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Promotion Of Independent Crna Practice In Rural Areas, Kenneth Hinkle

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Promotion of Independent CRNA Practice in Rural Areas

Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs) provide the majority of anesthesia care in rural areas across the United States (Seibert, Alexander, & Lupien 2004). No federal mandate exists which states CRNAs must be supervised, yet some facilities require CRNAs to be supervised by anesthesiologists. CRNAs are equally safe in providing anesthesia care as physician anesthesiologists (Dulisse & Cromwell, 2010). Yet many policy makers and hospital administrators are unaware that regulations permit the safe, cost effective care of CRNAs. Indeed, many facilities are facing pressure to allow anesthesiologists to oversee practice, even in many …