Recognize & Elevate Certified Registered Nurse Anesthesiologists: CRNA Week Engagement Kit
Key Facts:
- Workforce: 61,000+ practicing CRNAs; 4,000 SRNAs graduate annually.
- Access: In rural hospitals, CRNAs provide >80% of anesthesia services.
- Quality: Multiple studies show no significant difference in anesthesia outcomes between CRNAs and anesthesiologists in comparable cases.
- Value: CRNA-only models can reduce anesthesia delivery costs by up to 25%, according to CMS analyses.
Editor's Note
This article is part of the BHM Healthcare Awareness Series, designed to provide quick, ready-to-use content and links to official resources for internal staff communications, patient education, and social media.
Feel free to copy, adapt, and share.
Observation Date
January 19 – 25
History & Impact
Launched in 2000 by the American Association of Nurse Anesthesiology (AANA), National CRNA Week spotlights more than 61,000 Certified Registered Nurse Anesthesiologists (CRNAs) and student registered nurse anesthetists who safely deliver 50+ million anesthetics in the United States each year. Hospitals, surgery centers, and rural critical-access facilities use the week to honor clinical excellence, advocate for full-practice authority, and educate the public on anesthesia safety and access.
Why it Matters
- CRNAs are the primary anesthesia providers in most rural and critical-access hospitals, safeguarding surgical access and stabilizing operating-room revenue streams.
- Recognizing CRNAs fosters retention of a workforce the Bureau of Labor Statistics projects will grow 9% by 2032, outpacing overall healthcare job growth.
Quick Actions for Your Organization
For Leadership
Issue a joint proclamation with medical staff leadership recognizing CRNAs and supporting full practice authority where state law permits.
Benchmark anesthesia-related quality metrics (e.g., unplanned ICU admissions, PACU length-of-stay) and share wins in Q1 board reports.
Sponsor CRNA professional-development stipends tied to retention goals.
For Implementation Teams
Download AANA’s “National CRNA Week” toolkit and schedule daily social posts, digital signage, and intranet banners.
Host a “Meet Your CRNA” coffee cart in peri-op areas; display infographics on safety and cost-effectiveness.
Collect short video thank-you messages from surgeons and patients; compile into a 90-second reel for LinkedIn and waiting-room screens.
Resources
Ready-to-Use Assets
The following links provide resources & information for creating internal or external campaigns to support or promote this healthcare observance. Please vet these resources for alignment with your organization.
Talking Points
Copy & Paste Friendly
“CRNAs safely deliver ~50 million anesthetics each year—driving access and innovation in every care setting.”
“Rural hospitals depend on CRNAs for 4 out of 5 anesthesia cases. Supporting them sustains surgical services close to home.”
“Celebrate National CRNA Week by thanking these advanced practice nurses who keep patients safe before, during, and after surgery.”
Disclaimer: Please verify all information, usage rights, and related guidelines with the official observance organizers and your organization’s policies to ensure proper alignment.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q1. How can we measure impact for an internal CRNA Week campaign?
Track social-media engagement, intranet click-throughs, and staff-survey recognition scores; compare peri-op turnover rates pre-/post-campaign.
Q2. What budget-friendly activities for National CRNA Week resonate most?
Virtual shout-outs on clinical dashboards, unit-based poster contests featuring CRNA facts, and leadership-recorded thank-you videos cost little but boost morale.
Q3. When should we kick off internal planning, and what are the first three milestones?
Begin at least 4 weeks out. Milestone 1: form a cross-functional task force (peri-op nursing, marketing, HR). Milestone 2: lock in budget, venue, and digital-asset needs. Milestone 3: finalize content calendar and schedule email/social posts so assets auto-publish during CRNA Week.
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