Welcome to AANA's Public Information and Patient Resources Center!
Those preparing to undergo surgery and receive anesthesia will find 
the answers to important questions here.

Before having anesthesia for surgery, childbirth, pain management, or any other procedure, the AANA advises patients to learn as much as they can about their anesthesia options; the do's and don’ts before and after anesthesia; how other medications interact with anesthetic drugs; possible side effects of anesthesia, and more.  By educating yourself as much as possible, you will become an informed “partner” in your own anesthesia care.

The AANA has a broad range of patient education resources, including brochures, fact sheets, and a children’s coloring and activity book titled Sweet Dreams at the Hospital.  Two of the most popular brochures are Anesthesia Options for Labor & Delivery for expectant parents, and Herbal Products and Your Anesthetic.  All of these resources and more are accessible through this section of the AANA website.

Patient Safety Awareness Week
March 7-13, 2010

The National Patient Safety Foundation has set forth March 7-13, 2010 as Patient Safety Awareness Week. This designated week is a national education and awareness-building campaign for improving patient safety at the local level.

The American Association of Nurse Anesthetists has developed its patient section on the AANA website to help patients understand their part in the anesthesia and surgical processes. Our mission is to advance patient safety and excellence in anesthesia, and we offer this information to help bring awareness to our patients about their anesthesia care.

Please take this time to look around the "For Patients" area of the AANA website and familiarize yourself and your family of what to expect while undergoing anesthesia and surgical procedures. In particular:

• Questions You Should Ask - sample questions to get the dialogue started.
• Brochures and Resources - many available in both English and Spanish.
• All About Anesthesia - the different types of anesthesia.
• Pre-Anesthesia Questionnaire  - things to ask yourself and information to provide to your anesthesia provider before your surgery.
• Sweet Dreams at the Hospital  - a coloring and activity book for children about to undergo surgery.

Patient Resources

Be Healthy: Stop Smoking!

Type A Influenza H1N1 (Swine) Flu Information and Resources

Time to Talk about CAM: Healthcare Providers and Patients Need To Ask and Tell 

Avera Medical Minute Profile: Nurse Anesthetists
Interview with Daniel Vigness, CRNA, MS

Driving Under the Influence of Anesthesia

Patient News and Information

View a 30-second Public Service Announcement:
CRNAs: We'll Be Watching
(Windows Media Video, .wmv, 5.2 MB)