Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs) are in an "Advanced Practice" nurse specialty. They are nurse anesthetists that are certified/liscenced by a nationally recognized body. Nurse anesthetists or certified registered nurse anesthetists are licensed professional nurses (RNs) who undergo extensive training, become nationally certified by exam after graduation, and then provide services similar to an anesthesiologist. In the United States anesthesiology or anesthesia care is provided by two specialty groups, nurse anesthetists and anesthesiologists (physicians).
The leading national association is the American Association of Nurse Anesthetists: aana.com.
