A
nurse anesthetist is a
nurse who specializes in the administration of
anesthesia. In the
United States, a
certified registered nurse anesthetist (
CRNA) is an
advanced practice registered nurse (APRN) who has acquired
graduate-level education and board certification in anesthesia. The
American Association of Nurse Anesthetists' (AANA) is the national association that represents more than 90% of the 45,000 nurse anesthetists in the United States. Certification is governed by the National Boards of Certification and Recertification of Nurse Anesthetists (NBCRNA). Education is governed by the Council on Accreditation (COA) of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs.