Arkansas Association of Nurse Anesthetists

10/16/2026

💉 World Anesthesia Day | October 16, 2026

On October 16, 1846, William T. G. Morton successfully demonstrated ether anesthesia at the historic Ether Dome inside Massachusetts General Hospital. This milestone forever changed the practice of medicine, making surgery safer and more accessible.

Today, 180 years later, we recognize the advancements in anesthesia and the professionals who continue to shape its future.

A Few Facts About CRNAs in Arkansas

🌾 1. CRNAs are essential to rural healthcare.
In many rural Arkansas communities, CRNAs play a critical role in maintaining access to surgical, obstetric, and emergency anesthesia services, allowing patients to receive essential care closer to home.

💪 2. CRNAs provide comprehensive anesthesia care.
CRNAs are educated and trained to provide general anesthesia, regional anesthesia, sedation, and pain management. Their expertise extends throughout the entire anesthesia experience, from preoperative assessment to postoperative recovery.

🏥 3. Arkansas is a CRNA opt-out state.
Arkansas became the 23rd state in the nation to opt out of the federal Medicare physician-supervision requirement for CRNAs. This designation supports flexibility in anesthesia care delivery while maintaining applicable state scope-of-practice and facility requirements.

🎓 4. CRNAs are highly educated advanced practice nurses.
Today’s CRNA graduates complete doctoral-level education, building upon their nursing education and critical care experience to provide specialized anesthesia care.

❤️ 5. CRNAs serve patients across a wide range of healthcare settings.
From operating rooms and labor and delivery units to endoscopy suites, cardiac procedures, and emergency care, CRNAs are an integral part of healthcare delivery throughout Arkansas.

From rural community hospitals to major medical centers, Arkansas CRNAs remain committed to providing safe, high-quality anesthesia care and improving access to healthcare for the patients and communities they serve.

The Arkansas Association of Nurse Anesthetists is proud to recognize the contributions of CRNAs on World Anesthesia Day.

10/14/2026

CRNAs are safely providing anesthesia for Arkansans throughout the state, many times as sole providers. This directly impacts the ability of rural hospitals to remain open and available to serve our friends, family, and neighbors. Thank you to all of the wonderful CRNAs in Arkansas for keeping hospitals open, allowing people to get the treatment and care they need!

Before, during, and after surgery, CRNAs are essential members of the team, focused on patient safety throughout the entire procedure.

09/29/2026

09/25/2026

Did you know there are more than 900 CRNAs currently practicing across the Great State of Arkansas?

From hospitals and surgery centers to pain management clinics and beyond, Arkansas CRNAs are providing safe, high-quality, and cost-effective anesthesia care in communities across our state.

Thank you to all of the incredible CRNAs in Arkansas for caring for our friends, family, and neighbors every day! ❤️💙

We’re proud to call you Arkansas CRNAs!

09/18/2026

Have you marked your calendars yet? Spring Meeting is April 9-11 at the Graduate in Fayetteville. AANA President Tracy Young is already coming. What topics/speakers would you love us to include? Planning now!

09/11/2026

We would like to welcome ARANA’s new President, Race Shelby. Race has been a CRNA for 7 years and has served on the board for nearly all 7 of those years. Thank you for all the hard work you’ve already done for ARANA, and for stepping in to this new role.

09/03/2026

Some of us have really strong feelings about this. Let us know which one YOU are reaching for!

08/27/2026

Arkansas SRNAs representing at AANA Annual Congress 2026!

Students from Arkansas State University (ASTATE) and the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) came together at this year’s AANA Annual Congress for a week of learning, connecting, networking and representing the future of nurse anesthesia in Arkansas!

From learning new things and attending hands-on workshops to visiting the historic site where anesthesia was first publicly (documented) demonstrated, it was an experience not soon to be forgotten. We’re also proud to celebrate one of our Arkansas students who received one of the foundation scholarships during the Congress!

It was so great to see both Arkansas programs represented and students supporting one another along the way. While we may come from different schools, we share the same passion for anesthesia and the future of our profession. And we are very proud of our Arkansas SRNAs!

09/06/2025

Come tailgate with us today at the game! Corporate tailgate area spot 58.

04/23/2024