How to Become an Certified Nurse Anesthesiologist
Certified nurse anesthesiologists provide anesthesia before surgery and assist with post-surgical patient care. According to Salary.com, these professionals can expect to earn $132,525 and $172,706 annually. But getting there takes time and effort. Here's a guide to becoming a certified nurse anesthesiologist.
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Instructions
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Earn a bachelor's degree in nursing. Focus on keeping your grade point average high, because nurse anesthesiologist programs are extremely competitive. For a directory of nursing programs across the country, check out Nursing Schools (see Resources).
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Get licensed with your state. Once you've earned your nursing degree, contact your state's board of nursing to find out how to become a registered nurse. This usually involves submitting an application (and proof of education) and taking a state exam.
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Get experience in an intensive care hospital unit. After becoming an RN, you need at least one year's experience working in an intensive care unit before applying to nurse anesthesiologist programs.
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Take the Graduate Record Examination (GRE). Most nurse anesthesiologist programs require that individuals submit a GRE testing score with their application. You can register to take this test online (see Resources).
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Apply to nurse anesthesiologist programs. To find programs in your area, check out All Nursing Schools (see Directory). The application process will include submitting your GRE score, completing an application and attending an interview.
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Complete your program and pass the National Certification test for nurse anesthesiologists. To set up a test date and time, contact the Council on Certification of Nurse Anesthetists (see Resources).
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Apply for Nurse Anesthesiologist positions. Once you have the required education and experience, apply for certified nurse anesthesiologist positions in your community; check local hospital job boards for these positions. You can also check out traditional job sites such as Monster and HotJobs.
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Tips & Warnings
Be prepared for the competitiveness of certified nurse anesthesiologist programs. Make your application more attractive by volunteering in the industry and by keeping your grade point average above 3.0 during your bachelor's education.
Keep your license current. You'll need to recertify every two years.
