Who provides more than 80% of anesthesia in the US?

• A. Physician Anesthesiologist
• B. Nurse Practitioner
• C. CRNA
• D. Certified Nurse Midwife

Answer: (C)

The main idea is who most often administer anesthesia across the United States. Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists are the professionals who provide the vast majority of anesthesia services nationwide. They are advanced practice nurses trained specifically to administer, monitor, and manage anesthesia for surgeries and procedures, including general, regional, and sedation anesthesia. They work in a wide range of settings—especially in rural and community hospitals and ambulatory surgical centers—where they often serve as the primary anesthesia providers. In many environments, their practice can be independent or supervised by physicians depending on state laws, which helps explain why they collectively cover the majority of anesthesia cases. The other roles listed do not typically provide anesthesia as their primary function: nurse practitioners have a broad primary-care focus, and certified nurse midwives concentrate on obstetric and gynecologic care, not anesthesia.