PANA President’s Message for CRNA Week in Pa.

Did you know the Pennsylvania Association of Nurse Anesthetists (PANA) represents approximately 4,000 certified registered nurse anesthetists (CRNAs) and student anesthetists? That’s a powerful coalition of highly skilled and trained professionals.

Did you also know that Pennsylvania is among the top draws nationally for CRNA students, with 15 highly rated nurse anesthetist programs spread across the commonwealth? That dedication to education and training – the average nurse anesthetist completes more than 9,000 clinical hours – is what makes us among the most trusted health-care professionals.

This week, we celebrate all the innovative leaders who provide exceptional care to their patients during their most vulnerable moments. But CRNA Week in Pa. isn’t just about thanking you for all you do, it’s also about making sure the entire health-care community and general public take a moment to reflect on your heroic work.

You are the hands-on provider of anesthesia care, practicing in every setting where anesthesia is administered, especially rural and underserved areas, where CRNAs are the primary providers of anesthesia care, often practicing independently.

Nurse anesthetists are usually the last person a patient sees before a surgical procedure begins, and the first they see when they awake. Because of your advanced degrees and a high level of education and clinical experience, you are able to respond quickly to patient changes during surgical and medical procedures, ensuring patient health and safety. That’s why numerous medical studies validate your practice, even for rare and difficult procedures.

Over the next few days, we will pause briefly to praise you as providers of exceptional care and celebrate your work as innovative leaders and advocates for patient care – not just during this hallmark week, but throughout the entire year. So, on behalf of PANA, I want to wish everyone a happy National CRNA Week in Pa.! 

Debra Minzola, Ph.D., CRNA

President 

Pennsylvania Association of Nurse Anesthetists

Certified registered nurse anesthetists provide competent care in the operating room | PennLive letters

Published: Jan. 12, 2025, 10:00 a.m. by PennLive.com

Patients undergoing surgery or procedures requiring anesthesia are safe when cared for by a physician anesthesiologist, a certified registered nurse anesthetist (CRNA), or both. The perceived shortage of anesthesia providers (“Pennsylvania doctors are sounding the alarm over health insurers putting profits above patient care,” Jan. 3) relates to outdated and restrictive laws that prevent CRNAs from practicing to their fullest scope.

Certified registered nurse anesthetists are the hands-on providers of anesthesia care, practicing in every setting where anesthesia is administered. In fact, nurse anesthetists are usually the last person a patient sees before a surgical procedure begins, and the first they see when they awake. They are with their patients for every breath during the procedure.

Because of their training and experience – the average nurse anesthetist completes an average of 9,369 clinical hours of training prior to becoming a CRNA – numerous medical studies show there is no statistical difference in patient outcomes when a nurse anesthetist provides treatment compared to a physician anesthesiologist, even for rare and difficult procedures.

Physician anesthesiologists’ concerns about safety are undermined by attempts to push regulations that would allow a new category of unlicensed and unproven anesthesia providers, posing serious liability concerns for health-care facilities, driving up health-care costs, and doing absolutely nothing to increase access to anesthesia care in rural and underserved areas, where CRNAs are the primary providers of anesthesia care, often practicing independently.

As health-care demands grow, empowering CRNAs to practice to the fullest extent of their education and training is key to containing costs while maintaining the highest level of care.

Jodie Szlachta, Ph.D., CRNA, President-elect, Pennsylvania Association of Nurse Anesthetists

CRNAs from Pa. Take Home Awards During AANA Congress

As if it couldn’t get any better … PANA and Sarah weren’t the only ones to take home awards at AANA’s Annual Congress in San Diego. Other national award winners included:

🏆 Clinical Instructor of the Year:

Rachel A. Wolfe, DNP, CRNA, CCRN, CPN 

University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC) Hamot School of Anesthesia 

• Hear from Rachel below or read AANA's release on the award HERE. 

More Photos of Rachel:

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🏆 Janice Drake CRNA Humanitarian Award:

Dr. Bimpe “Bebe” Adenusi, PhD, CRNA, APRN, CNE, FAANA, FNAP 

Program Director, Cedar Crest College Nurse Anesthesia Program 

• Read AANA’s release about Bebe’s award HERE. 

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🏆Fellows of The AANA Induction Ceremony: 

Dr. Angelarosa DiDonato, DNP, CRNA 

Associated Program Director, University of Pennsylvania 

• Read AANA’s program about fellows featuring Angela HERE. 

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🏆 John F. Garde Researcher of the Year: 

Dr. John O’Donnell, DrPH, CRNA, FAANA, FSSH 

Professor & Founding Chair, Department of Nurse Anesthesia at the University of Pittsburgh School of Nursing 

• Read AANA’s release about John’s award HERE. 

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Once again, congratulations to PANA and all its winning members for representing our profession so well and for bringing home these awards to Pennsylvania! We are so proud of all of you!!! We cannot wait until #AANA2025!