Four Forces Behind the Shortage and Six Ways to Respond.
The briefing gives facility leaders a framework for responding before a manageable gap becomes a crisis.
Mass retirement of the existing workforce
Close to 30% of anesthesiologists are expected to leave the field by 2033. Average CRNA age is 47.5, and 12% plan to retire by 2027. New graduates can't offset these losses at scale.
Surging surgical demand from an aging population
The U.S. population aged 65+ will grow 55% over the next decade, driving surgical demand up 2–3% annually. Post-COVID backlogs have further compressed an already strained system.
A constrained and lengthening training pipeline
As of January 2025, all graduating CRNAs must hold a doctoral degree, which extends timelines and reduces near-term graduation volumes. Programs accept only 24% of applicants. This constraint is built into the system and won't ease on its own.
Burnout is pushing experienced CRNAs toward locums or out of the field
When hospitals paid unprecedented rates to locum CRNAs post-COVID, many providers discovered they could earn more and work less by going contract. This structural shift is ongoing.
What facility leaders can do about it.
Use locums as a bridge
Qualified locums in as little as 3 weeks with the right firm.
Diversify your vendors
Boutique CRNA-specific firms often outperform generalist staffing companies on speed and fit.
Invest in retention
Replacing a CRNA costs far more than retaining one. Address flexibility, autonomy, and schedule burden.
+ 3 more strategies covered in the full briefing, including long-term pipeline building and care model evaluation.
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The recruiter who actually speaks your language.
CRNA-to-CRNA matching
Your recruiter is an experienced CRNA who knows what qualified looks like on the OR floor.
~3 weeks to a candidate
The industry average is 90–180 days. We move faster because we start from existing CRNA relationships.
Boutique, focused capacity
We take on a limited number of clients at a time, so each search gets steady attention and prompt follow-up.
Locum + permanent, both tracks
Cover your immediate gap with a locum while running a parallel permanent search, with one partner handling both.
"What set them apart was that they actually understood what we needed clinically. They asked the right questions from the very first call." Sara Gabrick, CNO/COO, Winona Health
Get the Briefing, Then Let's Talk.
Download the CRNA Shortage Briefing above, then book a free 25-minute strategy call. We'll tell you how fast we can help and what to expect.