From the Board of Directors Email Banner MY27

September 7, 2026

Dear Colleagues,

Membership Year 2027 is underway, and we are honored to begin our year of service as your AANA Board of Directors.

Two weeks ago, we gathered in Boston for AANA Annual Congress, where we learned together, celebrated our profession, connected with friends and colleagues, and officially began our new Board year. We thank the Membership Year 2026 Board for its outstanding leadership and look forward to building on the strong momentum it created.

As we look ahead to Membership Year 2027, there is much to accomplish. The new AANA Strategic Plan will serve as our true north, guiding the Board’s priorities and decisions as we move forward together. This plan builds on our legacy as it positions AANA for the future by focusing our resources on the initiatives that will have the greatest impact for our members and the profession. Learn more here and stay tuned for updates.

Celebrating YOU on this Labor Day

Labor Day gives us a fitting opportunity to recognize the work you do and the difference you make.

Every day, CRNAs/nurse anesthesiologists provide safe, high-quality anesthesia care in communities across the country—from large academic medical centers to rural and underserved areas. Whether you’re caring for patients, educating the next generation, leading a practice, conducting research, advocating for the profession, or just beginning your nurse anesthesiology journey, you are part of what moves AANA forward.

Thank you for your trust and for all you do for your patients and our profession. We look forward to what we’ll accomplish together.

Happy Labor Day.

The AANA Board of Directors

Note: The AANA offices are closed on Monday, Sept. 7, 2026, for Labor Day. Our offices will reopen Tuesday, Sept. 8, 2026, at 8 a.m. (CT).  Our Help Center has common member requests and answers. 

In This Issue

AANA Upholds the Safety of Spinal Anesthesia
The Results are In! Members Vote on Bylaw Amendments/Resolutions
AANA Staff Meets with Leaders from 17 State Associations at Annual Congress 
Ask Your Legislators to Cosponsor the Ensuring Veterans Timely Access to Anesthesia Care Act (H.R.2234)
MudFlap Takes Top Prize in AANA’s Rm8 iNoV8 Pitch Competition
MY2026 Annual Report Available Online
Are You Registered to Vote?

Significant News

AANA Upholds the Safety of Spinal Anesthesia

The AANA issued the following statement on August 26, 2026.

The American Association of Nurse Anesthesiology (AANA) recognizes the devastating impact of a recent medication error on patients and their families in Nashville. Events such as this underscore the importance of patient safety.  

Spinal anesthesia is a safe, well-established, and effective anesthetic technique that can be administered by Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs), also known as nurse anesthesiologists or nurse anesthetists, for obstetric and surgical pain management. Vigilant, patient-centered care is the hallmark of CRNA practice.  CRNAs are experts in anesthesia delivery, adhere to comprehensive standards of care, and lead as advocates for patient safety.  

It is important to distinguish the safety of spinal anesthesia from medication errors. A medication error does not, in itself, indicate a failure of spinal anesthesia. Medication errors can arise from multiple contributing factors, and adverse events warrant a comprehensive, systems-based review to understand what occurred, identify contributing factors, and strengthen safeguards to reduce the risk of recurrence. A just culture promotes transparency, supports continuous improvement, builds trust, and maintains safety.  Read more.

The Results Are In! Members Vote on Bylaw Amendments/Resolutions

AANA members voted on proposed amendments to the AANA Bylaws following the AANA Business Meeting, held on Monday August 24. See the certified results here.

AANA Staff Meets with Leaders from 17 State Associations at Annual Congress 

AANA staff from the State Government Affairs and State Management Support Services divisions met with leaders from 17 state associations at Annual Congress in Boston. Sessions with state leaders focused on infrastructure and governance issues and state government relations matters, including state board function, legislative and regulatory issues, and working with attorneys, lobbyists and executive directors.  

Ask Your Legislators to Cosponsor the Ensuring Veterans Timely Access to Anesthesia Care Act (H.R.2234)

The Ensuring Veterans Timely Access to Anesthesia Care Act of 2025, introduced by Reps. Jen Kiggans (R-VA) and Lauren Underwood (D-IL) in the U.S. House, would remove outdated and unnecessary barriers that limit veterans' access to timely anesthesia care in the Veterans Health Administration (VHA). This legislation will align the VHA with current Defense Health Agency policy, reduce wait times, increase access to care, and strengthen safety and transparency within the VHA.

This bill will allow both CRNAs and physician anesthesiologists to be autonomous providers of anesthesia, and we need your help to gain support. Urge your Legislator to cosponsor this bill today.

MudFlap Takes Top Prize in AANA’s Rm8 iNoV8 Pitch Competition

MudFlap was named the winner of the third annual Rm8 iNoV8 Pitch Competition, held Aug. 23 at the AANA 2026 Annual Congress in Boston. Brett Garcia, BSN, RN, a nurse anesthesiology resident at Texas Christian University and founder of MudFlap, won the competition’s $15,000 first-place prize and the opportunity to further develop his product with Rm8, AANA’s innovation lab.

MudFlap is a transparent, non-sterile protective overlay designed to be applied over an existing central line dressing. Its non-adhesive center is designed to prevent the overlay from sticking to or disturbing the primary dressing when removed. MudFlap shields the dressing from moisture, secretions, and everyday snags and bumps and can be replaced when soiled, with the goal of reducing unplanned sterile dressing changes. Read more.

MY2026 Annual Report Available Online 

The Membership Year 2026 Annual Report is now available on the AANA | Annual Reports and Survey Results page of the AANA website (member login required). The Annual Report celebrates the work and accomplishments of AANA throughout the membership year, including reports from committees, task forces, and AANA liaisons to other organizations. New this year, the report also includes the work of AANA departments and divisions, providing a broader look at the many ways staff support our members, advance the profession, and help move the Association’s strategic priorities forward. 

Are You Registered to Vote? 

Primary season is underway, and the November mid-term election will be here before you know it. Now is the time to make sure you’re ready for your voice to be heard. You can register to vote, check your voter registration status, get your options for in person and absentee voting, and see who’s on your ballot in your state and district here. 

The following is an FEC required legal notification for CRNA-PAC. Gifts to political action committees are not tax deductible. Contributions to CRNA-PAC are for political purposes. All contributions to CRNA-PAC are voluntary. You may refuse to contribute without reprisal. The guidelines are merely suggestions. You are free to contribute more or less than the guidelines suggest and the association will not favor or disadvantage you by reason of the amount contributed or the decision not to contribute. Federal law requires CRNA-PAC to use its best efforts to collect and report the name, mailing address, occupation, and the name of the employer of individuals whose contributions exceed $200 in a calendar year. Each contributor must be a US Citizen.