How to Become a Nurse Anesthetist in Kentucky
Nurse anesthetists work closely with surgeons, dentists, podiatrists and anesthesiologists. A nurse anesthetist, or Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA), is a registered nurse who has taken extra education credits and training to be able to give anesthesia. In about half of the hospitals, the CRNAs are the only people that can give anesthesia. The average annual salary in 2005 for a CRNA was about $160,000. There are several steps to become a nurse anesthetist in Kentucky.
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Instructions
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Attend an undergraduate program. To gain a career in nursing anesthesiology, you must earn a Bachelor of Science degree in nursing. To become a nurse, you will have to be the best among your peers. The nursing shortage has put a strain on colleges and universities, so they often do not have adequate numbers of teachers and faculty in nursing programs. To avoid being waitlisted, it will be necessary to stick out among other applicants.
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Get career experience. You will need to pass the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX). Passing NCLEX and successfully finishing your clinical internship are required by law in Kentucky in order to become a licensed nurse (see Resources below). After becoming a licensed nurse, you will need a minimum of a year of acute care nursing experience.
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Earn a Master of Science degree in nursing. In 2008, there were 108 nurse anesthesia programs. These programs run between 2 to 3 years. You will be attending a graduate program that will teach advanced courses in anatomy, physiology, pharmacology and more. You will also learn many anesthesia techniques and different procedures for surgery and obstetrics. You will gain this knowledge though training in university-based or large community hospitals.
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Take the CRNA. By the time you are eligible to take the examination, you will have had at least 7 years of education and experience. The average applicant has had at least 1,694 clinical hours. Do not let these numbers scare you--there are between 1,300 and 1,700 student nurse anesthetists that pass the CRNA annually (see Resources below).
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Register with the board of nursing in Kentucky. It is also recommended to join the Kentucky Association of Nurse Anesthetists.
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Keep your license up to date. Your certification expires on July 31 two years after certification is granted. For re-certification, you must pay the re-certification fee, prove that you are still an active registered nurse and taken 40 hours of continuing education credits.
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