How would you like to become one of the 37,000 highest-paid advanced nursing professionals in the U.S.?
With average salaries of $160,000, certified registered nurse anesthetists (CRNAs) administer more than 30 million anesthetics a year. These nurses are trained to keep a person safe and pain-free during surgery.
Where do they work?
Hospital operating rooms are probably the most recognized work setting for CRNAs.
Nurse anesthetists also give sedation or general anesthesia for patients undergoing procedures in other areas of a hospital, such as placing and monitoring epidurals for women in labor.
Nurse anesthetists work in multiple other practice settings: outpatient surgery centers, dentist and podiatry offices, plastic surgery and pain management centers, endoscopy and urology clinics, and ophthalmology suites.
The opportunities for variety in nurse anesthesia are seemingly endless. There is a niche in anesthesia for CRNA travelers called “locum tenens.” These travel CRNAs pay for their own benefits, but make about $100 to $110 an hour.
How do I become a CRNA?
To get started on this lucrative career path, first earn a bachelor of science in nursing (BSN) degree or other appropriate bachelor’s degree. The appropriateness of the degree is decided by each individual anesthesia program.
Next, you must have a RN (registered nurse) license and one year of acute care experience working in an intensive care unit or emergency room. < /p>
Once those requirements are met, you may apply to one or more of the 109 nurse anesthesia programs.
Most of the nurse anesthesia programs last from 24 to 36 months and culminate in a master’s degree. Anesthesia school consists of a didactic curriculum. Basically, this means there is book study and hands-on clinical training.
There are a few things to consider when choosing an anesthesia program. Many programs offer financial aid and/or scholarships. Some programs require a thesis to graduate, while others may not. Anesthesia programs vary in length from two to three years and start at various times of the year.
After obtaining a master’s degree from an accredited nurse anesthesia program, a candidate must pass a national certification exam to become a CRNA. Nurse anesthetists must also recertify every two years by maintaining a minimum number of clinical hours and continuing education.
In today’s atmosphere of pay cuts and layoffs, nurse anesthesia is still a promising career. If you have the desire to pursue a career that rewards you emotionally and financially, look into this exciting opportunity today.
Tonya Veal lives in Athens, Ga., with her husband and 3-year-old son. She is a part-time nurse anesthetist at a local hospital and, at times, travels to give anesthesia. She has been a nurse for 16 years and a CRNA for 7 years.
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