THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

HOUSE RESOLUTION

INTRODUCED BY BARRAR, ADOLPH, BAKER, BENNINGHOFF, BOBACK, BRENNAN, BROOKS, CALTAGIRONE, CLYMER, P. COSTA, CUTLER, DELOZIER, DeLUCA, DiGIROLAMO, DONATUCCI, J. EVANS, EVERETT, FLECK, FREEMAN, GEIST, GEORGE, GINGRICH, GODSHALL, GOODMAN, HAHN, HARKINS, HARRIS, HENNESSEY, HICKERNELL, HORNAMAN, KAVULICH, M. K. KELLER, KILLION, KNOWLES, KORTZ, LONGIETTI, MAHONEY, MAJOR, MANN, MARSICO, MILLARD, MIRABITO, MYERS, O'NEILL, PASHINSKI, PAYNE, PETRI, PICKETT, PYLE, QUINN, RAVENSTAHL, READSHAW, ROCK, ROEBUCK, ROSS, SAINATO, SANTONI, SAYLOR, SCAVELLO, CULVER, SONNEY, STERN, SWANGER, TALLMAN, TAYLOR, THOMAS, TOOHIL, VEREB, VULAKOVICH AND WATSON, JANUARY 23, 2012

INTRODUCED AS NONCONTROVERSIAL RESOLUTION UNDER RULE 35, JANUARY 23, 2012  

A RESOLUTION

Designating the week of January 22 through 28, 2012, as "Nurse

Anesthetists Week" in Pennsylvania.

WHEREAS, Nurse anesthetists were the first professional group

to provide anesthesia in the United States and are the oldest

recognized group of advanced practice registered nurse

specialists; and

WHEREAS, These registered nurses have completed a graduate-

level educational program in a nationally accredited program of

nurse anesthesia and after graduation are qualified to take the

national certifying examination; and

WHEREAS, Graduates who successfully pass the examination can

use the title Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA) and,

in addition, all graduates of nurse anesthesia educational

programs receive a master's degree upon completion of the

rigorous academic and clinical curriculum; and

WHEREAS, CRNAs provide anesthesia services in all settings in

which anesthesia is delivered; and

WHEREAS, According to the American Association of Nurse

Anesthetists, more than two-thirds of all rural hospitals rely

on CRNAs to provide anesthesia care, and without these advanced

practice nurses, some 1,500 facilities would be unable to

maintain trauma stabilization and surgical and obstetrical

capabilities, forcing many rural Americans to travel long

distances for such services; and

WHEREAS, Each year, CRNAs working in hospitals, ambulatory

surgical centers, physicians' offices and the medical facilities

of the United States military, Veterans' Administration and

Public Health Service are the hands-on providers of

approximately 32 million anesthetics given to patients in the

United States; and

WHEREAS, The period of January 22 through 28, 2012, has been

designated as "Nurse Anesthetists Week"; therefore be it

RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives designate the

week of January 22 through 28, 2012, as "Nurse Anesthetists

Week" in Pennsylvania to recognize the importance of Certified

Registered Nurse Anesthetists and their role in providing

quality health care for the public.