How to Become a Nurse Anesthesiologist

Learn the Educational Requirements for a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist

A Certified Registered Nurse Anesthesiologist (CRNA) is a registered nurse who provides anesthesia services during surgical procedures, delivery of babies and other treatments in healthcare. The role of a nurse anesthesiologist is similar to that of a physician who is certified in anesthesiology.

In order to become a nurse anesthesiologist, you will first need to become a registered nurse with a four-year bachelor’s degree and then take a program to obtain certification in anesthesiology. One great way to begin is by pursuing your nursing education through an accredited online school. These programs are affordable, and very convenient for people who have busy schedules.

Job Duties

The main duties in Certified Registered Nurse Anesthesiology jobs are as follows:

  • Works with other medical and nursing professionals in medical procedures that require the use of anesthesia. The different types are local, epidural, general, spinal or regional. These include surgery, trauma stabilization and obstetrics and conscious sedation for routine tests such as colonoscopy, gastroscopy, etc.
  • The scope of work requires the Nurse Anesthesiologist to assess the patient before the procedure by checking the physical and mental state of the patient, the reason for the operative procedure, and the best type and method of delivering anesthesia.
  • The trained nurse will be able to recognize, well ahead of time, the necessary equipment and drugs that will be used to anesthetize the patient.
  • Administer the anesthesia and continuously monitor the patient to ensure the anesthesia is effective, the patient is in no pain and that vital signs are stable during the procedure.
  • Observe the patient during postoperative care and ensure there are no adverse effects from the anesthetics used.

Education, Training and Certification

The minimum requirements to work in the nursing profession as a nurse anesthesiologist are:

  1. A four-year bachelor’s degree in nursing.
  2. A current and valid Registered Nurse (RN) license.
  3. Completion of a graduate program in Nurse Anesthesiology from an accredited institution.
  4. A minimum of 12 months of work experience in an acute or critical care facility.
  5. Successful completion of the CRNA certificate examination conducted by the Council on Certification of Nurse Anesthetists (CCNA).

The graduate nurse anesthesiology education courses take two to three years to complete and are a mix of classroom training and clinical practice. The course should cover the following aspects with the number of minimum hours also listed:

  1. Anatomy, pathophysiology and general physiology (135 hours)
  2. Professional standards, scope of work and ethical practice for nurse anesthesiologists (45 hours)
  3. Pharmacology of drugs used in anesthesia, chemical composition and related knowledge in biochemistry and chemistry (105 hours)
  4. Pain management, physics, equipment and technology used (105 hours)
  5. Research (30 hours)
  6. Clinical conferences (45 hours)

CRNA credentialing is governed by CCNA and recertification by the Council on Recertification of Nurse Anesthetists (COR); these two entities are known as the National Board on Certification and Recertification of Nurse Anesthetists (NBCRNA). Eligibility requirements for the National Certification Examination (NCE), in addition to what is listed above, are:

  • Pass the NCE within two years of completing an accredited graduate program.
  • Never have been indicted or convicted of any felony, nor been involved in any case of ethical violations, misconduct or malpractice.
  • Do not suffer from any substance abuse or addiction.
  • Provide copies of nursing license, transcripts of all education completed, application form with a signed liability waiver, non-disclosure agreement and confidentiality.

Requirements for recertification as provided by COR include continuing education (CE) requirements of 40 hours and evidence of full-time practice as a CRNA in the immediate preceding two years. All other requirements discussed above in the education and certification sections should also be met.

Wages and Job Growth Opportunities

Being a nurse anesthesiologist is a very rewarding career with many opportunities for growth. The wages average $139,000 to $175,000 a year. There are many open positions in hospitals, doctor’s offices that have surgical suites, and surgery centers. This is a growing field as many surgical procedures are being done outside of the hospital setting and more and more surgery centers open up. A nurse anesthetist has opportunities for advancement in teaching nurse anesthetist courses, working in research for anesthesiology and patient advocacy for anesthesiology. 

Being a Certified Nurse Anesthesiologist is a very rewarding career. It is one of the most respected and highest paid nursing jobs available. You will be working closely with doctors, surgeons and surgical staff. It is truly a respectable nursing position and looks great on your nursing resume.