The nurse anesthesia profession. A past, present, and future perspective.

The author presents a very detailed description of the history of the nurse anesthetist, including a time line of important dates in history. Discussion of the present state of affairs in nurse anesthesia centers around the practice setting, requirements for attaining Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA) status, and educational qualifications and capabilities. The article ends with a brief history and current status of the American Association of Nurse Anesthetists as well as a discussion about the future of the CRNA.