WHEREAS, Nurse anesthetists have been rendering quality anesthesia services in Rhode Island and the nation for more than a century, demonstrating an impressive patient care safety record throughout that period; and

WHEREAS, Today's Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs) administer more than 65 percent of the anesthetics given to patients each year in the United States, providing anesthesia for all types of surgical cases. CRNAs are the sole anesthesia providers in 85 percent of rural hospitals, affording these medical facilities obstetrical, surgical, and trauma stabilization capabilities; and

WHEREAS, Founded in 1931, the American Association of Nurse Anesthetists (AANA) is the professional association representing Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists nationwide. The AANA has produced educational and practice standards, implemented a certification process for nurse anesthetists since 1945, and developed accreditation programs for nurse anesthesia education since 1952. The AANA continues to update educational and practice standards, issues position statements and guidelines, and modernizes accreditation, certification and recertification processes; and

WHEREAS, Required to possess a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) or other appropriate baccalaureate degree, a license as a registered nurse and a minimum of one year of critical care nursing experience before being admitted to a nurse anesthesia education program, these dedicated professionals have been pioneers in anesthesia for specialty surgery, particularly related to lung and heart surgery. They have also been intimately involved in the development of equipment for utilizing certain anesthesia techniques; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That this House of Representatives of the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations hereby honors nurse anesthetists in Rhode Island for their historic dedication to serving the state's growing health needs. Established in the late 1800s as the first clinical nursing specialty, nurse anesthesia developed in response to the growing need surgeons had for specially trained anesthetists. Their invaluable contributions to health care have earned these splendid health care professionals the recognition of having January 12-18 proclaimed as NURSE ANESTHETISTS WEEK IN RHODE ISLAND; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and he hereby is authorized and directed to transmit a duly certified copy of this resolution to the Rhode Island Association of Nurse Anesthetists.