History

NJANA represents more than 600 Advanced Practice Nurse (APN with a specialty in anesthesia) or Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs) and student nurse anesthetists practicing in New Jersey. Celebrating its 70th anniversary in 2009, the NJANA promotes safe, cost-effective anesthesia care for surgical, obstetrical, and trauma patients across the state. The association also provides educational and networking opportunities for its members. NJANA works to protect APN/ CRNA scope of practice through extensive lobbying efforts at the state and national levels. CRNAs have been providing anesthesia care since the Civil War. In New Jersey, CRNAs care for patients in community and university-based hospitals, ambulatory surgery centers, and physicians’ offices. CRNAs are the predominant anesthesia providers in the military, and many New Jersey CRNAs are currently serving their country overseas.

To be certified as an Advanced Practice Nurse a nurse must:

• Be a registered nurse (possessing a bachelor's degree in nursing and passing board certification)
• Have a master's or doctorate-level graduate degree
• Have at least one year of experience working in an intensive care unit.

The NJANA is affiliated with the American Association of Nurse Anesthetists, a professional association representing the nation’s 39,000 nurse anesthetists.