Certified Nurse Anesthetist Programs Are Creating Career Opportunities

By Tanisha Berg


More than 34 million individuals experience surgery each year in the United States, and nearly all require anesthesia. Although surgical skills can determine the success or failure of a procedure, without the anesthesiologist painless surgery would be an impossible task. Certified nurse anesthetist programs are preparing students for work in surgical and obstetrical fields, as well as in dentistry, podiatry, and even cosmetic surgery.

Anesthesia today can be administered by two specialized groups. Doctors performing this task must have completed medical school, a year of residency, and three years in an associated program. Certified nurses performing the identical job are also trained in advanced practice, have worked at least a year in acute care, and have completed all educational requirements, including a graduate degree.

The responsibilities of an anesthetist are critical. These individuals must closely observe patients prior to a procedure and during the operation to make sure they are responding properly. Afterward, they are responsible for helping people regain consciousness safely, and must thoroughly explain that process ahead of time. They prepare the appropriate chemical anesthesia prior to surgery, monitor all physical signs during an operation, and constantly control the ongoing administration of drugs.

Because the level of competency required is very high, higher education is the underpinning of a career in this field. After graduating from high school, those intending to become anesthetists must complete a four year Bachelor of Science or related degree, and and obtain a license as a registered nurse. Additional requirements include a graduate degree from one of the over 100 accredited anesthesia programs in the United States.

Those programs not only include advanced training in biochemistry, physics, and anatomy, but also in advanced studies in physiology and pathophysiology, as well as pharmacology as it relates to anesthesia. Practical experience and training in a university or community medical center is also required prior to taking and passing a recognized certification program that meets all modern medical standards and practices.

While nurses have traditionally played secondary roles to doctors during surgical procedures, the importance of this field of expertise is hard to overemphasize. Anesthetists today carry the bulk of responsibility for this type of work in most rural regions, and also in many central urban locations. Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs) as well the American Association of Nurse Anesthetists (AANA) have both striven to make this a reality.

People successfully completing these programs often enjoy six-figure salaries. The field is growing, and the need for competent, fully-trained technicians shows little sign of decreasing. Although the cost of completing the educational requirements are not insignificant, they are still lower than training a doctor for the same tasks, and this impact on the financial bottom line is important to medical center administrators.

Those considering pursuing this career path should enjoy communicating with and helping people, as well as working with technical devices and needles. The hours are long and demanding, and there is little room for error. While some individuals work in tandem with a physician anesthesiologist, in many locations they are the sole administrator, making the job they do vital for a successful outcome.




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