The answer to this question is yes. A Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA) is a higher level of nursing than a Registered Nurse (RN). CRNAs are advanced practice nurses who have completed additional education and training in the specialty of anesthesiology, including both classroom instruction and clinical experience. They are qualified to administer anesthesia for all types of medical procedures, from routine surgeries to complex cardiac operations. RNs may provide some pre-operative care but do not administer anesthesia themselves.