Tens of thousands of nurse anesthetists helped care for critically ill patients during the COVID-19 pandemic, making certified registered nurse anesthetists (CRNAs).

Tens of thousands of nurse anesthetists helped care for critically ill
 patients during the COVID-19 pandemic, making certified registered nurse
 anesthetists (CRNAs) among the top specialties that served Medicare patients
 in non-telehealth during the first few months of the pandemic, according to a
 <a
 href="https://www.reliasmedia.com/articles/147677-cms-report-confirms-need-for-crnas"
 target="_blank"
 >report</a
 >
 by the Centers for Medicare &amp; Medicaid Services (CMS).



 Even prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, the demand for Certified Registered Nurse
 Anesthetists (CRNAs) was on the rise. And while there are roughly 49,000
 people in the United States who are CRNAs in active practice today, the Bureau
 of Labor Statistics predicts a
 <a
 href="https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/nurse-anesthetists-nurse-midwives-and-nurse-practitioners.htm"
 target="_blank"
 >45% increase</a
 >
 for trained CRNAs in the workforce by 2029. In recent years, the national
 unemployment rate for CRNAs has consistently been lower than 1%, according to
 the Bureau of Labor Statistics.



 As healthcare organizations continue to struggle with the challenges of an
 ongoing, highly publicized shortage of medical professionals, a lack of supply
 of CRNAs to meet increasing demands is top among the most critical. Without
 these skilled anesthetists, patients may face delays or cancellation for
 procedures, longer wait times for care are likely, and organizations may have
 experience the inability to capture additional revenue.



 There are several macro dynamics that support an immediate and longer-term
 demand for CRNA talent.


<h2>Implications for Staff Planning &amp; Modeling.</h2>


 To help shore up supply gaps related to CRNA talent, leading healthcare
 organizations are utilizing on-demand staffing models to ensure more
 cost-efficient and continuous patient care delivery. Locum tenens CRNAs will
 play a valuable role in helping hospitals and other healthcare providers meet
 demand while controlling costs. In fact, a growing number of practitioners
 have purchased malpractice insurance policies for the purpose of working in
 temporary positions.



 As a leader in locum tenens staffing, Cross Country Locums has partnered with
 organizations to enhance their staff planning and resources to meet the
 demands for CRNA talent. To learn more about the current state of the CRNA
 talent market,
 <a
 href="https://www.crosscountrylocums.com/lp-crnas?leadSource=Blog&amp;campaignCode=BLCRNAMKTTREND"
 target="_blank"
 >download </a
 >our latest Market Snapshot: CRNAs.

The Growing Demand For Nurse Anesthetists