How to Become a Nurse Anesthetist
According to the American Association of Nurse Anesthetists, it can take a total of seven years of education and training to become a certified registered nurse anesthetist (CRNA). A bachelor’s of science in nursing is a requirement, which is the first step toward any advanced practice nursing specialty. Click here to explore an accredited list of RN to BSN programs. A graduate degree in nursing anesthesia and passing a national certification exam is then usually required, though state requirements may vary. Clinical training is an important part of a CRNA’s training as well, and at least one year of acute care nursing experience is also required for certification.
CRNA Job Description and Duties
CRNAs practice with a certain amount of independence, though they work together with other medical staff and physicians. They provide anesthesia care to patients, educating them about it beforehand, monitoring them during operations while under it, and caring for patients recovering from surgery under anesthesia. They remain with patients and continually monitor them and check their vital signs to ensure safety and comfort. In many rural hospitals, they are the main anesthesia providers. They may work in hospitals, clinics, doctors’ offices, or ambulatory clinics.
Nurse Anesthetist Salary and Job Outlook
According to salary.com, the median salary in the U.S. for a nurse anesthetist in 2009 is $144,174. They are some of the highest paid nurse specialists.
Healthcare is one of the fastest growing industries in the United States due to the growing aging population and the large portion of healthcare workers approaching retirement. Registered nurses are the largest group of workers in healthcare, and are projected to grow more than any other occupation, according to the Bureau of Labor and Statistics. This outlook is even better for highly skilled and trained nurse specialists like CRNAs because of their cost effectiveness over anesthesiologists. The job outlook is particularly good in more rural areas, where the doctor to patient ratio is much lower and CRNAs often work even more independently. The article Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA) in High Demand provides a much more indepth analysis of teh CRNA career path including education requirements, shortage of CRNAs and what the future holds for those exploring this field of nursing. With the nation’s growing healthcare needs and the changing landscape of healthcare providers, specialized nursing careers offer affordable, quality care and will provide huge employment opportunity.
Accredited Nursing Programs
University of Phoenix College of Health and Human Services
Programs Offered: RN to BSN, MSN - (Specializations: Nursing Informatics, MSN/MBA, MSN/MBA - Health Care Management, MSN/Health Care Administration), Doctor of Philosophy in Nursing, Health Care Administration Degrees
- Click Here to request information from University of Phoenix.
While widely available, not all programs are available in all locations or in both online and on-campus formats. Please check with a University Enrollment Representative.
Walden University School of Nursing
Walden University School of Nursing graduates have the knowledge and skills to be leaders in their profession. You may choose to specialize in Education, Informatics or Leadership & Management. Request information from Walden University to learn more.
Kaplan University School of Nursing
Request information from Kaplan University School of Nursing to learn more about their online RN to BSN and Masters in Nursing Programs.
Nurse Anesthetist Graduate Programs
More Programs are coming soon
Back to Top | Find more Advance Practice Nursing Programs
Sources: www.bls.gov
www.aana.org
http://swz.salary.com
