TheNational Commission on Nurse Anesthesia Education 10 years later--Part 1: The commission years (1989-1994)

The significant decrease in the number of anesthesia providers during the late 1980s prompted American Association of Nurse Anesthetists (AANA) leaders to establish the National Commission on Nurse Anesthesia Education (NCNAE). The NCNAE was charged with scrutinizing all aspects of nurse anesthesia educational programs and developing strategies to reverse the critical shortage of nurse anesthetists. The tactics outlined by the commissioners were implemented, and they resulted in an increase of annual nurse anesthesia program graduates. Although there has been continued realization of NCNAE strategies, 10 years later the critical shortage of CRNAs has resurfaced. This 2-part article describes the commission years, the years that followed, and the current status of Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA) manpower.