H.R. No. 102



R E S O L U T I O N
	WHEREAS, More than 25,000 certified registered nurse 
anesthetists (CRNAs) are practicing in the U.S. today, and the 
members of this important medical field play a critical role in 
ensuring quality health care to their fellow citizens; and
	WHEREAS, Nurses were the first professional group to 
specialize in and provide anesthesia services, and today they 
continue to administer more than 65 percent of the 26 million 
anesthetics given to patients each year in this country; moreover, 
they remain the sole providers of anesthesia services for 85 
percent of America's rural population; and
	WHEREAS, Texans are well served by the approximately 1,400 
CRNAs currently practicing in the state; many of these esteemed 
health care professionals are graduates of one of the fine nurse 
anesthesia training programs in Texas, such as The University of 
Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Baylor College of Medicine, 
Texas Wesleyan University, and the U.S. Army Graduate Program in 
Anesthesia Nursing at Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio; and
	WHEREAS, The army has prepared top quality CRNAs for more 
than 45 years, and nurse anesthetists have carried the major burden 
of military anesthesia services during every armed conflict of the 
20th century, as it was not until after World War II that sizable 
numbers of physicians entered the field; training all active duty 
army nurses, a number of air force nurses, and, as of 2004, 
Department of Veterans Affairs nurses, the U.S. Army Graduate 
Program in Anesthesia Nursing provides specialized training in 
field anesthesia to ensure that graduates are qualified to deploy 
in time of war, civil disorder, natural disaster, or humanitarian 
missions; and
	WHEREAS, The myriad contributions of the state's CRNAs are 
most deserving of the admiration of their fellow Texans, and it is 
most appropriate to take this opportunity to call attention to the 
vital services that these nurses provide; now, therefore, be it
	RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 79th Texas 
Legislature hereby recognize January 23-29, 2005, as Nurse 
Anesthetists Week and commend the certified registered nurse 
anesthetists of Texas on their important work.

                                                                           Corte

                                                  ______________________________
                                                       Speaker of the House     

	I certify that H.R. No. 102 was adopted by the House on 
January 26, 2005, by a non-record vote.

                                                  ______________________________
                                                     Chief Clerk of the House