title: The role of Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists in the United States.
abstract: Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs) have been providing anesthesia care in the United States (US) for nearly 150 years. Historically, anesthesia care for surgical patients was mainly provided by trained nurses under the supervision of surgeons until the establishment of anesthesiology as a medical specialty in the US. Currently, all 50 US states utilize CRNAs to perform various kinds of anesthesia care, either under the medical supervision of anesthesiologists in most states, or independently without medical supervision in 16 states; the latter has become an on-going source of conflict between anesthesiologists and CRNAs. Understanding the history and current conditions of anesthesia practice in the US is crucial for countries in which the shortage of anesthesia care providers has become a national issue.
authors: Department of Anesthesiology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA.
authors: Takashi
authors: T
authors: Matsusaki
authors: Tetsuro
authors: T
authors: Sakai
mesh_terms: D000776:Anesthesiology / Q000193:education / Q000266:history / Q000379:methods*; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D003220:Conflict, Psychological; D049672:History, 19th Century; D049673:History, 20th Century; D049674:History, 21st Century; D006801:Humans; D009719:Nurse Anesthetists / Q000193:education / Q000266:history / Q000600:supply & distribution; D014481:United States; D000078329:Workforce