Formal hospital shadow program
University of Maryland CRNA Shadow Day
Baltimore, Maryland
Structured university-affiliated CRNA shadow day with program-level guidance.
View resource →CRNA APPLICATION STRATEGY
Short answer
The fastest way to find a CRNA to shadow
1. Start inside your hospital
Ask your ICU manager, charge nurses, anesthesia techs, educators, or intensivists whether the anesthesia department allows nurse shadowing. Internal requests are often easier because you already work in the system.
2. Ask for the official process
Do not just ask a CRNA if you can follow them. Hospitals may require approval, confidentiality paperwork, immunization records, badge access, or student-observer clearance before you enter the OR.
3. Keep your request specific
Say who you are, where you work, that you are preparing for CRNA school, and that you are looking for one shift or several hours of observation. A narrow request is easier to approve than a vague open-ended ask.
4. Document what you learned
After shadowing, write down the date, approximate hours, setting, cases observed, and what you learned about anesthesia practice. This gives you specific material for applications and interviews.
The best shadowing request is short, professional, and easy to forward to the right person. You do not need to oversell yourself — you need to make the request clear.
Sample message
How to prepare for your CRNA shadowing day
Before you go
Confirm arrival time, dress code, parking, badge process, and whether you may bring a small notebook. Ask whether meals, breaks, or phone use are restricted in the perioperative area.
During the shift
Observe induction, emergence, airway planning, patient assessment, medication choices, communication, and how the CRNA manages changing physiology in real time.
After you leave
Write down what surprised you, what confirmed your interest, and what questions you still have. Send a thank-you message within 24 hours if you were given direct contact information.
Where ICU nurses can find a CRNA to shadow
There does not appear to be one dominant national website that matches ICU nurses with CRNAs to shadow. The process is still fragmented, so the best approach is to combine local hospital contacts, state CRNA associations, and formal hospital shadowing programs.
State CRNA associations
Ohio, Georgia, Washington, Arizona, and Indiana have all published some form of shadowing help, contact pathway, request form, or host roster. Search your state association first, then contact them directly if no shadowing page is obvious.
Hospital and academic anesthesia departments
University of Maryland, UVA, UNC, and Johns Hopkins have published CRNA shadowing pathways or one-day observer programs. Local academic medical centers are often better leads than broad internet searches.
Recommended search order
Ask your own anesthesia department first, then search your state association, then search local academic medical centers, then contact the state association directly, then use your professional network, and only then cold-email departments.
Questions to ask while shadowing a CRNA
Questions about what you are seeing
What are you most concerned about with this patient? Why did you choose this airway? What are you watching most closely right now? What would make you change the anesthetic plan? What complications are you preparing for even though they are unlikely?
Questions about becoming a CRNA
What surprised you most when you became a CRNA? What ICU skills translated best? What do you wish you had learned before school? What separates ICU nurses who do well in anesthesia school from those who struggle? What would you want me to improve before I apply?
What to pay attention to: the quiet moments
Most people focus on intubation. Watch what the CRNA does when nothing obvious is happening: pre-op assessment, positioning, drug preparation, backup plans, monitor scanning, small ventilator changes, blood pressure trends, and how early they anticipate the next problem.
How to document CRNA shadowing hours
Keep a simple shadow log with the date, facility, CRNA name, number of hours, types of cases observed, anesthesia types observed, and one or two reflections about what you learned. If possible, ask the CRNA or department contact to sign or confirm the experience. Requirements vary: some programs only recommend shadowing, while others specify documented hours, so always check the schools on your list.
Shadowing is one piece of your CRNA application.
Your GPA, ICU acuity, certifications, leadership, and school list still matter. Use CRNAPathway to see where your profile is strong and what to fix before applying.
CRNA shadowing FAQ
Do I need CRNA shadowing hours before applying?
Some CRNA programs require documented shadowing, some strongly recommend it, and others ask about it during interviews. Even when it is not required, shadowing helps you explain why you understand the profession and why you want anesthesia specifically.
How many CRNA shadowing hours do I need?
There is no universal number. A single full shift can be enough for programs that only recommend shadowing, while some schools publish specific documented-hour requirements. Check each program’s admissions page before assuming eight hours is enough.
Can I shadow a CRNA at my own hospital?
Often, yes — and that is usually the best place to start. But you still need to follow the hospital’s observer policy. Being an employee does not automatically mean you can enter the OR as a shadow observer without approval.
What should I study before shadowing?
Spend 60–90 minutes reviewing the basic anesthesia workflow, common medications, airway equipment, and monitors. Do not try to impress the CRNA with trivia. Your goal is to understand the role and ask thoughtful questions.
Is there a national CRNA shadowing directory?
Not a dominant one. The current process is fragmented across state associations, local hospitals, academic anesthesia departments, and personal networks. That is why a state-by-state CRNA shadowing directory would be useful for applicants.
Find a CRNA to shadow near you
Search CRNA shadowing opportunities, hospital programs, state resources, and mentorship pathways by location and resource type.
Showing 24 of 26 resources
Other mentorship resource
Pennsylvania CRNA Shadowing Resource Request
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
State-specific request pathway to locate CRNA shadowing leads and mentorship contacts.
View resource →Other mentorship resource
Texas CRNA Shadowing Resource Request
Houston, Texas
Resource request form to help identify shadow-friendly CRNAs across Texas.
View resource →Other mentorship resource
Florida CRNA Shadowing Resource Request
Tampa, Florida
Florida pathway to request CRNA shadowing opportunities and local introductions.
View resource →Other mentorship resource
Diversity CRNA Mentorship and Shadowing Resources
National, National
National mentorship and shadowing resources focused on increasing pathway accessibility.
View resource →State association program
State Association CRNA Contact Pathway
Statewide, National
Find your state CRNA association and request guidance for shadowing introductions.
View resource →Other mentorship resource
Don’t See an Opportunity Near You?
Your city, Any state
Fallback action plan with templates to request shadowing when no listing is nearby.
View resource →CRNA volunteer/contact
CRNA Volunteer Contact Pool
Multiple cities, National
Directory of volunteer CRNAs open to outreach for informational shadowing guidance.
View resource →Formal hospital shadow program
Academic Hospital Anesthesia Department Outreach
Major metro areas, National
Best-practice outreach process for anesthesia departments with educational shadow policies.
View resource →Other mentorship resource
CRNA Program Admissions Office Shadowing Guidance
Program-based, National
Use admissions office pathways to identify shadowing-aligned partners and expectations.
View resource →Other mentorship resource
California CRNA Shadowing Resource Request
Los Angeles, California
California-focused request channel for CRNA shadowing support and introductions.
View resource →Other mentorship resource
New York CRNA Shadowing Resource Request
New York, New York
Local resource request for New York City and statewide CRNA shadowing opportunities.
View resource →Other mentorship resource
Illinois CRNA Shadowing Resource Request
Chicago, Illinois
Illinois guidance and request flow to find clinical shadowing opportunities.
View resource →Other mentorship resource
North Carolina CRNA Shadowing Resource Request
Charlotte, North Carolina
North Carolina request channel for shadowing introductions and mentorship leads.
View resource →Other mentorship resource
Georgia CRNA Shadowing Resource Request
Atlanta, Georgia
Georgia pathway to connect with CRNAs and available shadowing options.
View resource →Other mentorship resource
Ohio CRNA Shadowing Resource Request
Cleveland, Ohio
Ohio-centered request process for CRNA shadowing and mentorship pathways.
View resource →Other mentorship resource
Michigan CRNA Shadowing Resource Request
Detroit, Michigan
Michigan resource request for applicants seeking local CRNA shadowing opportunities.
View resource →Other mentorship resource
Arizona CRNA Shadowing Resource Request
Phoenix, Arizona
Arizona request workflow for CRNA shadowing resources and contacts.
View resource →Other mentorship resource
Washington CRNA Shadowing Resource Request
Seattle, Washington
Washington state CRNA shadowing support and discovery request option.
View resource →Other mentorship resource
Colorado CRNA Shadowing Resource Request
Denver, Colorado
Colorado shadowing request path for aspiring nurse anesthetists.
View resource →Other mentorship resource
Tennessee CRNA Shadowing Resource Request
Nashville, Tennessee
Tennessee request form for CRNA shadowing and mentorship follow-up.
View resource →Other mentorship resource
Massachusetts CRNA Shadowing Resource Request
Boston, Massachusetts
Massachusetts pathway for requesting local CRNA shadowing opportunities.
View resource →Other mentorship resource
Virginia CRNA Shadowing Resource Request
Richmond, Virginia
Virginia outreach resource to help candidates locate CRNA shadowing pathways.
View resource →Other mentorship resource
New Jersey CRNA Shadowing Resource Request
Newark, New Jersey
New Jersey request flow for shadowing opportunities and CRNA mentorship contacts.
View resource →