Job Description of Nurse Anesthetists
- Nurse anesthetists are licensed to administer anesthesia through spinal injections, IVs or inhalants to patients for sedation before surgery or to alleviate pain.
- Nurse anesthetists first obtain information about the patient's medical history, allergies, current medications, height and weight to determine what type of anesthetic will be safest and most effective. After administering the anesthesia, the CRNA monitors the patient's vital statistics to look for signs of distress, such as a decrease in blood pressure or heart rate.
- A nurse anesthetist must be adept at communicating in discussions and in writing, a good listener, empathetic and organized. Nurse anesthetists usually have to stand for long periods, and some must be strong enough to assist with moving a patient.
- After receiving an associate's or bachelor's degree or a hospital training certificate and passing a licensing exam, prospective nurse anesthetists must work for at least one year as a registered nurse. The nurse anesthetist then returns for graduate education, which usually requires 24 to 36 months of training.
- To become a CRNA, a candidate must pass a written examination offered by the Council on Certification of Nurse Anesthetists.
- In November 2009, the average annual salary range for nurse anesthetists ranged from $96,787 to $159,991, according to Payscale.com.
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