CRNA advisory committee approves minutes, sets 2026 dates and elects new leadership; awaits statute change for rule updates

The Board of Registered Nursing’s Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist Advisory Committee met by teleconference and approved its Jan. 16, 2025, meeting minutes, set two meeting dates for 2026 and elected a new chair and vice chair before losing quorum and adjourning.

Loretta Melby, executive officer for the Board of Registered Nursing, told the committee the board “maintains a position of support on that bill” affecting CRNA scope of practice and said staff will update regulations to match the statutory language if the bill is signed. Melby added, “If the meeting minutes are approved, we will post them to our website for public access.”

The committee voted to approve the Jan. 16, 2025, minutes (unanimous among members present), approved proposed 2026 dates of April 7 and Oct. 6, 2026, and appointed Sandra Bordy as chair and Samantha Polakowski as vice chair. Each vote was taken by roll call with the three members present—Polakowski, Kathleen Theobald and Bordy—voting in favor.

Committee members discussed next steps for implementing regulatory changes if the pending statute becomes effective Jan. 1. Melby said the board’s regulatory subcommittee will update regulations to reflect any statutory change and then move those changes through the Nurse Practice Committee and the full board for further review and ratification. She said the board is “hopeful” the bill will pass and be signed and that, if so, staff will proceed with regulation revisions.

The committee also addressed a recent personnel change: staff reported that a member of the advisory committee and the committee’s vice chair, Joseph Martin, informed staff he no longer wishes to serve. Melby said staff was unable to reach the individual directly this morning and will post a recruitment notice to fill the CRNA vacancy; the posting, she said, is typically emailed to CRNAs, published on the board website and closes in roughly 10 days. Melby said the committee’s appointment to fill the vacancy will be reviewed by staff and then recommended to the advisory committee; the board will ratify any appointment at its next board meeting in November.

Members also heard a brief update from a subcommittee working on the committee’s public engagement and website content. The subcommittee reported it is verifying links and intends to add clearer information about how to become a CRNA (the site already includes how to become an RN) and other resources; staff said more updates are expected by the end of the year.

During public comment, James Rockoff of Oceanside raised concerns about a 2024 continuing-education course he described as promoting “imaginary anatomy and physiology” and a seven-layer aura tied to chakras. He asked the board to review the accrediting process for continuing education providers. Melby acknowledged the comment and asked that Rockoff follow up by email and postal mail; staff said they would review the continuing education provider and course referenced.

The committee lost quorum when one member needed to leave and adjourned after completing agenda items 1–8. Melby said three remaining agenda items—the disciplinary case dispositions for CRNAs, the 2026 BRN sunset review overview, and a presentation by the California Association of Nurse Anesthesiology—will be moved to a future meeting and that related materials are available in other BRN meeting packets or on the board’s YouTube channel for the board meeting that covered the sunset review.

Actions taken: approval of Jan. 16, 2025, minutes; approval of 2026 meeting dates (April 7 and Oct. 6); election of Sandra Bordy as chair and Samantha Polakowski as vice chair. Staff was directed to post a recruitment notice for the vacated CRNA advisory committee seat and to proceed with regulatory updates only after statutory changes take effect.