1Recognizing the week of January 20 through 26, 2013, as "Nurse
2Anesthetists Week" in Pennsylvania.

3WHEREAS, Nurse anesthetists were the first professional group
4to provide anesthesia in the United States and are the oldest
5recognized group of advanced practice registered nurse
6specialists; and

7WHEREAS, These registered nurses have completed a graduate-
8level educational program in a nationally accredited program of
9nurse anesthesia and after graduation are qualified to take the
10national certifying examination; and

11WHEREAS, Graduates who successfully pass the examination can
12use the title Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA),
13and, in addition, all graduates of nurse anesthesia educational
14programs receive a master's degree upon completion of the
15rigorous academic and clinical curriculum; and

16WHEREAS, CRNAs provide anesthesia services in all settings in
17which anesthesia is delivered and are not required by Federal or

1State law to be supervised or directed by physician
2anesthesiologists; and

3WHEREAS, According to the American Association of Nurse
4Anesthetists, more than two-thirds of all rural hospitals rely
5on CRNAs to provide anesthesia care, and without these advanced
6practice nurses, some 1,500 facilities would be unable to
7maintain trauma stabilization and surgical and obstetrical
8capabilities, forcing many rural Americans to travel long
9distances for such services; and

10WHEREAS, Each year, CRNAs working in hospitals, ambulatory
11surgical centers, physician's offices and the medical facilities
12of the United States military, Veterans Health Administration
13and Public Health Service are the hands-on providers of
14approximately 32 million anesthetics given to patients in the
15United States; and

16WHEREAS, The week of January 20 through 26, 2013, has been
17designated as "Nurse Anesthetists Week"; therefore be it

18RESOLVED, That the Senate recognize the week of January 20 
19through 26, 2013, as "Nurse Anesthetists Week" in Pennsylvania
20to recognize the importance of certified registered nurse
21anesthetists and their role in providing quality health care for
22the public.