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Do you want more information about CRNAs and how we keep patients safe?

What is a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNA)?

Nurse anesthesia is an advanced clinical nursing specialty. As anesthesia specialists, CRNAs administer approximately 65% of the 26 million anesthetics given to patients in the United States each year.

How Does a Nurse become a CRNA?

A nurse attends an accredited nurse anesthesia education program to receive an extensive education in anesthesia. Upon graduation, the nurse must pass a national certification exam to become a CRNA. For additional information on the universities around Ohio that offer these programs, visit that section of our website.

What are the Requirements for Admission to a Program?

The requirements for admission are:

  • A bachelor’s of science in nursing or another appropriate baccalaureate degree. (Each program determines "appropriate" degrees and "approved" programs.)
  • A license as a registered nurse.
  • A minimum of one year of acute care nursing experience. (Each program determines what constitutes "acute care" nursing.)

What is the Role of An Individual CRNA?

A CRNA takes care of a patient’s anesthesia needs before, during and after surgery or the delivery of a baby by:

  • Performing a physical assessment
  • Participating in preoperative teaching
  • Preparing for anesthetic management
  • Administering anesthesia to keep the patient pain free
  • Maintaining anesthesia intra-operatively
  • Overseeing recovery from anesthesia
  • Following the patient’s postoperative course from recovery room to patient care unit.