Nursing provides individuals with many opportunities to branch out to both further their career and touch the lives of more people than they might have been able to do otherwise. The position of a nurse anesthetist is just one of these positions that many consider after receiving their nursing degree.
Overview
Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists are advanced practice nurses. These nurses are trained to provide anesthesia care to the more than 22 surgical, obstetrical, and trauma patients in the United States alone. This is an important job because without proper anesthesia surgery would not be as comfortable, or in some cases possible, for the patient or the doctor. A nurse anesthetist is able to deliver anesthesia in many different settings, so the scope of the work is virtually unlimited. Many Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists, or CRNA’s, find interesting work. Those who hold this certification may work with:
● Surgeons
● Anesthesiologists
● Dentists
● Emergency Room
● Cardiologists
● Podiatrists
This is just a short list of the possible areas of work for a nurse who holds this certification. The position of nurse anesthetists has been around for more than 100 years, which allows for a high level of respect when in this position. Currently there are more than 35,000 nurse anesthetists in the United States, with about 45% of this number being men. In 2/3 of rural hospitals in the United States, the nurse anesthetist is the only provider of anesthesia.
Working Conditions
Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists work in many different setting. Traditional hospital surgical suites, delivery rooms, critical care hospitals, surgical centers, and even in office settings, and in military facilities. This is a very important job that can carry with it a lot of responsibility each and every day, as such the annual salary of a nurse with this certification is usually $130,000 and up. This is a very stable career choice, and nurse anesthetists will be in high demand well into the future as there is a growing need for these skills around the country.
Academic Requirements
To become a nurse anesthetist one must first be a registered nurse with a bachelor of science in nursing degree. In addition, these candidates need to have one year of experience in an acute clinical care setting. When you enter a nurse anesthetist program it will usually take two to three years to complete and in the end you will have your Master’s degree. To practice, one must pass the national certification exam. To maintain the certification, the Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist also must have 40 hours of continuing education every two years.