About CANA

Nurse Anesthesia is no longer the best-kept secret in health care. Established in the late 1800s as the first clinical nursing specialty, nurse anesthesia developed in response to the growing need surgeons had for anesthetists. Certified Register Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs) and the American Association of Nurse Anesthetists (AANA) have played a significant role in developing the practice of anesthesia. Today, more than 42,000 nurse anesthetists provide cost-effective high-quality patient care that is essential to America's health care system. There are currently over 450 CRNAs in the state of Connecticut providing anesthesia in Hospitals, Outpatient Centers and Clinics.

CANA Officers

• President: Pauleen Consebido
• Vice President: Trish Labieniec
• Treasurer: Toby McPherson
• Secretary: Denise Bolduc

Board of Trustees

• Rich Amione
• Ann Bassett
• Antonio Cavicchia
• Pauleen Consebido
• Sharon Creighton
• Octavio Goncalves
• Leo LeBel
• Ellen Monforte
• Donna Sanchez

About AANA

Founded in 1931, the American Association of Nurse Anesthetists (AANA) is the professional association representing more than 40,000 Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs) and student nurse anesthetists nationwide. The AANA promulgates education and practice standards and guidelines, and affords consultation to both private and governmental entities regarding nurse anesthetists and their practice. The AANA Foundation supports the profession by awarding education and research grants to students, faculty and practicing CRNAs. More than 90 percent of the nation's nurse anesthetists are members of the AANA.

The AANA developed and implemented a certification program in 1945 and instituted a recertification program in 1978. It established a mechanism for accreditation of nurse anesthesia educational programs in 1952, which has been recognized by the U.S. Department of Education since 1955. In 1975, the AANA was a leader among professional organizations in the United States by forming autonomous multidisciplinary councils with public representation for performing the profession's certification, accreditation, and public interest functions. Today, the CRNA credential is well recognized as an indicator of quality and competence.

Information provided by American Association of Nurse Anesthetists
www.aana.com