What is a CRNA?

Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists, or CRNAs, are advanced care providers. Their training usually consists of an undergraduate nursing degree, at least one year of critical care nursing in an intensive care unit, and additional formal education (usually two or more years) specific to anesthesia. 

Nurse anesthesia school is competitive, with the number of applicants far outnumbering the number of positions every year. While there are no fellowships for CRNAs, they are able to “specialize” by the type of practice they choose. The anesthesiologists and CRNAs at Children’s Hospital work as a team, so children having surgery at our pediatric medical center will meet several anesthesia providers. The CRNAs at Children’s Hospital are: