CRNA

Overview of Nurse Anesthesia at Vanderbilt

Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNA’s) are nationally certified advanced practice nurse specialists who have provided safe anesthesia nationwide for over 100 years and since 1909 in Tennessee. Training includes a Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing, a Master’s degree in anesthesia (28 month program) and national certification. Last year CRNA’s performed 65% of all anesthetics in the United States. CRNA’s at Vanderbilt provide anesthesia for all types of surgical procedures including vascular, trauma, neurosurgery, plastics, radiology and special procedures. Anesthesia for cardiothoracic and pediatric procedures is performed by CRNA’s specializing in these disciplines.

CRNA’s at Vanderbilt practice in a collegial environment using the anesthesia care team model, which includes anesthesiologists and anesthesia technicians. Great care is taken to respect the special skills and roles of each member of the team. The team approach to anesthetic management provides an excellent mix of supervision and autonomy for CRNA’s.

Educational opportunities for nurse anesthesia abound. Vanderbilt serves as the primary clinical affiliate of the second largest nurse anesthesia program in the country, Middle Tennessee School of Anesthesia (MTSA). MTSA is an independent institution offering a master’s degree with focus on anesthesia and graduates 70 students per year. Scores on the national certification exam have exceeded the national average for the last six years. The affiliation with MTSA provides outstanding opportunities for those who enjoy teaching both clinical and didactic anesthesia. Six Vanderbilt CRNA’s are on the academic faculty at MTSA, and teach basic to advanced classes including pediatrics, pharmacology, respiratory physiology and pathology management. Student nurse anesthetists perform approximately 7,000 anesthetics per year while on Vanderbilt rotations. CRNA’s also participate in bimonthly case conferences and Grand Rounds, with opportunities for continuing education credit. Vanderbilt is home base for the Advanced Practice Nursing Association, and is represented in the Tennessee Association of Nurse Anesthetists (TANA) by the president of TANA, our own Mark Haffey.

Vanderbilt emphasizes research and innovation and offers the latest advances in informatics and state of the art monitoring. The development of computerized record keeping and easily accessible data enhances patient care and the prompt recognition of changes that may foreshadow untoward events. Clear, concise anesthesia records in electronic file form both enhance legibility and allow rapid retrieval of patient information and vital signs. CRNA’s also have electronic access to the Eskind Biomedical library at the anesthesia machine in every operating room. This resource provides unrivaled access to the latest information on new drugs, technologies, and the diagnosis and management of disease. Vanderbilt truly offers a glimpse of the operating room of the future.

Meet our CRNAs