TANA Mission Statement

Advancing patient safety and the profession of Nurse Anesthesia. The Texas Association of Nurse Anesthetists is a not for profit association whose mission isto advance the profession of nurse anesthesia, enhance the art and science of anesthesiology, and facilitate the provision of accessible, affordable, high quality health care. Its goals include facilitating cooperation between nurse anesthetists and the medical profession, hospitals, health care providers, and other agencies interested in anesthesia. The membership is limited to Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs) who are members of the American Association of Nurse Anesthetists (AANA). CRNAs are advanced practice nurses registered by the Texas State Board of Nurse Examiners. Certification of a nurse anesthetist is granted through the American Association of Nurse Anesthetists Council on Certification. CRNAs must hold a current state license as a registered nurse, graduate from an approved educational program, successfully complete the certification examination and comply with continuing education requirements for recertification.  Nurses were the first professional group to specialize in and provide anesthesia services in the United States in the 1880’s. It was a CRNA who provided anesthesia for the first lung resection performed at Barnes Hospital in St. Louis and for the first “blue baby” heart procedure a John’s Hopkins in Baltimore. Today there are over 27,000 CRNAs practicing throughout the United States, of which, some 2700 are located in Texas. Over three million of Texas’ rural population in 74 counties throughout Texas, are serviced solely by CRNAs when they obtain health care at or close to home.