Newswise — Park Ridge, Ill. (AANA) – In honor of National CRNA Week (Jan. 24-30, 2021), Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D-IL), introduced a resolution Recognizing the roles and the contributions of America's Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs) and their role in providing quality health care for the public (H.Res.80). This is the second resolution honoring CRNAs by House representatives. 

The resolution, read in a Committee on Energy and Commerce session this week, highlights the role CRNAs play as the primary providers of anesthesia care in rural America, enabling healthcare facilities in these medically underserved areas to offer obstetrical, surgical, trauma stabilization, and pain management services. The resolution also raises awareness of CRNA practice in the military.  “(CRNAs) have been the main provider of anesthesia care to United States military personnel on the front lines since World War I, including all current United States military actions around the globe. 

It resolves: “That the House of Representatives thanks and promotes the profession of Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs) by encouraging patients, hospital administrators, health care professionals, policymakers, and others to become more familiar with the CRNA credential and the exceptional advanced practice registered nurses who have earned it by participating in National CRNA Week.” 

The American Association of Nurse Anesthetists’ (AANA) Park Ridge office is located in Rep. Schakowsky’s district. 

Last week Reps. David Joyce (R-OH) and Lucille Roybal-Allard (D-CA) introduced bipartisan House Resolution 65 on the House floor, “Recognizing the roles and the contributions of America’s Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs) and their critical role in providing quality health care for the public, especially during the ongoing COVID–19 pandemic.”