Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists’ (CRNAs) contributions to healthcare go far beyond the operating room. As leaders, innovators, and problem-solvers, they ensure patients receive the anesthesia and pain management care they need—even in the most challenging circumstances.

"I’m constantly inspired by how CRNAs blend their natural compassion and nursing instincts with the advanced skills they gain through rigorous education and training," says Wendy Idoux, Master Recruiting Consultant at Caliber. "This unique combination allows them to deliver exceptional care, often in high-stress or critical environments, where both their expertise and empathy shine. Their ability to provide anesthesia safely while prioritizing their patients’ overall well-being is truly remarkable."

At Caliber, we’re proud to celebrate CRNA Week 2025 and honor the nearly 74,000 CRNAs who play a vital role in delivering exceptional care nationwide. Here are four significant ways CRNAs elevate patient care across the country and continue to shape the future of healthcare.

1. Delivering Expert Care Without Compromise

For over 150 years, Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs) have set the standard for exceptional anesthesia care. Each year, they safely administer more than 58 million anesthetics across a wide range of settings, from hospitals to ambulatory surgery centers and physician offices. CRNAs aren’t just providers—they’re specialists with critical care experience before they even begin formal anesthesia education, making them uniquely equipped to handle complex cases.

What sets CRNAs apart is their ability to deliver high-quality care while improving healthcare efficiency. Their autonomous practice model makes anesthesia delivery more equitable and nearly 25% more cost-effective without sacrificing expertise or safety. By filling critical gaps in anesthesia care, CRNAs ensure patients receive the highest level of care wherever it’s needed.

2. Expanding Access to Care in Rural Communities

In rural America, CRNAs are the lifeline for anesthesia care. In some states, they’re the sole anesthesia providers in nearly 100% of rural hospitals, ensuring patients have access to vital services like obstetric care, surgery, trauma stabilization, and pain management. Nationwide, more than 80% of anesthesia providers in rural counties are CRNAs, with half of all rural hospitals relying exclusively on CRNAs for obstetric care.

Their presence doesn’t just support healthcare access—it sustains entire communities. By enabling hospitals to provide essential services, CRNAs play a critical role in keeping rural facilities operational and financially viable, which in turn supports local economies.

3. Innovating Pain Management and Reducing Opioid Misuse

CRNAs are leading the charge in transforming pain management. By championing multimodal approaches like Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS), they’ve introduced patient-centered, evidence-based techniques that dramatically reduce opioid reliance. ERAS incorporates strategies such as regional anesthesia, peripheral nerve blocks, non-pharmacologic therapies, and non-opioid medications, empowering patients with safer and more effective pain management options.

The results are remarkable: ERAS reduces hospital stays by 3–4 days, saves an average of $880 to $5,560 per patient, lowers 30-day readmission rates, and helps patients return to their daily activities faster. With their innovative practices, CRNAs are not only improving outcomes but also addressing one of the nation’s most pressing public health crises.

4. Serving Military Personnel and Veterans

From the battlefields of the American Civil War to today’s front lines, CRNAs have been the trusted providers of anesthesia care for U.S. military personnel. During World War I, nurse anesthetists were the predominant anesthesia providers on the front lines, a role in which they continue to excel today.

CRNAs have full practice authority in every branch of the military and are the primary anesthesia providers for soldiers, sailors, and veterans. Whether on navy ships, in aircraft evacuation teams, or at forward-operating bases around the globe, CRNAs ensure that those who serve our country receive expert care when they need it most.

Your Impact, Our Support: Elevating Care Together

As we celebrate CRNA Week 2025, we extend our heartfelt thanks to all Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists, including the incredible CRNAs we are privileged to support at Caliber.

We’re proud to connect these dedicated healthcare professionals with opportunities that allow them to deliver exceptional care while achieving greater flexibility in their careers. Whether it’s expanding access to care in underserved communities, leading innovations in pain management, or serving on the front lines of military care, we’re here to help CRNAs continue making a difference in healthcare.

Contact us today to learn how we can support your goals and help you elevate patientcare across the country. Interested in learning more? Click here to read Dayna's story, a Caliber CRNA who leveraged locum tenens to balance her career while fulfilling her goal of owning property in Belize.