Founded in 1931 and located in Park Ridge, Ill., the AANA is the professional organization for more than 45,000 nurse anesthetists. As advanced practice registered nurses, Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs) are anesthesia professionals who safely administer more than 34 million anesthetics to patients each year in the United States. CRNAs practice in every setting where anesthesia is available and in some states are the sole anesthesia providers in nearly 100 percent of all rural hospitals.