Nurse Anesthetist

Answer 1

A nurse anesthetist (CRNA) administers anesthesia care for patients prior to, during and following surgical procedures. They basically supply the same services as an anesthesiologist. They provide medications to keep the patient asleep or pain-free during surgery. They will interact with the patient pre-and postoperatively and stay with them throughout the entire procedure.

They are employed by hospitals, surgical centers, dentist offices, and private practices. They also work for the military, pain clinics and psychiatric facilities. A nurse anesthetist works with other health care professionals such as surgeons, anesthesiologists, podiatrists, and dentists.

Nurse anesthetists administer more than 65% of the anesthetics given annually. Many rural hospitals employ a nurse anesthetist rather than an anesthesiologist. While some nurse anesthetists are directly employed by doctors or hospitals, others choose to work for themselves and contract out their work.

Since nurse anesthetists work in the medical field, certain certification is required. First, they have to have a bachelor’s degree in nursing or a closely related field. They also have to be a licensed registered nurse (RN) with at least one year experience in an acute care setting such as an ICU or ER. They must then graduate with at least a master’s degree from an accredited nurse anesthetist program. These programs take anywhere from 2-3 years depending on the school. During the program, they undergo clinical training. Last of all, they must pass a national certification examination.

After graduation and certification, a CRNA must recertify every two years with at least 40 hours of continuing education, document their employment as a nurse anesthetist, be licensed in the state they work in, and verify that they do not have any medical or physical limitations that can affect their job.

Currently the demand is high for nurse anesthetists. The salary for a nurse anesthetist ranges from $110,000-$180,000 depending on experience and location. The starting salary can be expected to be over $100,000. 45% of all nurse anesthetists are men, compared to only 8% men in the overall nursing industry.