During a November meeting, The New Hampshire Board of Medicine unanimously voted to prohibit individuals from identifying themselves as anesthesiologists without board licensure.
The decision comes in response to a position statement from the New Hampshire Board of Nursing, which recognized the terms "nurse anesthesiologist" and "certified registered nurse anesthesiologist" as "optional, accurate descriptors."
The New Hampshire Society of Anesthesiologists, New Hampshire Medical Society, American Society for Anesthesiologists and American Medical Association "strongly opposed" the nursing board's position statement, claiming that it would mislead and confuse patients.
The New Hampshire Nurse Practitioner Association supported the use of the term "certified registered nurse anesthetist," saying the title is clear and unambiguous, but opposed use of the term "anesthesiology assistant."