What Does CRNA Mean?
4 min read
CRNA stands for Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist. It is an advanced practice registered nurse who is trained and certified to deliver anesthesia.
Here is what the credential means and what CRNAs actually do.
What CRNA stands for
Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist. The credential means the person is a registered nurse who completed a graduate nurse anesthesia program and passed the National Certification Examination.
CRNAs are advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs), the same broad category as nurse practitioners and clinical nurse specialists.
What a CRNA does
CRNAs administer anesthesia and monitor patients before, during, and after surgery and procedures. They deliver general, regional, and local anesthesia, and manage sedation and pain.
They work in operating rooms, obstetric units, pain clinics, and procedural areas, and in many rural hospitals they are the primary anesthesia provider.
CRNA vs anesthesiologist
Both deliver anesthesia. An anesthesiologist is a physician (MD or DO) and a CRNA is an advanced practice nurse with a doctoral degree. Depending on the state and setting, CRNAs practice independently or as part of a care team.
Frequently asked questions
What does CRNA stand for?
Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist, an advanced practice registered nurse trained and certified to deliver anesthesia.
What does a CRNA do?
CRNAs administer and manage anesthesia before, during, and after surgery and procedures, including general, regional, and local anesthesia as well as sedation and pain management.
What is the difference between a CRNA and an anesthesiologist?
Both deliver anesthesia. An anesthesiologist is a physician (MD or DO), while a CRNA is an advanced practice nurse with a doctoral degree. Depending on the state and setting, CRNAs practice independently or in a care team.