VA Health Care: Many Medical Facilities Have Challenges in Recruiting and Retaining Nurse Anesthetists

Abstract

Certified registered nurse anesthetists (CRNA), registered nurses who have completed a masters degree program in nurse anesthesia, provide the majority of anesthesia care veterans receive in VA medical facilities. While the demand for CRNAs is anticipated to increase, many CRNAs employed by VAVA CRNAsare nearing retirement eligibility age. Concerns have been raised about the challenges VA may face in maintaining its VA CRNA workforce. GAO (1) identified VA CRNA workforce challenges that VA medical facilities may experience related to VA CRNAs, (2) identified the key mechanisms that VA medical facilities can use to recruit and retain VA CRNAs, and (3) determined the extent to which facilities use the key mechanisms. To identify VA CRNA workforce challenges, GAO analyzed Web-based surveys it sent to VA chief anesthesiologists, VA human resources officers, and VA CRNAs, with survey response rates of 92, 85, and 76 percent, respectively. GAO also identified the key mechanisms VA medical facilities can use to recruit and retain VA CRNAs and the extent that these mechanisms are used.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Dec 01, 2007
Accession Number
AD1106120

Entities

People

  • Laurie E. Ekstrand

Organizations

  • United States Government Accountability Office

Tags

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Attrition
  • Congress
  • Department Of Defense
  • Department Of Veterans Affairs
  • Employment
  • Geographic Regions
  • Governments
  • Health Care
  • Health Services
  • Human Resources
  • Law
  • Medical Personnel
  • Personnel Management
  • Physicians
  • Students
  • United States
  • United States Government

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