National Nurse Anesthetists Week – Commemorating 150 Years of “Quality and Excellence in Anesthesia Care”
This month, the Florida Association of Nurse Anesthetists (FANA) will join Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs) across the country to celebrate 150 Years of quality and excellence in anesthesia. CRNAs administer approximately 32 million anesthetics in the United States each year. Through extensive education and training, CRNAs ensure patient safety and deliver anesthesia care in an affordable and cost effective manner. FANA takes pride in recognizing the invaluable service and contributions made by CRNAs to the health of our patients and our health care system.
13th Annual National Nurse Anesthetists Week: January 22-28, 2012
National Nurse Anesthetist Week was established by the American Association of Nurse Anesthetists (AANA) as part of the ongoing effort to highlight the important role CRNAs play in the overall health care system. Founded in 1931 and located in Park Ridge, Ill., the AANA is the professional organization for more than 90 percent of the nation’s CRNAs and student registered nurse anesthetists. To learn more about National Nurse Anesthetists Week or the AANA, visit www.aana.com.
CRNA Days in Tallahassee: January 28-31, 2012
With the recent acceleration of managed healthcare services, Florida’s CRNAs continue to be recognized as specialists providing quality and excellence in anesthesia delivery and this year, As National Nurse Anesthetists Week comes to a close, Florida's CRNAs look forward to spending a few days in Tallahassee where we will meet with lawmakers and key decision makers about our contributions to Florida’s healthcare system. FANA believes strongly in educating its membership on the latest trends and legislative initiatives that may affect our profession, as well as in spending time highlighting and sharing with our state leaders the many contributions CRNAs make to patient care on a daily basis.
CRNAs in the Military
This month, FANA also celebrates the practice of CRNAs in the military, who serve a critical role in the care of our military personnel, both in the United States and overseas. Nurse anesthetists serving on the frontlines put their safety and well-being at risk every day to care for our wounded soldiers. CRNAs are often the sole anesthesia providers at military treatment facilities and aboard U.S. Navy ships. As with all CRNAs, nurse anesthetists in the military are specially trained and have the knowledge and skills to independently deliver anesthesia without physician supervision. Anesthesia care and delivery performed by CRNAs includes placing crucial central venous access lines, securing burned airways, and providing pain relief for soldiers by performing regional anesthetic blocks. CRNAs are able to independently administer safe and immediate anesthesia care in some of the most isolated critical-access scenarios, to ensure our military personnel receive the immediate care they need. By streamlining Florida’s approach to anesthesia care and removing government imposed financial barriers and outdated regulations, Florida’s CRNAs would be similarly able to perform the procedures within their scope of practice and deliver safe and accessible care that would result in savings to the health care system in Florida.
