Job Description of a Nurse Anesthetist
Nurse anesthetists play an important role in many areas of health care, practicing in a wide variety of medical facilities from small clinics to large public and private hospital and health care facilities. Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNA) are Advanced Practice Nurses and are among the highest-paid persons in the nursing profession.
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Education
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To become a nurse anesthetist, a person must first complete an undergraduate bachelor's degree in nursing or a closely related science field, and then go on to become a Registered Nurse and work full-time for at least a year. Next, he or she must enroll in and successfully complete an accredited master's degree in a nurse anesthesia program.
Certification
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After successfully completing the approved master's program in nursing or anesthesia, the prospective practitioner must successfully attempt and pass the national certification examination. Only then will he or she become a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist. Continuing education is required every two years.
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Responsibilities
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Nurse anesthetists provide and oversee the administration of anesthesia to patients in a wide variety of conditions and prior to a wide range of procedures. They also monitor the anesthesia during the procedure and attend to the patient during the immediate recovery from the procedure.
Working Conditions
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Depending on the employer, nurse anesthetists may practice in all types of medical and health care facilities where anesthesia is administered to patients.
Salary
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Due to the advanced educational and certification requirements and the high level of responsibility and accurate precision required of nurse anesthetists, salaries are among the highest of all nursing professionals. The average annual salary in 2007 was around $140,000.
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