| ABOUT KANA |
The Kansas Association of Nurse Anesthetists (KANA) is a nonprofit association whose purpose is to
advance the profession of nurse anesthesia, enhance the art and science of anesthesiology, and
facilitate the provision of accessible, affordable, high quality care. Membership is limited to
Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNA) who are members of the American
Association of Nurse Anesthetists (AANA). CRNAs are advanced practice nurses registered by the
Kansas Board of Nursing Certification as a nurse anesthetist is granted through the AANA's
Council on Certification. CRNAs must hold a current state license as a registered nurse, graduate
from an approved education program, successfully complete the certification examination, and comply
with continuing education requirements for recertification.
Nurses were the first professional group to specialize in and provide anesthesia services in the
United States (U.S.) in the 1880s. From that time to present, nurse anesthetists have administered
the majority of all anesthetics in all settings nationwide. Nurse anesthetists carried the major
burden of military anesthesia services for the U.S. during every armed conflict of the 20th Century.
During World War I and II, they trained other nurses and physicians from multiple countries as
anesthetists. In fact, it was not until after World War II that sizable numbers of physicians entered
the field.
Today, some 27,000 CRNAs are practicing in all states throughout the U.S. There around 420 CRNAs
actively practicing in Kansas, making up 70% of all providers of anesthesia. CRNAs administer more
than 65% of the 26 million anesthetics given to patients each year in America, practicing in every
type of setting in which anesthesia is delivered, working with and without anesthesiologists. They
are the sole providers of anesthesia services to 70% of America's rural population---about 65 million
people. In Kansas, approximately 110 of the 132 hospitals (83%) providing surgical services rely
solely on nurse anesthetists for anesthesia care.
CRNAs provide anesthesia and pain control in a variety of settings. They may practice independently,
or they may work with anesthesiologists or with other physicians such as surgeons. The language
"supervised" and "anesthesiologist" is not included in the Kansas Registered Nurse Anesthetist
statues. In fact, no state in America requires supervision of a CRNA by an anesthesiologist. In
addition, neither the Joint Commission on
Accreditation of Health care Organizations (JCAHO) nor Medicare require anesthesiologist
supervision of CRNAs.
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