It's CRNA Week! 10 Interesting Facts About CRNAs
- Cynthia and Laura Love
- Jan 19
- 2 min read
10 Interesting Facts About CRNAs
There are approximately 74,000 CRNAs and residents in CRNA schools in the U.S.
The first nurse anesthetist was documented during the American Civil War (1861 -1865). The nurses working in the field hospitals were called upon to deliver anesthesia to the badly injured soldiers or those having surgery.
With many of the earliest hospitals in the U.S. established by religious orders, the Catholic nuns formally trained as nurses were often charged with administering anesthesia to patients. Sister Mary Bernard was the first official nurse to specialize in anesthesia. She worked at St Vincent's Hospital in Erie, Pennsylvania in the 1870s.
The first nurse anesthesia school was established in 1909 by Agnes McGee at St. Vincents Hospital in Portland, Oregon. In contrast to the rigor of today's CRNA curriculum, the program was seven months long and focused on anatomy and physiology, pharmacology, and the administration of available anesthetic agents.
As of January 2025, all new CRNAs will need to hold a doctoral degree. To support this, the Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs (COA) voted in 2009 to require nurse anesthesia educational programs to begin transitioning to a doctoral framework by 2025.
CRNAs work in all areas of healthcare where anesthesia is needed. We want to recognize the special care the CRNAs deliver to those living in rural areas. Without their services, these patients would have to travel away from their homes to receive the care they need.
CRNAs are educated in pain management and with this expertise are helping combat the opioid crisis related to post-surgical pain management.
The International Federation of Nurse Anesthetists (IFNA) is an organization founded in 1989 to support the educational and practice standards of nurse anesthetists. Forty-six countries participate in this federation (https://ifna.site/about-ifna/).
Check out the INFA Education and Research Foundation, one of the interesting programs they are supporting is a CRNA Student and Faculty Exchange program (https://ifna.site/ifna-education-research-foundation/).
Male nurses make up approximately 10% of the nurses in the U.S. as a whole but almost 40% of CRNAs are male.
As one of the top-ranked professions in America, Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs) are invaluable to our healthcare system. Their expertise, dedication, and compassionate care ensure that patients receive the safest and most effective anesthesia services every day. With a growing demand for these skilled professionals, CRNAs remain at the forefront of advancing healthcare quality.
To all CRNAs: thank you for the critical role you play in patient care. Your work not only saves lives but also inspires the next generation of healthcare professionals. Here's to celebrating your excellence, today and every day!
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