Research Topics and Articles

Publications and Research 

CRNAs are active in research and have authored numerous articles in a variety of peer-reviewed journals such as the AANA Journal, The Clinical Forum for Nurse Anesthetists, Nurse Anesthesia, Anesthesiology, Anesthesia and Analgesia, Journal of the American Society of Regional Anesthesia, Journal of the American Medical Association, and Nursing Research.

In addition, CRNAs have presented their research at a variety of national and international meetings and conferences from academia to industry. Research by CRNAs has been funded by private and governmental grants, as well as from the AANA.

Movement of nurse anesthesia educational programs into graduate educational frameworks has allowed students to graduate with the skills for undertaking research and advancing the science of anesthesia.

Quality & Safety

Beissel DE. (2016). Complication Rates for Fluoroscopic Guided Interlaminar Lumbar Epidural Steroid Injections Performed by Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists in Diverse Practice Settings. J Healthc Qual.38(6):344-352 

Dulisse B, Cromwell J (2010). No Harm Found When Nurse Anesthetists Work Without Supervision by Physicians, Health Affairs, 29:1469 1475. 

Lewis SR, Nicholson A, Smith AF, Alderson P (2014). Physician anaesthetists versus non-physician providers of anaesthesia for surgical patients, Cochrane Database Syst Rev,7:CD010357.

McMullan SP, Thomas-Hawkins C, Shirely MR (2017). Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist Perceptions of Factors Impacting Patient Safety.  Nursing Administration Quarterly, 41(1):56-69.

Needleman J, Minnick AF (2009). Anesthesia Provider Model, Hospital Resources, and Maternal Outcomes, Health Service Research. 44(Part I):464-82.

Negrusa B, Hogan PF, Warner JT, Schroeder CH, Pang B (2016).  Scope of Practice Laws and Anesthesia Complications. No Measurable Impact of Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists Expanded Scope of Practice on Anesthesia-related Complications.  Medical Care, 54(10): 913-920.

Simonson D, Ahern M, Hendry M. (2007). Anesthesia Staffing and Anesthetic Complications During Cesarean Delivery, Nursing Research, 56,1:9-17.

Cost Effectiveness

Cintina I, Hogan PF, Schroeder C, Simonson BE, Quraishi JA (2018). Cost Effectiveness of Anesthesia Providers and Implications of Scope of Practice in Medicare Population. Nursing Economic$, 36(2):67-73.

Hogan P, Seifert R, Moore C, Simonson B (2010). Cost Effectiveness Analysis of Anesthesia Providers, Nursing Economic$, 28,3:159-169. 

Lewin Group (2016). Update of Cost Effectiveness of Anesthesia Providers. Lewin Publications, May 13, 2016.

Lewin Group (2012) presents four case studies  that discuss medical and indirect costs involved with chronic pain treatment.

MacIntyre P, Stevens B, Collins S, Hewer I (2014). Cost of Education and Earning Potential for Non-Physician Anesthesia Providers. AANA Journal, 82(1):25-31.

Mills A, Sorensen A, Gillen E, et al. (2020). Quality, Costs, and Policy: Factors Influencing Choice of Anesthesia Staffing Models. Journal of Healthcare Management, 65(1):45–60.

Scope of Practice

Adams, E. K. and S. Markowitz (2018). Improving efficiency in the health-care system: Removing anticompetitive barriers for advanced practice registered nurses and physician assistants. Policy Proposal 2018-08. The Hamilton Project, Brookings. 

Conover CJ, Richards R. (2015). Economic benefits of less restrictive regulation of advanced practice nurses in North Carolina. Nurs Outlook. 63(5):585-92. 

Federal Trade Commission. Policy Perspectives: Competition and the Regulation of Advance Practice Nurses. March 2014. U.S. Government Accountability Office. 

Hoyem RL, Quraishi JA, Jordan L, Wiltse Nicely KL. (2019). Advocacy, Research, and Anesthesia Practice Models: Key Studies of Safety and Cost-Effectiveness. Policy Polit Nurs Pract. 20(4):193–204.

Martin, B. and M. Alexander (2019). The Economic Burden and Practice Restrictions Associated With Collaborative Practice Agreements: A National Survey of Advanced Practice Registered Nurses. Journal of Nursing Regulation 9(4): 22-30. 

Workforce

Cohen C, Baird M, Koirola N, Kandrack R, Martsolf G. (2020). The Surgical and Anesthesia Workforce and Provision of Surgical Services in Rural Communities: A Mixed-Methods Examination. [published online ahead of print, 2020 Feb 5]. J Rural Health.

Coomer NM, Mills A, Beadles C, Gillen E, Chew R, Quraishi JA. (2019). Anesthesia Staffing Models and Geographic Prevalence Post-Medicare CRNA/Physician Exemption Policy. Nurs Econ. 37(2), 86-91.

Liao CJ, Quraishi JA, Jordan LM. (2015). Geographical Imbalance of Anesthesia Providers and Its Impact on Uninsured and Vulnerable Populations. Nurs Econ. 33(5):263-270. 

Martsolf, G. R., et al. (2019). Relationship Between State Policy and Anesthesia Provider Supply in Rural Communities. Medical Care 57(5): 341-347. 

Merwin E, Stern S, Jordan LM, Bucci M. (2009). New Estimates for CRNA Vacancies. AANA J. 77(2):121-9.

In the Literature: Hot Topics

​Learn about topics and subtopics that have been identified as pressing issues facing CRNAs. Explore background information on foundations and policies as well as opposing views and controversies that may have potential implications for CRNAs.

New!  myAANA Hot Research Topics (member login required)

  • Workforce
  • Quality & Safety
  • Cost and Economic Impact
  • Professional Regulation, Competition, and Scope of Practice
  • Rural Issues

Generate research ideas and questions using literature from this comprehensive list today!