CRNA Jobs

Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists have roots dating back 150 years to the Civil War, when nurses administered anesthesia to wounded soldiers on the battlefields. Today, CRNAs administer anesthetics to patients and supervise their vitals in every practice setting for nearly every type of procedure. From surgical centers, to emergency rooms, Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists provide anesthesia in collaboration with healthcare professionals, and remain the sole providers of anesthesia care in rural hospitals.

The demand for nurse anesthetists is rising quickly, similar to all advanced practice nursing professions. In the next ten years, studies estimate a 25 percent job growth for Certified Registered Nurse and Anesthetists, while maintaining an average salary of $102,000. The five states that offer the highest average salaries include, from lowest to highest, the District of Columbia, Maryland, Wyoming, Wisconsin, and Nevada.

Some duties of a CRNA include performing and documenting pre-anesthetic patient assessments, developing and implementing anesthetic plans, managing a patient’s airway and pulmonary status, managing emergence and recovery from anesthesia, ordering or administering medications to maintain homeostasis, pain relief, and side effects of anesthesia, discharging patients from a post-anesthesia care area, developing a pain relief plan, and responding to airway management emergencies.

-Maintain a current license as a registered nurse

-Have a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN), or appropriate baccalaureate degree

-Have one year of acute care experience in a critical care setting

-Successful completion of a master’s degree from an accredited nurse anesthesia program

-Pass the National Certification exam

To become recertified:

-Obtain a minimum of 40 hours of approved continuing education every two years

-Provide documentation of substantial anesthesia practice

-Maintain current state license

Ideal candidates for a CRNA job remain calm and collected in high-pressure situations, quickly perform biometric calculations with ease, enjoy following complex protocols, can multi-task effectively, and excel in explaining medical procedures and sedation to patients and their families.

Work Environments of a CRNA include dental and oral surgery offices, emergency rooms, intensive care units, cardiac care units, outpatient medical facilities, and private, specialized physician offices.