AANA / American Association of Nurse Anesthesiology

11/29/2025

11/26/2025

The AANA offices will be closed on Thursday, Nov. 27 and Friday, Nov. 28 for Thanksgiving. Our offices will reopen Monday, Dec. 1, 2025, at 8 a.m. (CT).

Visit our Help Center for common member requests and answers: https://www.aana.com/help-center/

11/26/2025

“Capping loan amounts for nurse anesthesiology programs will not decrease tuition. Much like physician anesthesia programs, CRNA programs carry the cost of expensive equipment for training, malpractice insurance, and competitive pay for high-quality, experienced faculty. Current students have expressed grave concern, sharing that a $100,000 loan cap isn’t just a policy number on paper, but the difference between becoming a CRNA or a financial barrier pushing nurse anesthesiology out of reach for many.” - Jeff Molter AANA Chair, Board of Directors FY26'

Read more:

The nation’s anesthesia workforce will face a devastating blow if the U.S. Department of Education moves ahead with plans to cap unsubsidized student loans for future CRNAs at just $100,000.

11/25/2025

The U.S. Department of Education is redefining which degrees qualify as “professional,” and advanced nursing degrees are at risk of being left out. That would block CRNA students from the $200,000 professional student loan cap.

With a national anesthesia shortage, and CRNAs providing care in 80% of rural counties, we can’t afford to shrink the pipeline.

Take 60 seconds to ask your member of Congress to sign onto AANA’s letter to Under Secretary Nicholas Kent to ensure the inclusion of the nurse anesthesia profession in the higher student loan cap: https://aana.quorum.us/campaign/148007/

Florida International University
FIU Department Nurse Anesthesiology

11/25/2025

Evidence indicates that when CRNAs are enabled to practice to the full scope of their licensure, access to care is safeguarded and the care experience for veterans is improved.

Veterans Receiving Outpatient Surgery Report Highest Communication Ratings with CRNA Solo Practice in VHA Survey.

Read full study at https://journals.lww.com/lww-medicalcare/fulltext/9900/does_anesthesia_provider_type_affect_veteran.405.aspx

11/25/2025

Read my press release 👇 https://kiggans.house.gov/posts/rep-kiggans-urges-department-of-education-to-roll-back-restrictions-on-student-loans-for-advanced-nursing-degrees

11/22/2025

“Rural anesthesia felt complete. From start to finish the patient was mine to prepare, protect, and guide. That sense of ownership—it just felt right.”

But what struck Jen Chastek, DNAP, CRNA, ARNP, even more deeply was the closeness. In a rural community, a patient might also be your neighbor, your child’s teacher, the waiter at your favorite restaurant, or simply the person you said good morning to in passing the day before.

Read her story on community and care: https://www.aana.com/news/where-community-meets-care-a-crnas-calling-to-rural-health/

11/22/2025

Thank you Congresswoman Jen Kiggans for your support and highlighting the importance of CRNAs and other APRNS.

11/20/2025

With advanced education in anesthesia and a foundation in critical care nursing, CRNAs are uniquely positioned to meet the healthcare challenges of rural populations

AANA proudly honors CRNAs whose dedication strengthens the rural health infrastructure and ensures that patients can receive safe, accessible anesthesia care.

11/20/2025

Bridging the distance: Nurse anesthetists bring essential care to rural communities

South Carolina Association of Nurse Anesthetists

Commentary from the president of the South Carolina Association of Nurse Anesthesiology, who advocates modernizing SC anesthesiology rules.

11/20/2025

“Access is everything. “For someone in chronic pain, a three-hour round-trip drive can be impossible. Being there for patients in rural areas makes all the difference.” Ben Campbell, MS, CRNA, NSPM-C, Lt COL (Ret), USAR, FAANA is bringing relief to patients in rural Arkansas using advanced pain management techniques.

In the late 1980s, he was one of the first people to start performing epidural infusions for post-operative pain in Jonesboro. Read Ben's story: https://bit.ly/3LNX3Do

11/20/2025

Today on , we celebrate the resilience of rural America and the healthcare professionals who make access to care possible.

CRNAs provide more than 80% of anesthesia services in rural areas, supporting everything from surgical care to safe obstetric deliveries and urgent trauma cases.