Rosemont, Ill. – As a way for undergraduate nursing students to explore the profession of Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs), also known as nurse anesthesiologists, and the work that they do, the AANA is launching a Diversity Anesthesia Pathways (DAP) Tour.
CRNAs and nurse anesthesia residents are hitting the road to educate undergraduate nursing students about the preparedness requirements and benefits of becoming a CRNA, with an opportunity to have firsthand airway experience.
The DAP Tour and its ambassadors will be visiting North Carolina Central University, California State University Long Beach, Grambling State University, Chicago State University, and Alcorn State University.
As part of AANA’s strategic objectives, the DAP Tour aims to familiarize undergraduate nursing students that are underrepresented in nurse anesthesia with the pharmacology, scope of practice, and rigors of the art and science of anesthesia, resulting in a more diverse nurse anesthesia educational program applicant pool, SRNA cohort, and ultimately the CRNA profession.
CRNAs safely administer more than 58 million anesthetics to patients each year nationwide. CRNAs/nurse anesthesiologists live and work at the intersection of patient care, education, and advocacy.
CRNAs provide anesthesia in collaboration with surgeons, dentists, podiatrists, physician anesthesiologists, and other qualified healthcare professionals. When a nurse anesthetist administers anesthesia, it is recognized as the practice of nursing; when administered by a physician anesthesiologist, it is recognized as the practice of medicine. Regardless of whether their educational background is in nursing or medicine, all anesthesia professionals give anesthesia the same way.