Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists at Mayo Clinic are highlighting the role of a patient-first culture in delivering safe anesthesia care in Rochester, Minnesota.
This focus on professional collaboration underscores the critical role CRNAs play in the U.S. healthcare system, where they provide essential surgical support across diverse clinical settings.
Medical Director Dr. Daryl J. Kor and the CRNA team said their practice is built on a foundation of teamwork, respect, integrity, and compassion. This culture is designed to ensure that patient safety remains the primary driver of every clinical decision made in the operating room.
The professional impact of these practitioners is significant on a national scale. There are more than 75,000 [2] certified registered nurse anesthetists practicing nationwide. Together, these professionals administer more than 58 million [1] anesthetics annually in the United States.
At Mayo Clinic, the rewarding nature of the practice stems from the integration of high-level technical skill and a commitment to the patient experience. The staff said a professional environment where mutual respect between different medical roles allows for more efficient and compassionate care.
By focusing on a patient-centered approach, the clinic aims to maintain high standards of quality while fostering a supportive environment for its nursing staff. This synergy is presented as the heart of the anesthesia practice, ensuring that the technical requirements of the job do not overshadow the human element of medicine.
“There are more than 75,000 certified registered nurse anesthetists practicing nationwide.”
The emphasis on a patient-centered culture at a major institution like Mayo Clinic reflects a broader trend in healthcare to prioritize multidisciplinary teamwork. By highlighting the scale of CRNA contributions—specifically the tens of millions of procedures handled annually—the clinic acknowledges the systemic reliance on advanced practice nurses to maintain surgical throughput and patient safety in the U.S.

