CANA Commends California Board of Registered Nursing

(Sacramento, CA)—California Association of Nurse Anesthesiology (CANA) President Emily Francke, CRNA today issued the following statement commending the California Board of Registered Nursing (BRN) for their unanimous vote in support of AB 876 (Flora) during their board meeting on March 20, 2025:

“AB 876 makes it abundantly clear how critical a role Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists / Anesthesiologists (CRNAs) play in California. The BRN’s unanimous support for this crucial piece of legislation underscores their commitment to patient safety and strengthening California’s anesthesia workforce.

“Despite our longstanding independence, special interests are purposefully exploiting misinterpretations of state statute to challenge CRNAs’ established practice, risk patient safety, and undermine patient access to timely and affordable anesthesia care. By providing legislative clarity and codifying existing statutes in one place, AB 876 will help avoid confusion, protect patient access, and prevent costly and unnecessary disruptions in anesthesia care.

“CANA remains dedicated to advocating for policies that safeguard the ability of CRNAs to practice to the full extent of their education and training. Ahead of the March 20 meeting, more than 200 CRNAs contacted the BRN to ensure they understood the urgency and critical importance of this legislation. Together, under the umbrella of CANA, California CRNAs will remain focused on expanding access to anesthesia care while ensuring that patients receive the highest quality of care possible.”