American Association of Nurse Anesthesiology Urges VA to Issue Evidence-Based National Practice Standards

Dru Riddle, PhD, DNP, CRNA, FAAN, president of the American Association of Nurse Anesthesiology (AANA) urged the Veterans Health Administration (VA) to develop National Standards of Practice for Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs) that are grounded in evidence-based education and training standards, not politics, during a listening session on September 21.

America’s Veterans Deserve High Quality Anesthesia Care

During Congressional testimony today, the American Association of Nurse Anesthesiology (AANA) urged the Veterans Affairs (VA) healthcare system to provide the same anesthesia care and services to our veterans as is in place in healthcare systems in 49 states. AANA President-Elect Jan Setnor, MSN, CRNA, Col. (Ret), USAFR, NC, in testimony before the House VA Committee Subcommittee on Health, defended Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists’ (CRNAs’) ability to deliver high-quality anesthesia care to all populations, including the complex needs of our nation’s veterans, as a result of their specialized and detailed anesthesia training.

Dru Riddle Begins Term as President of the American Association of Nurse Anesthesiology

Dru Riddle, PhD, DNP, CRNA, FAAN, a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA), and resident of Fort Worth, Texas, recently took office as the 2023-2024 president of the nearly 61,000-member American Association of Nurse Anesthesiology (AANA), headquartered in Rosemont, Ill.

Annual Ira P. Gunn Award for Outstanding Professional Advocacy Award Presented to Michael MacKinnon

The American Association of Nurse Anesthesiology (AANA) presented Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA) Michael MacKinnon, DNP, FNP-C, CRNA, FAANA, with the 23rd Ira P. Gunn Award for Outstanding Professional Advocacy during its 2023 Annual Congress, August 18-22, in Seattle.

Alabama Patients Have Increased Access to Affordable, Quality Anesthesia Care

Alabama patients now have increased access to safe, affordable care with the signing today of HB 268 by Governor Kay Ivey. The law provides that, in addition to physicians and dentists, Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs) may provide anesthesia care under the direction of or in coordination with a physician, podiatrist, or dentist.

AANA Honors Our Nation’s Veterans, Calls for Increased Access to Care in the VA

This Veterans Day, the American Association of Nurse Anesthesiology (AANA) thanks our nation’s veterans for their service and honors their sacrifices. The AANA also recognizes our military Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs), who are the primary providers of anesthesia care in the U.S. military and often the sole providers of anesthesia in austere environments.

To Provide Safe, High-Quality Care for Veterans, Congresswomen Requests Permanent Full Practice Authority for CRNAs

To expand access to safe, high-quality anesthesia services to veterans during the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond, Congresswoman Lauren Underwood (IL-14) requested that Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs) be granted full practice authority permanently across U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) facilities.