Become a CRNA

The miracle of anesthesia made pain-free surgery a reality. Nurse anesthetists, the first healthcare providers dedicated to the specialty of anesthesia, have their roots in the 1800s, when nurses first gave anesthesia to wounded soldiers on the battlefields of the Civil War. Today, Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs) are advanced practice registered nurses with graduate level education who enjoy a high degree of autonomy and professional respect. CRNAs provide anesthetics to patients in every practice setting, and for every type of surgery or procedure. They are the sole anesthesia providers in nearly all rural hospitals, and the main provider of anesthesia to the men and women serving in the U.S. Armed Forces.

In addition to the videos and reading material below, please be sure to see additional resources in the navigation on the left.

Be a Nurse. Be a Nurse Anesthetist.

The American Association of Nurse Anesthetists (AANA) would like elementary, high school, and college students to consider nursing and becoming Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNA) as a career choice. The nurse anesthesia profession needs and welcomes individuals from diverse cultures and backgrounds to become CRNAs. Feel free to share this video.

AANA's Public Service Announcement: CRNAs: We'll Be Watching