience before even entering anesthesia school.

CRNAs’ extensive training and expertise support hospitals, clinics and surgical centers nationwide that might otherwise struggle to maintain anesthesia and pain management services for their patients.

Patients are always at the center of what we do and CRNAs collaborate with health care professionals to provide patient-centered, high-quality, holistic, evidence-based care every day.

CRNA Week is an opportunity to reflect on the heroic work and unique expertise of CRNAs and resident registered nurse anesthetists (RRNAs) — future CRNAs enrolled in rigorous nurse anesthesiology programs — while also recognizing the strength and resilience of our community.

This year’s theme, “The Heart of Anesthesia,” acknowledges our long history as highly-trained professionals who guide patients through their most vulnerable moments with unmatched skill, compassion and reassurance. We are there with the patients throughout the procedure, from beginning to end, providing care and comfort through their recovery.

Many are unaware that in rural areas, CRNAs provide more than 80% of anesthesia care. Our presence in the community, our exceptional skill level, and our extensive precision ensure patients undergo timely surgery and endure complex situations safely, as well as access appropriate pain management, and avoid needless delay or travel. CRNAs support expectant families by enabling access to high-quality labor and delivery care — often in areas where no other anesthesia professionals are available.

In fact, two other CRNAs and I are the sole anesthesia providers at our rural hospital in the Shenandoah Valley. Not only do we administer anesthesia for every surgery performed here, but we are also often called upon to sedate patients in the emergency department, place emergency lines in the ICU, and place emergency breathing tubes for seriously ill patients in the hospital. Additionally, we are active on hospital committees and lead perioperative education for our team on a variety of anesthesia and surgical topics. We are committed to our hospital and community wholeheartedly.

As a CRNA in this smaller setting where patients have limited access to care for miles around, I have the privilege of caring for patients in our underserved community who would otherwise have to travel long distances to obtain surgical care. We know that patients in rural areas tend to be older, experience higher levels of poverty, and often find themselves with transportation barriers. It’s hard to imagine in the 21st century, but we still have patients who come to our hospital who don’t have running water or a reliable heat source in their homes. Imagine needing to travel more than an hour to get your colonoscopy or have your shoulder surgery. The anesthesia care we provide at our hospital allows our patients to stay close to home and receive the surgical and procedural care they need, reducing the burden on a population that already faces many challenges.

As advanced practice registered nurses, we are members of one of America’s most trusted and respected health care professions. CRNAs have long served on the front lines of patient care, and we continue to answer the call to keep patients healthy and safe. Please join me in recognizing CRNAs as the heart of anesthesia during National CRNA Week.

Visit virginiacrna.org to learn more about CRNAs in Virginia.

Jessica Ray, DNP, CRNA, of Staunton is the president of the Virginia Association of Nurse Anesthesiology.