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How to Become a Nurse Anesthetist
Are you wondering how to become a certified registered nurse anesthetist (CRNA)? After high school, the steps to becoming a nurse anesthetist usually start with earning a bachelor’s degree. It is then necessary to obtain state licensure and get work experience. Next, prospective CRNAs need to earn a master’s degree to begin working, after which they can gain work experience in their new, specialized field. CRNAs are not required to go to medical school, nor do they complete specialized residencies. This is one of the major differences between nurses and doctors.
What Is a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist?
So you think you might like to become a certified nurse anesthetist? A certified registered nurse anesthetist (CRNA) is an advanced practice nurse specialist who administers anesthetics to patients, monitors patients’ vital signs, and provides post-surgical care for both general and local anesthetic. CRNAs spend much of their time standing and may need to help lift and move patients. Nurse anesthetists can work in hospitals, clinics, nursing homes, and outpatient settings; anywhere that anesthetics are used in medicine. Those who work in hospitals or nursing homes may work in shifts that include nighttime hours. Emergency situations that require anesthesia may be stressful, and this job can be emotionally demanding. Anyone considering becoming a CRNA must think carefully about their own emotional responses to stress and how they think they will cope with potential emergencies occurring on the job.
What Does a CRNA Do?
CRNA job duties include:
Physically assessing patients in need of anesthetics
Explaining procedure to patients and families
Liaising with doctors and anesthesiologists to ensure proper patient care
Administering anesthesia and monitoring patients’ vital signs throughout procedures
Assisting in patient recovery
Nurse Anesthetist Requirements
Degree Level Master’s
Degree Field Nurse anesthesia
Licensure and Certification Prospective CRNAs first become licensed as a registered nurse (RN), then become a CRNA; voluntary specialty certification as a Critical Care Registered Nurse (CCRN) is often required
Experience Nurse anesthesia master’s degree programs require at least one year of critical care nursing experience to enroll; employers often require at least two years of experience
Key Skills Clear spoken communication with patients and families; effective written communication and problem solving skills; experience with documenting and charting software; knowledge of conscious sedation, general anesthesia, IV insertion, and fluid therapy in addition to other nursing expertise
Median Salary (May 2019) $174,790 (all nurse anesthetists)*
Sources: National Board of Certification & Recertification for Nurse Anesthetists (NBCRNA), nurse anesthetist college degree programs, *U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
How Long Does CRNA Education Take?
CRNA program length varies, but like many medical professions, it takes quite some time to become a CRNA. Becoming an RN requires at least two years of post-secondary study (in the form of an associate’s degree). However, for prospective CRNAs, a BSN (bachelor of science in nursing) is often more applicable. This is because CRNAs must go on to obtain a master’s degree, which is at least two years of study. In total, at least six years of university education paired with several years of job experience (at least two) are required for those who wish to become CRNAs, for a minimum of eight years of training. Many CRNAs train for longer than eight years before fully taking on the responsibility of their careers.
CRNA or Anesthesiologist?
If you are wondering how to become a nurse anesthesiologist, you may be barking up the wrong tree. CRNAs are not to be confused with anesthesiologists. Anesthesiologists are doctors who specialize in anesthetics. Unlike nurses, they attend medical school and, in this case, complete a further four-year residency in anesthesiology. CRNAs are essential to the work that anesthesiologists do, but they require far less training and generally work under the supervision of an anesthesiologist. If you are interested in becoming an anesthesiologist, you will need to begin with a bachelor’s degree in a subject like biology or something else that will give you the prerequisites you need to pass the MCAT and attend medical school.
Steps to Becoming a CRNA
Step 1: Earn a Bachelor’s Degree
To become a CRNA, aspiring nurse anesthetists must first earn a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN). They may have to finish two years of prerequisites before applying to a bachelor’s-level nursing program. Some students become nurses through diploma or associate’s degree programs and gain some experience before completing an RN-to-BSN program. Coursework topics include basic nursing skills, health assessment fundamentals, human anatomy, biology, psychology, pharmacology, pathophysiology, and much more. Students complete clinical rotations in major health departments, like women’s health, pediatrics, mental health, and surgery. There may be some opportunities to learn about anesthesia during this time, and those interested in CRNA positions ought to pursue those opportunities should they arise.
Success Tip:
Get good grades. Nurse anesthetist programs often require applicants to have maintained an overall GPA and science GPA of 3.0 or better, and keeping your grades high will help you to keep on top of your schoolwork as you proceed through the next levels of your education.
Step 2: Obtain State Licensure
All states require nurses to pass the National Council Licensing Exam for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN) and obtain licensure before being allowed to practice. Individual states might have additional requirements, so be sure to research your state or the state in which you want to work when preparing your educational goals. One’s RN license must be in good standing to apply to a nurse anesthesia program.
Step 3: Get Experience
Nurse anesthesia master’s degree programs require applicants to have a minimum of one year of professional, hands-on experience in critical care nursing before applying. RNs can acquire experience by working in an intensive care unit, cardiac care unit, or surgical intensive care unit after passing their NCLEX-RN examination.
Success Tips:
Earn Critical Care Registered Nurse certification. Many nurse anesthesia master’s degree programs suggest that applicants earn certification in this specialty area. Having this certification proves that nurses are knowledgeable and competent in critical care. Eligibility requirements include a valid RN license and at least 1,750 hours of direct critical care within the past two years.
Job shadow a nurse anesthetist. Nurse anesthesia programs stress that it’s important to have a genuine interest in an anesthesia career. Programs suggest that prospective students shadow CRNAs before applying in order to see what the job is really like on a day-to-day basis.
Step 4: Earn a Master’s Degree
A master’s degree program in nurse anesthesia requires a minimum of 27 months of full-time attendance. Students learn to operate anesthesia equipment and manage surgical and emergency situations that require anesthesia. Course topics commonly include anesthesia pharmacology, anesthesia pathophysiology, anesthesia biochemistry, geriatric anesthesia, obstetric anesthesia, and pain management. Students complete numerous supervised clinical experiences involving diverse anesthesia situations, from eye surgery to plastic surgery and open-heart surgery.
Step 5: Become a CRNA
Attaining the CRNA credential is necessary to practice. Individuals with master’s degrees in nurse anesthesia from accredited schools and unrestricted RN licenses are eligible to take the National Certification Exam, which is administered by the National Board of Certification & Recertification for Nurse Anesthetists. Some states also require CRNAs to obtain specialty licensure status.
Success Tip:
Maintain credentials. Nurse anesthetists must keep their RN licenses valid, which requires periodic completion of professional development. Regulations are set by individual states. Additionally, every two years, they must complete 40 hours of approved continuing education and submit documentation of valid licensure and employment history to maintain the CRNA designation.
Step 6: Gain Experience
A CRNA is an advanced RN position, but further advancement is an option for enterprising CRNAs. With leadership acumen and formal business education, CRNAs may move into managerial or high-level administrative positions within hospitals or medical facilities. Alternatively, more academic-focused CRNAs may wish to obtain a doctorate and conduct research or be part of a research team.
How Much Does a CRNA Earn?
The median annual salary for nurse anesthetists was $174,790 in May of 2019, according to the BLS. In terms of job outlook, the BLS does not list CRNAs specifically. However, it does state that nurse anesthetists, nurse midwives, and nurse practitioners can expect job growth of 45% between the years of 2019 and 2029, which is far faster than average. Over 100,000 new jobs are expected to open up in these careers over the next decade. This is due in part to the aging population in the United States, and the resulting increase in need for healthcare professionals
 
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