South Carolina General Assembly

118th Session, 2009-2010

S. 299

STATUS INFORMATION

Senate Resolution

Sponsors: Senator Leatherman

Document Path: l:\s-res\hkl\003nurs.dag.hkl.docx

Introduced in the Senate on January 27, 2009

Adopted by the Senate on January 28, 2009

Summary: Nurse Anesthetist Week

HISTORY OF LEGISLATIVE ACTIONS

DateBodyAction Description with journal page number

1/27/2009SenateIntroduced, placed on calendar without reference SJ12

1/28/2009SenateAdopted SJ19

VERSIONS OF THIS BILL

1/27/2009

1/27/2009-A

INTRODUCED

January 27, 2009

S.299

Introduced by Senator Leatherman

S. Printed 1/27/09--S.

Read the first time January 27, 2009.

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A SENATE RESOLUTION

TO DESIGNATE THE WEEK OF JANUARY 25 THROUGH JANUARY 31, 2009, AS NURSE ANESTHETISTS WEEK AND TO RECOGNIZE THE IMPORTANCE OF CERTIFIED REGISTERED NURSE ANESTHETISTS AND THEIR ROLE IN PROVIDING QUALITY HEALTHCARE FOR THE PUBLIC.

Whereas, Nurse Anesthetists were the first professional group to provide anesthesia in the United States and are the oldest recognized group of advanced practice registered nurse specialists; and

Whereas, these registered nurses have completed a graduatelevel educational program in a nationally accredited program of nurse anesthesia and after graduation are qualified to take the national certifying examination; and

Whereas, graduates who successfully pass the examination can use the title, Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA), and in addition, all graduates of nurse anesthesia educational programs receive a master’s degree upon completion of the rigorous academic and clinical curriculum; and

Whereas, CRNAs provide anesthesia services in all settings in which anesthesia is delivered and are not required by state or federal law to be supervised or directed by physician anesthesiologists; and

Whereas, according to the American Association of Nurse Anesthetists, more than twothirds of all rural hospitals rely on CRNAs to provide anesthesia care, and without these advanced practice nurses, some 1,500 facilities would be unable to maintain trauma stabilization, surgical, and obstetrical capabilities, forcing many rural Americans to travel long distances for such services; and

Whereas, each year, CRNAs working in hospitals, ambulatory surgical centers, physician’s offices, and the medical facilities of the U.S. Military, Veteran’s Administration, and Public Health Service are the handson providers of approximately 30 million anesthetics given to patients in the United States. Now, therefore,

Be it resolved by the Senate:

That the members of the Senate, by this resolution, designate the week of January 25 through January 31, 2009, as Nurse Anesthetists Week in South Carolina and recognize the importance of the Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists and their role in providing quality healthcare for the public.

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