Our Vision

To be
▪ The professional resource for Kentucky CRNAs and patient education
▪ An effective and responsive advocate for all CRNAs in Kentucky
▪ An engaged and proactive community of members

Our Mission 

To empower Kentucky CRNAs by
▪ Protecting the profession of nurse anesthesia
▪ Providing education and knowledge resources for the members
▪ Promoting professionalism and leadership
▪ Advocating for equitable healthcare policy, patient safety, and an informed public

About CRNAs

Who are CRNAs?

CRNAs (Certified registered Nurse anesthetists) are Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRNs) who safely administer nearly 50 million anesthetics in the United States every year.  Nurses have been providing anesthesia for patients for over 150 years. The CRNA (Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist) credential came into existence in 1956 and Nurse Anesthetists have been board certified ever since. CRNAs are registered nurses who have chosen to become experts in the field of anesthesiology and by 2022 all Nurse Anesthesia educational programs will be doctoral level.

How many CRNAs are there?

Nationally there are over 54,000 CRNAs in the U.S., but more importantly there are over 1000 practicing here in Kentucky in both urban and rural settings.  There are twice as many CRNAs practicing in Kentucky than any other anesthesia professional.

Where do CRNAs practice or work?

CRNAs are the primary providers of anesthesia care in rural America, enabling healthcare facilities in these medically underserved areas to offer obstetrical, surgical, pain management and trauma stabilization services. In some states, CRNAs are the sole providers in nearly all of the rural hospitals. 

CRNAs provide anesthesia in collaboration with surgeons, dentists, podiatrists, physician anesthesiologists and other qualified healthcare professionals. When anesthesia is administered by a nurse anesthetist, it is recognized as the practice of nursing; when administered by a physician anesthesiologist, it is recognized as the practice of medicine. Regardless of whether their educational background is in nursing or medicine, all anesthesia professionals are experts in the field of anesthesiology and give anesthesia the same way. 

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.  Anywhere there is a need for anesthesia services.

CRNAs provide anesthesia for every type of surgical procedures ranging from open heart, knee replacements, back surgeries, tonsillectomies, to cataract surgeries, as well as taking care of women during labor and delivery to provide epidurals for analgesia.  CRNAs also provide sedation anesthesia for endoscopy procedures like colonoscopies and pain management for chronic pain.

Why are CRNAs so important to Kentucky?

RIGHT NOW, CRNAs are providing anesthesia services in EVERY county in Kentucky that has hospitals or surgery centers with surgical services, that’s 75 counties.  But CRNAs are critically important to Kentucky because, they are the sole providers of anesthesia services in nearly half of those including the 17 Critical Access Hospitals located in those counties.  

For more info click here
KY CRNAs at a glance map Provider