WASHINGTON – This week, U.S. Representatives Jan Schakowsky (D-IL), David Joyce (R-OH), and Lucille Roybal-Allard (D-CA) introduced a bipartisan resolution recognizing National Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs) Week. Since 2000, the last week of January has been uplifted as “National CRNA Week,” a time to honor the heroic work and expertise of CRNAs and Student Registered Nurse Anesthetists (SRNAs). The over 59,000 practicing nursing anesthetists in the U.S. devote countless hours each year to patient care and safety. This resolution honors CRNA’s hard work and commitment to the well-being of Americans. 

“Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists are essential to our health care system, administering more than 50 million anesthetics to patients each year in the U.S.,” said Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky, a senior member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee. “CRNAs have provided, safe quality patient care since the Civil War, and continue to serve on the frontlines during the COVID-19pandemic. I am so appreciative for the over 1,600 CRNAs in my home state of Illinois, many of whom are the sole anesthetic provider in their county. I am proud to reintroduce this resolution with my colleagues, to honor Student and Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists nationwide for their service and their continued care.”

“It’s only right to recognize the contributions of our nation’s certified registered nurse anesthetists and their important role in providing quality health care for the American people,” said Congressman Dave Joyce, Co-Chair of the Congressional Nursing Caucus. “I’m grateful for all that CRNAs do to ensure the highest levels of patient safety in anesthesia care, especially as we continue to navigate the ongoing pandemic. I’m proud to co-lead the introduction of this resolution marking National CRNA Week and ask my fellow Buckeyes to join me in celebrating the over 2,200 dedicated CRNAs practicing throughout Ohio.”

“I am proud to co-lead this resolution saluting our nation’s 59,000 Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists for the expertise and compassion they provide to millions of patients in need of anesthesia each year,” said Congresswoman Lucille Roybal-Allard, Vice chair of the Labor, Health and Human Services and Education Appropriations Subcommittee. “Decades of research have shown that nurse anesthetists provide the same safe and high-quality anesthesia care as other medical professionals, but at a significantly lower cost to our healthcare system.  In districts across the country, including urban settings like my 40th Congressional District of California, nurse anesthetists are a cost-effective method of helping to curb escalating health care prices.”

“Nearly 60,000 CRNAs and students in nurse anesthesia programs each year deliver anesthesia to millions of patients, in traditional hospital surgical suites and obstetrical delivery rooms, critical access hospitals, ambulatory surgical centers, Veterans Affairs hospitals, pain management facilities, and in our nation’s military service,” said Dr. Dina F. Velocci, DNP, CRNA, APRN, president of the American Association of Nurse Anesthesiology (AANA). “We are appreciative of the recognition the U.S. House of Representatives’ resolution brings to the nurse anesthesiology profession.”