CAREER SNAPSHOT
Summary
Nurse anesthetists are advanced practice nurses who are responsible for safely administering anesthesia.
Career Level
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Salary
National average, per year
$113,930
JOB OPENINGS
Current national estimate
65,612
DEMAND OUTLOOK
Actual salaries can vary substantially based on region, job description and employer expectations; does not include additional compensation. Data source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statisticcs.
By Raising Careers Staff | Updated: May 2019
OVERVIEW
Nurse Anesthetist Job Description
Nurse anesthetists are advanced practice nurses who have completed extensive education and training. They have the important job of safely administering anesthesia to patients. They collaborate with other healthcare professionals to keep patients safe and stable throughout the anesthesia administration process. They also provide pain management services.
Nurse anesthetists are one of the highest paid advanced level nursing specialties. They enjoy the benefits of excellent job security, autonomy, professional respect and the ability to make a difference in a patient’s life.
Nurse Anesthetist Job Responsibilities
Nurse Anesthetists may perform the following job duties. Actual duties may vary by job and location.
- Complete patient assessments
- Patient and family education
- Prepare proper dose of anesthetic to meet the patient’s needs
- Administer medications and anesthetics through a variety of methods
- Monitor the patient before, during and after anesthesia administration
- Collaborate with other healthcare professionals
- Provide pain management to patients who have illnesses or injuries
Nurse Anesthetist Salary
The actual salary of the nurse anesthetist can vary substantially depending on region, job description and employer expectations. Most recent data shown.
National average per year: $113,930*
National average per hour: $54.78*
- $270,328 per year, $129.97 per hour**
- $107,590 per year, $51.73 per hour***
- $92,666 per year, $44.55 per hour****
- $107,951 per year, $51.90 per hour*****
* Bureau of Labor Statics
** Indeed.com
*** Payscale.com
**** Salary.com
***** Glassdoor.com
Nurse Anesthetist Career Pros and Cons
What are the ups and downs of being an a nurse anesthetist? Here are a few items to keep in mind.
Pros
- Great job security
- Daily work is interesting and diverse
- Rewarding to help others
- Great pay
- Variety of career settings to work in
- Autonomy
- Professional respect
Cons
- Can be emotionally challenging
- High level of responsibility and stress
- Risk of exposure to infectious diseases
- Field is very competitive
- Potential for malpractice suits
- Hours can be long and irregular
CAREER PATH AND TRAINING
How Do I Become a Nurse Anesthetist?
If you are considering a career as a nurse anesthetist, here are the steps you will need to complete.
- Obtain your high school diploma/GED.
- Earn a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree and gain clinical experience working as a registered nurse with a minimum of 1 year of professional, hands-on experience in critical care nursing.
- Earn a master’s degree in nurse anesthesia from a program that is accredited by the Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs (COA). This typically takes 2-3 years to complete.
- Become certified by passing the National Certification Exam (NCE), which is administered by the National Board of Certification & Recertification for Nurse Anesthetists (NBCRNA).
- Obtain state licensure.
Suggested Career Path
A nurse anesthetist is at the end of the medical career pathway. A sample career path could look like this:
Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) > Registered Nurse (RN) > Nurse Anesthetist
Typical Minimum Education
Actual requirements may vary by state. Please check with your state government.
- High school diploma/GED
- Master’s degree in nurse anesthesia
- Passage of the National Certification Exam (NCE)
- BLS, ACLS and PALS certifications
Typical Work Experience Required
At least 1 year of professional, hands-on critical care nursing experience is required.
Typical Skills Required
Common skills listed. Actual skills required may vary by location.
- Clinical competence
- Exceptional communication skills
- Adaptability and flexibility
- Ability to collaborate and work with a team
- Leadership
- Ability to stay calm during emergency situations
- Excellent judgment and decision making abilities
- Excellent interpersonal skills
- Emotional stability
- Alert and observant
- Confidence
- Dedication
Nurse Anesthetist Certifications
In order to work as a nurse anesthetist, you must pass the National Certification Exam (NCE), which is administered by the National Board of Certification & Recertification for Nurse Anesthetists (NBCRNA):
Certification through the American Heart Association (AHA) is required:
- BLS, Basic Life Support for healthcare providers (AHA)
- PALS, Pediatric Advanced Life Support for healthcare providers (AHA)
- ACLS, Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support for healthcare providers (AHA)
Nurse Anesthetist Licenses
Registered nurse licensure is required in all states. Visit your state board of nursing for other specific state requirements.
Nurse Anesthetist Training and Preparation
Deciding to become a nurse anesthetist is a huge step to a life-long and rewarding career. Once you have earned your master’s degree in nurse anesthesia, it is time to prepare for the National Certification Exam (NCE). You must pass this exam in order to become certified to practice as a nurse anesthetist. The certification exam can be very challenging and being prepared and organized can help ensure your success.
There are many ways to prepare for the exam, allowing you to choose the methods that work best for you. The NBCRNA website is an excellent resource and offers an exam content outline, exam tutorial and a self-evaluation examination to help you study and prepare. There are online and traditional classroom prep courses available. Review books and flashcards are other helpful tools. Taking practice tests and answering practice questions can help you learn what the exam questions may be like.
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