Scot D. Foster writes in A Professional Study and Resource Guide for the CRNA that “profession-alism requires attention not only to developing clinical skills and achieving positive patient outcomes, but also a commitment to serve expertly and unselfishly the interest of the public and one’s self. Professionals advocate knowledgeably and act responsibly.” Over the past four-teen months of my presidency, CRNAs have asked me why I serve, why I’m so dedicated, and what drives me to be a CRNA and a leader? I have asked myself the same questions many times. My career as a Naval Officer instilled in me honor for the organization, commitment for the organization, and integrity for the organization. I love to teach and work as a clinician. I have been afforded both opportunities in my current job and will continue in that direction professionally when I retire from the Navy. I finish my tour as president of the California Association of Nurse Anesthetists in October, and turn the position over to Jennifer Woolley. CANA is in good hands. I have enjoyed serving California and giving back to my profession, and hope to move up in the organization to succeed Evan Koch as Region Five Director. This will require a commitment from myself, and a continued commitment from the CRNAs of California. CANA has 1,281 active CRNAs and our numbers continue to increase. We had a 5%increase in the number of CRNAs during the past year. The trends are looking good for our state organization.

Dr. Foster goes on to say that “leaders and professionals are multi-dimensional, and have behavioral attributes with the core value being integrity. Integrity is an understanding and commitment to exhibit honest, forthright, ethical, value-driven behavior that embodies skills of critical thinking, broad-based perspectives, evaluation of con-sequences and competent justification.” CANA’s board of directors has these qualities. As a team of CRNAs that have advocacy as our fundamental responsibility to the profession, we need your help and your active participation. It can sometimes be difficult for a board of professionals to communicate with such a large group of members. The electronic and paper media are not secure avenues to discuss key issues in our practice. The fall meeting for CANA will be in Berkeley, California, October 8-10. Our usual turn out is 10 to 15% of our membership: We would like to increase that, especially when there are so many important issues to discuss together in person.

We need CRNAs from all parts of the state to attend, participate, and get the word out to all of our members. As an organization, we’re dealing with critical CRNA practice issues that affect office-based practice as well Kaiser and other hospital-based CRNA practice; independent practice as well as anesthesia care team practice. It is up to you as a professional to control your practice: Members must attend, engage, and advocate.

Recently, while reading Watchful Care, A History of America’s Nurse Anesthetists by Marianne Bankert, I was amazed that things haven’t changed much over the years. Nurse anesthetists still annually administer over half the anesthetics in the United States, and we are still the best-kept secret in medicine. CEOs and administrators want CRNAs. We are the front line of our practice, and we should know our practice well. Please take the time to understand the aspects of CRNA practice. Understand the rules, the regulations. Review the CRNA Scope of Practice in California Compendium ( http://canainc.org/members/crna-practice-book.htm ).

Access the CANA web site frequently ( http://www.canainc.org ). Be an advocate for our profession on a daily basis. Ask the tough questions, and get involved, whether it’s in your department, at the state level, or at the national level.

Public relations and governmental advocacy are key areas in growing a successful organization. CANA has voted to fund our governmental advocacy leaders, our attorneys, and our management group. They are doing a great job, but we sometimes forget the importance of public relations. We need to spend more time and resources in this vital area, and focus our attention now on our public relations program.

I hope to see many of you in Berkeley October 8-10, and at future CANA functions: we have an excellent education program, and we have many important issues to discuss together. Talk to a fellow CRNA; discuss the critical issues of our practice. Ask them why they are a CRNA, and then tell a critical care nurse why we have a great profession. Remember, we build our own!!!

Joseph F. Burkard, DNSc, CRNA