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As anesthesia specialists, Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs) administer approximately 65% of the anesthetics given to patients in the United States. They practice in every setting in which anesthesia is delivered including hospital surgical suites, delivery rooms, ambulatory surgical centers and offices of various health professionals including podiatrists and dentists. CRNAs are the sole anesthesia providers in more than two-thirds of all rural hospitals in the nation. They are permitted by state laws or regulations to practice in every state. Founded in 1931, the American Association of Nurse Anesthetists (AANA) is the professional association for more than 35,000 Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs) and student nurse anesthetists. In our community, there has been a shortage of anesthetists to provide care to patients. A shortage at the Medical Center of Central Georgia (MCCG) actually mirrors a national shortage of anesthesia providers as shown in a survey of more than 300 hospitals by the American Hospital Association. The survey revealed that 47 percent of respondent hospitals experienced a shutdown or reduction in operating room hours due to a shortage of anesthesia personnel. A recent national study of the supply and demand of CRNAs was conducted to determine current supply and demand and to forecast future needs. Overall, there is a slightly higher vacancy rate for CRNAs in hospitals than in ambulatory surgical centers. The supply of CRNAs has increased in recent years stimulated by an increase in the number of nurse anesthetists being educated. According to the Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs (COA), enrollment in nurse anesthesia programs has doubled from 900 to 1,900 since 1999 primarily due to efforts of the national organization to open new programs due to the manpower shortage. It is hoped that an increase in the supply of CRNAs in relation to surgeries may result in fewer vacancies if current trends continue. Unfortunately, the increase in graduates has not been enough to offset the number of retiring CRNAs to establish a lower mean age in the profession. The current mean age is 48 years, thus providing a workforce with many individuals close to retirement age. The national manpower study projected that the average age will continue to increase for CRNAs in the near future despite the increased number of graduates. This projection is particularly true for CRNA faculty with many anticipated retirements over the next decade. Employment: CRNAs practice in every setting in which anesthesia is delivered; traditional hospital surgical suites and obstetrical delivery rooms; critical access hospitals; ambulatory surgical centers; the offices of dentists, podiatrists, ophthalmologists, and plastic surgeons; and the U.S. Military, Public Health Services and Veterans Administration healthcare facilities. They may practice on a solo basis, in groups and collaboratively. Some CRNAs have independent contracting arrangements with physicians or hospitals. The American Association of Nurse Anesthetists' 2002 Membership Survey reported that 40% of CRNAs are employed as group employees, 33% are hospital employees, 13% are independent contractors, 6% are owners or partners in a practice, and 4% practice in the military or government. In 44 Georgia counties, with populations ranging from 5,000 to 63,000 people, CRNAs are the only anesthesia providers. In 1999, there were an estimated total of over 21,000 births and almost 42,000 anesthetics in these 44 counties demonstrating the importance of CRNAs in rural areas. In 2001, the reported average salary was approximately $113,000.
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| © 2008 The Medical Center of Central Georgia |
