[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 128 (Tuesday, September 9, 2014)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1365]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




     HONORING DENNIS C. BLESS, CRNA, MS, PRESIDENT OF THE AMERICAN 
                   ASSOCIATION OF NURSE ANESTHETISTS

                                 ______
                                 

                       HON. JANICE D. SCHAKOWSKY

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, September 9, 2014

  Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Mr. Speaker, today I pay tribute to Dennis C. Bless, 
CRNA, MS, of Minneapolis, Minnesota. Mr. Bless will soon complete his 
year as national president of the American Association of Nurse 
Anesthetists (AANA) whose headquarters are located in my Congressional 
district. I am proud that Mr. Bless was elected as the 2013-2014 
president of this prestigious national organization.
  Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs) are advanced practice 
registered nurses who administer approximately 34 million anesthetics 
to patients each year. They work in every setting in which anesthesia 
is delivered, including hospital surgical suites, obstetrical delivery 
rooms, ambulatory surgical centers, and the offices of dentists, 
podiatrists, and specialty surgeons. They also provide acute and 
chronic pain management services to patients in need of such care. 
CRNAs provide anesthesia for all types of surgical cases and are the 
sole anesthesia providers in many rural hospitals.
  As a CRNA for nearly 20 years, Mr. Bless has contributed greatly to 
the health care community in Minnesota and nationwide, serving as a 
clinical nurse anesthetist at Fairview Southdale Hospital in Edina, 
Minnesota. Mr. Bless also serves as an adjunct instructor for St. 
Mary's University of Minnesota and clinical/didactic instructor for the 
Minneapolis School of Anesthesia. He has demonstrated a lifelong 
commitment to his professional education and development. Mr. Bless was 
awarded his Master of Science degree in nurse anesthesia from St. 
Mary's University of Minnesota, a certificate in nurse anesthesia from 
the Minneapolis School of Anesthesia, a Bachelor of Science degree in 
nursing from the University of Minnesota and his Bachelor of Science 
degree in agricultural business from Iowa State University.
  In addition to his service as AANA President, Mr. Bless has held 
various leadership positions in the AANA, including President-elect, 
Treasurer, Director Region 4, and as a member of numerous AANA 
committees. Mr. Bless also serves on the Board of Directors for the 
AANA Associations Management Services and is a distinguished speaker on 
anesthesia topics, lecturing nationwide on the safety, value and cost-
effectiveness of CRNA care.
  During his AANA Presidency, Mr. Bless has been a prominent advocate 
for patients and for the practice of nurse anesthetists before federal 
agencies and members of Congress. He has worked tirelessly to promote 
anesthesia patient safety and the value of CRNAs to our healthcare 
system: recognition of CRNAs as Full Practice Providers in the Veterans 
Health Administration (VHA), proper implementation of provider non-
discrimination requirements, and appropriate recognition of the full 
scope of CRNA practice, including pain management and related services 
in the Medicare system.
  I extend my sincere congratulations to Mr. Bless today on a job well 
done. His service to the AANA, his patients and his commitment to high 
quality health care nationwide are truly commendable. I ask my 
colleagues to join me in recognizing his notable career and outstanding 
achievements.

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