About AKANA

The Alaska Association of Nurse Anesthesiology (AKANA) is the state organization representing over 100 Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs) in Alaska. CRNAs practice in every setting where anesthesia is available and are the primary providers of anesthesia care in rural America including rural Alaska. They administer every type of anesthetic, and provide care for every type of surgery or procedure, from open heart to cataract to pain management.

Alaskan CRNAs are widely disbursed from as far south as Ketchikan and to the north in Kotzebue. Anchorage has the largest concentration of CRNA’s in the state. Military CRNA’s practice at the two major military instillations in Alaska, Joint Base Elmendorf Richardson (JBER) and Bassett Army Hospital on Fort Wainwright in Fairbanks.

Alaskan CRNAs are widely disbursed from as far south as Ketchikan and to the north in Kotzebue. Anchorage has the largest concentration of CRNA’s in the state. Military CRNA’s practice at the two major military instillations in Alaska, Joint Base Elmendorf Richardson (JBER) and Bassett Army Hospital on Fort Wainwright in Fairbanks.

As advanced practice nurses, Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNA’s) Administer more than 49 million anesthetics in the United States each year. The AKANA is affiliated with the national organization the American Association of Nurse Anesthetists (AANA) and is dedicated to promoting the CRNA profession and advancing the art and science of anesthesia by:

• Providing continuing education information for our members and other CRNA’s.
• Developing and promoting educational and practice standards that support and enhance cost-effective, quality anesthesia care for the patients, payers, allied health professionals and physicians we serve.
• Providing patient education and information about anesthesia options.
• Monitoring and maintaining an active presence in state and national CRNA practice issues. Engaging state and federal lawmakers, regulatory agencies and those who shape healthcare policy and healthcare legislative issues.
• Promoting partnerships with the community and liaisons with other healthcare professions to integrate and promote practice and healthcare quality issues.