California Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist Workforce Study.

BACKGROUND

Nurse anesthesia in California has been instrumental in shaping Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA) practice nationally, but to date, no workforce data has been published on this group of Advanced Practice Registered Nurses.

PURPOSE

The purpose of this workforce study was to explore the demographic information, education, and practice patterns of CRNAs working in California.

METHODS

Survey methodology was conducted to gather workforce data from a sample of licensed CRNAs working in California.

DISCUSSION

California CRNAs provide anesthesia services in very diverse settings among different anesthesia delivery models, including independent practice. CRNAs practice in a majority of California counties and are the sole anesthesia providers for four underserved counties.

CONCLUSION

The CRNA workforce in California is comparatively young, highly educated, and desires more education. CRNAs improve access to care for California patients; however, more ethnically diverse CRNAs and CRNAs with Non-Surgical Pain Management Certification are needed.