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Article X of the Delaware Association of Nurse Anesthetists states that "These bylaws may be amended at any annual meeting of this association by a two-thirds vote of those present and voting, provided notice of the proposed amendment has been appended to the call for the meeting and made available, via paper or other electronic means, at least thirty (30) days prior to the meeting date."

The amendment will be reviewed and voted on at the 2023 Annual Meeting on September 30, 2023.

There are a total of seven proposed amendments. Please click here to review the proposed changes in detail.

Delaware patients now have increased access to safe, affordable anesthesia care. The state is the latest to opt out from federal regulations that require physician supervision of Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs).

In a letter to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, Delaware Gov. John Carney wrote, “I attest that I have consulted with the Delaware Board of Nursing and Board of Medicine about issues related to access to and the quality of anesthesia services in Delaware. I have concluded that it is in the best interests of Delaware citizens to opt-out of the current physician supervision requirement, as provided in the federal regulations, and that the opt-out is consistent with Delaware law. This letter constitutes my formal notification of the State of Delaware opt-out.”

The American Association of Nurse Anesthesiology (AANA) reports that the governors of 24 states and Guam have exercised such exemptions for either full or partial opt-out.

“Gov. Carney’s action ensures Delaware’s patients have access to value-based, high-quality care and optimizes healthcare teams by removing barriers and allowing healthcare facilities to maximize their workforce,” said Marshall Colbert, CRNA, president of Delaware Association of Nurse Anesthetists (DANA). “Through this action Delaware recognizes that CRNAs are qualified to make decisions regarding all aspects of anesthesia care based on their education, licensure, and certification.”

“AANA and the DANA applaud Gov. Carney for recognizing the important role CRNAs have in delivery of safe anesthesia care in Delaware,” said AANA President Angela Mund, DNP, CRNA. “Increased demand, limited resources, and a state with a diverse population, both urban and rural, dictate that a system capable of meeting the needs of Delaware residents be maintained. By signing the opt-out letter, this has been achieved.”

CRNAs provide all aspects of superior anesthesia throughout Delaware. Nationally, CRNAs safely administer more than 50 million anesthetics to patients each year working in every setting in which anesthesia is delivered. CRNAs are the primary providers of anesthesia care in rural settings, enabling facilities in these medically underserved areas to offer obstetrical, surgical, pain management, and trauma stabilization services. CRNAs have full practice authority in the Army, Navy, and Air Force and are the predominant provider of anesthesia on forward surgical teams and in combat support hospitals.

As advanced practice registered nurses, CRNAs are members of one of the most trusted professions according to Gallup.

AANA Fact Sheet Concerning State Opt-Outs

The Delaware Institute for Healthcare Education Advancement (DIHEA) will award 11 scholarships of $100 each for students enrolled in a healthcare program in the fall of 2023. The goal of the scholarship program is to encourage Delawareans to pursue careers in healthcare. Students who are planning to pursue a certificate, college, or post-graduate degree in a healthcare field are eligible to apply. DIHEA scholarships can be used on self-care, gas money to clinical sites, fees for testing and background checks, clinical supplies or uniforms, or whatever scholars would like. The application closes on April 30. To learn more, go to www.delawareinstitute.org or contact Bet Wong, MSN, RN, CNOR at scholarships@dihea.org.

We invite you to take an active role in the Delaware Association of Nurse Anesthetists by nominating yourself to serve on the DANA Board of Directors for the 2022-2023 year. If you are interested in serving as a board member, please complete the Nomination Form by Friday, July 1. You must be a member in good standing to be considered for a position.

We are reminded every day by constant challenges in the healthcare system and our changing work environment of the importance of active participation in our state association. Your input is vital to our profession and together, we can continue to make a difference!

Click here to complete the online nomination form.

We invite you to take an active role in the Delaware Association of Nurse Anesthetists by nominating yourself to serve on the DANA Board of Directors for the 2021-2022 year. If you are interested in serving as a board member, please complete the Nomination Form and return it to the DANA office by Friday, July 16. You must be a member in good standing to be considered for a position.

We are reminded every day by constant challenges in the healthcare system and our changing work environment of the importance of active participation in our state association. Your input is vital to our profession and together, we can continue to make a difference!

Click here to download the nomination form.

We urgently need your help! We need you to contact your legislators asking them to support two bills. These bills will advance APRN practice by eliminating regulatory barriers to facilitate access to care for Delawareans. House Bill 21 (HB 21) and House Bill 141 (HB 141).

HB 21 relates to the implementation of an APRN Compact to allow multistate licensure for APRNs. With DANA and multiple other state organizations' support, HB 21 passed out of committee and is now on the House's ready list!

HB 141 is a Companion Bill to House Bill 21 (HB 21).

HB 141:

• Aligns the Delaware Board of Nursing (BON) statute with the APRN Compact

• Removes the requirement for a collaborative agreement for licensure purposes, although employers and health care organizations may still require one

• Amends the definitions of “APRN” and “full practice authority” so that they are consistent with national standards

• Grants full practice authority in conjunction with licensure and removes the current requirements for obtaining independent practice

• Changes the composition of the APRN Committee to include 9 APRNs

• Clarifies the APRN Committee’s purpose (to make recommendations to the Delaware Board of Nursing regarding APRN practices, the Compact, and licensure)

What can you do to help?

• Please consider attending an informative Zoom session on either Tuesday 4/13 or Wednesday 4/14 from 7-830pm to discuss HB 21 and HB 141

• Send an email to your representative in support of both HB 21 and HB 141

• Links to read the bills: House Bill 21 and House Bill 141

• Find your state representatives and senators here: Delaware General Assembly

• Send an email by Fri 4/16

• Consider calling your representative's office

DANA can help you by:

• Providing a template letter to make it easy to send an email supporting these two bills CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE TEMPLATE

• Assist you in finding your representative and email contact on the Delaware General Assembly webpage

We invite you to take an active role in the Delaware Association of Nurse Anesthetists by nominating yourself to serve on the DANA Board of Directors for the 2020-2021 year. If you are interested in serving as a board member, please complete the Nomination Form and return it to the DANA office by Friday, July 10. You must be a member in good standing to be considered for a position.

We are reminded every day by constant challenges in the healthcare system and our changing work environment of the importance of active participation in our state association. Your input is vital to our profession and together, we can continue to make a difference!

Please click here to download the nomination form.

The following letter to the editors was submitted to Delaware newspapers.

 “Being on the front lines” has taken on new meaning during the COVID-19 crisis, but as nurses, the concept of front-line patient care is not new to us. Pandemic or no pandemic, nurses of all types—advanced practice, OR, ER, PACU, ICU, OB, bedside—are the front-line providers who care for patients in their times of greatest need. For the women and men who comprise the community of nurses, patient care is more than a livelihood, it is an honor and privilege. It is a compassionate call to help others who cannot otherwise help themselves. 

May 2020 is National Nurses Month, a time to celebrate these selfless providers. It is both ironic and appropriate that the 200 th birthday of Florence Nightingale, a true infection control pioneer and the founder of modern nursing, was celebrated during the pandemic. “How very little can be done under the spirit of fear,” she once said. Truer words could not be spoken at this time.  

In the spirit of this historic nurse leader, the Delaware Association of Nurse Anesthetists pays tribute to Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs) and nurses of every stripe. To all nurses, thank you for being there for your patients, staying true to your values, and remaining passionate in the face of fear. Patient care is our passion!

Due to the ongoing efforts to mitigate risks associated with COVID-19, The Delaware Association of Nurse Anesthetists is canceling the Spring Conference scheduled for May 2.

In an effort to show our appreciation and raise morale of our military men and women deployed overseas, the Delaware Association of Nurse Anesthetists are organizing a collection of items and letters of appreciation to place in individual care packages addressed to our service members. The care packages will be sent to the10th Mountain Division Forward Resuscitative Surgical Team & 455th Expeditionary Medical Group. One of our CRNAs, David Krasuki, who trained and worked in Delaware is currently deployed and will be accepting our donations on behalf of the group. There are over 300 soldiers in the Med Group and over 1000 at the base! Let's make every effort to send a package to as many of our dedicated service men and women as we can.

Click here to download a list of requested donations.

Click here to view the Amazon Wish List.

We have several DANA members that are serving as the point person to collect items at various facilities in Delaware. Please bring items from the list above to the nearest facility. Please contact Marshall Colbert at marshallcolbert@gmail.com with any questions.

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED

We need volunteers to help pack the boxes. The packing date is Sunday, March 22nd. Please contact Marshall Colbert at marshallcolbert@gmail.com if you are willing to volunteer your time to pack the boxes!