CRNA Scope of Practice on State-by-State Basis (2024)

Hi there!

Welcome to another fun and informative article from the nurse code.

Today’s article will delve deep into the CRNA scope of practice by state topic.

In particular, we will highlight the following:

• CRNA scope of practice, duties, and responsibilities: state-by-state

We guarantee that you will be clear of the duties, responsibilities, and limits of CRNA jobs across different states by the end of this fun and informative read.

Let’s jump right in.

Introduction to CRNA Scope of Practice

Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNA) are highly skilled and in-demand Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRNs) who provide vital anesthesia services.

According to the American Association of Nurse Anesthetists (AANA), CRNAs administer over 50 million anesthetics annually in obstetrics, dentistry, surgical centers, orthopedics, critical care, and diagnostic departments.

The nurse anesthesiology practice follows the CRNA scope of practice that spells out nurse anesthesiologists’ roles, duties, and responsibilities.

The scope of nurse anesthesia practice pursuant to the nurse practice act state and federal regulations.

Continue reading to understand the AANA scope of practice by each state.

CRNA scope of practice in Alabama

Alabama nurse anesthesiologists are responsible for preparing, administering, and monitoring anesthetic services to patients.

The Alabama anesthesia nurse’s responsibility includes:

• Performing epidurals and other anesthetic medical procedures
• Offering postoperative anesthetic care
• Assessing and documenting patient preoperative medical conditions
• Treating any anesthetic-related disease and disorders

Although CRNAs can independently operate anesthetic practices in Alabama, they still require physician supervision.

Alaska CRNA scope of practice

Alaska nurse anesthetists are responsible for:

• Providing pre and post-operative anesthetic care
• Arrest anesthetic related medical emergencies
• Conduct health pre-assessment
• Prescribe anesthetist recovery drugs
• Formulate pain management plans
• Perform anesthetist medical procedures (epidurals, intubation)

Alaska nurse anesthetists operate independently without direct physician supervision.

Arizona CRNA scope of practice

CRNAs in Arizona operate independently and dont require the supervision of physicians or surgeons to dispense anesthesia services to patients.

According to the Arizona board of nursing, CRNA’s job duties include:

• Conducting pre and post-operative anesthetic care
• Administer pain management protocols
• Provide anesthetic services during medical procedures
• Intubate, manage airways and monitor patent vitals during surgery
• Treat and control anesthetic emergencies and diseases

Arizona nurse anesthetists are limited to providing anesthesia-related services and can’t perform complex surgeries or prescribe medications for non-anesthesia related medical conditions

California CRNA scope of practice

California anesthetic nurse practitioners operate independently without the physician’s supervision and provide the following services:

• Conduct patient pre-anesthesia assessment, including obtaining pertinent patient information, administering pre-anesthetic medication, and developing anesthetic plans
• Initiating, administering, and terminating anesthetic techniques for patients
• Selecting, deploying, and continuously monitoring invasive and non-invasive patient monitoring systems
• Select, and administer anesthetic management drugs, adjuvant, and fluids
• Arrest emergencies during anesthetic procedures, including resuscitation, airway management, and administering emergency drugs
• Implement postanesthesia care and discharge protocols

Colorado CRNA scope of practice

Colorado nurse anesthetists operate independently without direct supervision, and their duties include:

• Maintaining anesthesia during surgery
• Assessing patient condition before, during, and after surgery
• Develop pain management plans for people with chronic pain
• Overseeing anesthesia recovery
• Participate in preoperative patient conference
• Develop a postoperative anesthesia recovery plan

Connecticut CRNA scope of practice

CRNAs in Connecticut work under the direct supervision of physicians and anesthesiologists.

The role of CRNA in Colorado includes:

• Administering general and specialized anesthesia under doctor supervision
• Monitoring patient vitals during medical procedures
• Participate in the pre and post health assessment
• Facilitate patient’s anesthesia recovery
• Sedate and maintain proper anesthetic levels during surgery
• Respond to anesthesia-related complications with a physician’s assistance

Delaware nurse anesthetist scope of practice

Delaware CRNAs can work independently without direct supervision of physicians and provide the following anesthetic services:

• Conduct patient assessment before surgery
• Administer and maintain anesthesia during surgery
• Prepare pain management plans
• Offer postoperative anesthetic services
• Safely terminate and flush anesthesia from patients
• Participate inpatient conference
• Advise, and direct patients on best anesthesia medication practices

Florida CRNA scope of practice

Florida anesthesia nurse practitioners provide critical anesthesia services under the supervision of qualified anesthesiologists.

Florida CRNA roles and responsibilities include:

• Develop and provide holistic pain management plans to patients
• Provide preoperative anesthetic services, including patient briefing, counseling, and other preoperative health checks
• Develop and initiate sedation during medical procedures while monitoring patient health using monitoring devices
• Provide postoperative anesthetic patient care, including prescribing post-anesthesia drugs and patient debriefing
• Perform point of care testing, and collect critical patient information during preoperation
• Liaise and collaborate with other healthcare providers during medical procedures that require anesthesia

Georgia nurse anesthetist scope of practice

Georgia CRNAs work independently and provide the following services:

• Perform preanesthesia assessments and evaluations
• Initiate, maintain and terminate anesthesia treatment
• Postanesthesia care
• Arrest anesthesia complications and emergencies
• Participate in patient education
• Offer clinical and perianesthesia support

Hawaii CRNA scope of practice

Hawaii CRNAs operate independently to deliver holistic anesthetic support to patients in different health care settings.

The roles and responsibilities of Hawaii nurse anesthetists include:

• Administering anesthetics to patients
• Conduct patient’s pre-anesthesia assessment and evaluation
• Emergency medical intervention for anesthesia-related emergencies
• Provide anesthesia education and post-operative care
• Prepare pain management plans

Idaho CRNA scope of practice

Idaho nurse anesthesiologist roles and responsibilities include the following:

• Perform patient evaluation and pre-anesthesia assessment
• Administer, maintain and terminate  anesthesia during surgery
• Offer postoperative anesthesia care
• Develop and implement pain management plans
• Offer patient advice and direction regarding anesthesia

Idaho CRNAs operate independently without the direct supervision of physicians or surgeons.

Illinois nurse anesthetist scope of practice

Illinois CRNAs operate independently of physician anesthesiologists to deliver high-quality anesthetic services to patients.

The roles and responsibilities of Illinois CRNA include:

• Conducting pre-anesthesia evaluation including diagnostic tests
• Administering and maintaining anesthesia during medical procedures
• Terminating anesthesia and offering post-operative support
• Develop pain management plans
• Performing anesthetic procedures including general and specialized anesthesia deployment
• Responding to anesthesia-related emergencies
• Perform pre and postoperative patient conference

Indiana CRNA scope of practice

A nurse anesthesiologist operating in Indiana is required by law to work under the supervision of a qualified anesthetic physician.

Functions of an Indiana CRNA include:

• Perform preoperative and postoperative patient assessment
• Monitor the patient’s condition in the operating room
• Perform anesthetic procedures, including local and regional anesthesia, under supervision
• Perform anesthetic techniques including intubation and epidurals
• Evaluate and monitor machine performance
• Document and record patient and anesthetic procedure information

Iowa CRNA scope of practice

Anesthesia nurse responsibility in Iowa includes:

• Develop and prescribe pain management medication for patients with chronic pain
• Administer, maintain and terminate intraoperative anesthetic medication
• Respond to anesthetic medical emergencies
• Perform preoperative and postoperative patient assessment
• Advice and educate patients on proper anesthetic care
• Perform anesthetic techniques including intubation and epidurals
• Document anesthetic procedure, drugs, and patient information
• Monitor patients’ vitals during medical procedures

Iowa CRNAs operate independently without the physician supervision requirement.

Kansas CRNA scope of practice

Kansas nurse anesthetists are responsible for:

• Developing pain management plans
• Performing preoperative and postoperative patient evaluation
• Administering and monitoring anesthesia during surgery
• Dealing with anesthesia emergencies
• Performing anesthetic procedures
• Participating in patient conferences with other healthcare providers

Kentucky CRNA scope of practice

Nurse anesthesiologists in Kentucky have the legal independence to practice without the supervision of an anesthetic physician.

Some of the CRNA duties in Kentucky include:

• Intraoperative anesthesia administration
• Perform pre-anesthesia assessment
• Preoperative and postoperative anesthesia care
• Manage patient airways and perform other anesthetic procedures
• Resolving anesthetic related medical emergencies
• Documenting, discharging, and providing follow up care

Louisiana CRNA scope of practice

Louisiana nurse anesthesiologists operate under the direct supervision of a physician and perform the following duties:

• Administer anesthetics intraoperatively and monitor patient’s vital signs during surgeries
• Perform patient pre-evaluation, including conducting diagnostic testing
• Document patient’s condition and medical history
• Perform anesthetic procedures under the supervision of a qualified physician
• Offer postoperative anesthetic care
• Monitor anesthetic machines and instruments during surgery

Maine CRNA scope of practice

Nurse anesthesiologists in Maine work under physician supervision and perform the following functions:

• Administer anesthesia
• Performing pre-anesthesia evaluation
• Manage anesthesia recovery
• Deal with anesthesia-related emergency
• Conduct postoperative anesthesia follow up
• Perform supervised anesthetic procedures
• Manage airways and monitor patient vitals

Maryland CRNA scope of practice

Maryland nurse anesthesiologists work under the direct supervision of physicians and are responsible for:

• Administering anesthesia intraoperatively
• Monitor patient vitals during surgery
• Develop pain management plans
• Perform patients pre-evaluation
• Perform postoperative follow-ups
• Conduct patient sensitization education
• Resolve anesthetic related medical emergencies
• Perform anesthetic procedures under the supervision of physicians

Massachusetts CRNA scope of practice

Massachusetts anesthetics nurses work independently to provide vital anesthetic services that include:

• Monitoring patient preoperative and postoperative patient conditions
• Administering anesthesia and performing anesthetic procedures
• Developing pain management plans
• Conducting pre-anesthesia assessments
• Participating in patient education
• Monitoring patient vitals during surgery
• Undertaking postoperative anesthesia care

Michigan CRNA scope of practice

Michigan nurse anesthesiologists work in hospitals, doctors’ offices, ambulatory services, and non-operating anesthesia centers under physicians’ directions to provide the following anesthesia services:

• Administer local and regional anesthesia
• Develop pain management plans
• Coordinate with other healthcare professionals to provide patient education
• Evaluate and document the patient’s pre-anesthesia condition
• Participate in post-operative recovery care
• Resolve anesthesia-related medical emergencies
• Perform anesthesia-related procedures (intubations, epidurals)

Minnesota CRNA scope of practice

Minnesota nurse anesthesiologists operate independently and provide the following services:

• Prescribe pain management medication in collaboration with physicians
• Administer, monitor, and terminate anesthesia medication
• Perform postoperative anesthetic care
• Intubate, sedate, and perform other anesthetic procedures
• Use invasive and mon invasive monitoring techniques to track patients’ vitals during surgery
• Perform pre-anesthesia evaluation

Mississippi CRNA scope of practice

Mississippi CRNAs operate under direct physician supervision, following board-approved protocols and practice guidelines.

The roles of Mississippi nurse anesthesiologist include:

• Performing comprehensive pre-anesthesia evaluation
• Administering pre-anesthesia medication
• Administering intraoperative anesthesia and monitoring patient vitals
• Managing patient anesthesia recovery
• Develops patient plan of care
• Perform anesthetic procedures under physician supervision

Missouri CRNA scope of practice

Missouri nurse anesthetists work under the supervision of physicians in providing vital anesthetic care to patients in different healthcare settings.

CRNA roles in Missouri include:

• Performing pre-anesthesia evaluation
• Administering anesthesia intraoperatively
• Managing patient’s conditions post-operation
• Preparing pain management plans
• Performing anesthetic procedures

Montana CRNA scope of practice

Montana nurse anesthesiologists operate independently of physician supervision and are responsible for:

• Preoperative evaluation
• Administering, monitoring, and terminating anesthesia
• Providing post-anesthesia care
• Using anesthesia techniques to effect sedation and pain management
• Arresting anesthesia emergencies
• Documenting anesthesia procedures

Pennsylvania CRNA scope of practice

Pennsylvania nurse anesthesiologists work under the supervision of physicians and perform the following duties:

• Administer anesthesia
• Perform preoperative evaluation
• Perform the anesthetic procedure under physician supervision
• Provide post-operative anesthesia care
• Deal with anesthesia-related complications
• Arrest anesthesia related emergencies

New Mexico CRNA scope of practice

New Mexico nurse anesthesiologists work independently and are responsible for:

• Evaluating patients before administering anesthesia
• Administering and maintaining anesthesia during surgery
• Providing post-operative care
• Dealing with anesthesia-related infections and diseases
• Documenting the patient history and treatment plans

Texas CRNA scope of practice

The role of a nurse anesthetist in Texas involves providing critical anesthesia services to patients, including:

• Provide pre and post-operative anesthesia care
• Administer pain medication to patients
• Perform anesthesia-related medical procedures (sedation, intubation, epidural, regional anesthesia)
• Monitor patient conditions and vital signs during surgery
• Order diagnostic tests and develop anesthesia plans
• Advise patients on the anesthetic services

Virginia CRNA scope of practice

Virginia nurse anesthesiologists are responsible for:

• Conducting preanesthesia evaluation
• Administering, maintaining, and terminating anesthesia
• Monitoring patient vitals during operations
• Formulating and implementing pain management plans
• Recording and detailing anesthesia procedures and medication

Washington nurse anesthetist scope of practice

Duly qualified nurse anesthetists in Washington state operate independently without direct supervision of a physician and provide the following services:

• Provide peri and post-anesthesia care
• Perform pre-anesthesia prep (assess and document patient conditions)
• Perform anesthetic techniques on patients
• Prepare pain management plans
• Deal with anesthetic emergencies
• Advice and teach patients about proper anesthetic habits

Wyoming CRNA scope of practice

Wyoming CRNA responsibilities include:

• Conducting preoperative assessment
• Performing anesthetic procedures including epidurals and spinal nerve blocks
• Providing post-anesthesia care
• Document anesthetic medication and procedures
• Prepare and implement pain management plans
• Participate in in-patient treatment plan formulation

Conclusion

Together with surgeons, podiatrists, physicians, and other healthcare professionals, CRNAs provide vital anesthesia care.

Accreditation of nurse anesthesia education programs and passing the CRNA certification examination allow CRNA licensure in their respective states.

CRNA credentialing by national anesthetic bodies ensures that anesthesia providers dispense high-quality anesthesia services.

Please keep reading for comprehensive answers to our reader’s frequently asked questions.

FAQs

References

Canainc.org

Aana.com

Coana.org

Miana.órg

Mn.gov

Virginiacrna.org