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          R E S O L U T I O N
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               WHEREAS, Nurse anesthetists were the first professional  | 
      
      
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        health care workers to provide anesthesia in the United States, and  | 
      
      
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        they compose the oldest recognized group of advanced-practice  | 
      
      
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        registered nurse specialists in this country; and | 
      
      
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               WHEREAS, These registered nurses have completed a rigorous,  | 
      
      
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        graduate-level course of academic and clinical study in a  | 
      
      
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        nationally accredited program of nurse anesthesia; following  | 
      
      
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        graduation, they are qualified to take the national certifying  | 
      
      
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        examination; and | 
      
      
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               WHEREAS, All graduates of nurse anesthesia educational  | 
      
      
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        programs receive a master's degree, and those who successfully pass  | 
      
      
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        the certifying exam are awarded the title of certified registered  | 
      
      
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        nurse anesthetist (CRNA); and | 
      
      
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               WHEREAS, According to the American Association of Nurse  | 
      
      
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        Anesthetists, the majority of rural hospitals rely on CRNAs to  | 
      
      
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        provide anesthesia care; without these advanced-practice nurses,  | 
      
      
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        numerous facilities would be unable to maintain trauma  | 
      
      
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        stabilization, surgical, and obstetrical capabilities, a  | 
      
      
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        circumstance that would force many rural Americans to travel long  | 
      
      
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        distances to obtain such services; and | 
      
      
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               WHEREAS, CRNAs are employed in a wide variety of settings,  | 
      
      
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        including hospitals, ambulatory surgical centers, physicians'  | 
      
      
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        offices, and medical facilities of the U.S. military, Department of  | 
      
      
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        Veterans Affairs, and Public Health Service; each year, the CRNAs  | 
      
      
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        working in these facilities are the hands-on providers of  | 
      
      
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        approximately 34 million anesthetics given to patients in the  | 
      
      
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        United States; and | 
      
      
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               WHEREAS, The delivery of health care in this country is  | 
      
      
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        dependent, in large measure, on the work of certified registered  | 
      
      
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        nurse anesthetists, and it is indeed fitting that they be honored  | 
      
      
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        for the crucial role that they fulfill; now, therefore, be it | 
      
      
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               RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 84th Texas  | 
      
      
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        Legislature hereby recognize January 25-31, 2015, as Nurse  | 
      
      
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        Anesthetists Week in Texas and extend deep appreciation to all  | 
      
      
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        certified registered nurse anesthetists for the great skill and  | 
      
      
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        dedication they bring to their challenging vocation. |