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Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist Basics
Do you have what it takes to become a CRNA?
A Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist is someone who administers anesthesia to patients. They collaborate with surgeons, anesthesiologists, dentists and podiatrists to safely administer anesthesia medications. For additional information, please refer to the Nurse Anesthetist discussion thread.
Median Annual Salary
$134,820
Educational Requirements
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Successful completion of a CRNA program (24-36 months). Prior to admission into a CRNA program, applicants should have already completed the following: BSN or other appropriate baccalaureate degree, hold a current RN license, and have one year’s experience in critical care nursing.
Search our job listings for nurse anesthetist positions.
And read this article for career opportunities for CRNAs.
Check out this site for further information on advancing your nursing education.
Related Organizations
American Association of Nurses Anesthetists
Council on Certification of Nurse Anesthetists
American Society of PeriAnesthesia Nurses
International Federation of Nurse Anesthetists
British Anaesthetic and Recovery Nurses Association
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aironside
almost 5 years ago
2 comments
It is true that NP's are almost doctors, but a CRNA is almost an anesthesiologist, which is the highest paid doctor.
Business2CNA2RN
almost 5 years ago
40 comments
Why does a CRNA make more than a NP? Isnt a NP a higher level of Nursing than a CRNA? NP seems to be almost a doctor to me prescribe meds and have own practice that pay sucks NP pay is close to RN pay.
JENNY20
almost 5 years ago
2 comments
about how long do you have to be in college before you are a certified registered nurse anesthetist?
normienurse
almost 5 years ago
16 comments
Don't put yourself down aliciamiller!!! when you say "all I have is a GED!!!" Getting your GED is a huge accomplishment and you should be proud of yourself! Go for it!
normienurse
almost 5 years ago
16 comments
I just graduated from a 2 year college with an Associate's degree. I passed the NCLEX and now I am an official RN! I'm going back to school to get my BSN in 1 year-many schools have a 1 year RN to BSN program, then I'm applying for my master's to get my CRNA. I'm 36, a single mom, if I can do it, any of you can! Good luck! If I can help with any questions, please contact me!
JVixamar
almost 5 years ago
2 comments
currently i am enrolled in a LPN program, i will be graduating Dec. 2008 and will continue to pursue a BSN in nursing, and CRNA is a very interesting part of nursing that i am interested in...can i possibly get more info, and what schools offer this program...
CRNA2B
almost 5 years ago
6 comments
All I have is a GED as well. I'm 35 with 2 children and have been accepted to the community college. I will be taking about 3 semesters of prerequisites, then you apply for the RN program which takes 2 years (part-time or full-time still 2 years). I happen to do medical transcription at home, so I am going to go full-time, with breaks between semesters, so I can bust out some income while in school, but part-time is 3 days a week for 2 years solid, either way sounded great to me. Our community college also offers RN-BSN, so you can go pretty far in 4 years even without a high school diploma. Universities (I'm going for CRNA in the end) told me to get my associate's a community college and go from there. I could go to a university for my bachelor's and master's, but so I only have to move my family once, I've chosen to stay with the community college til applying to anesthesia programs and MSN; so we're talking within a month of deciding I wanted to be a CRNA, with only a GED, I am starting school this fall semester and actually can make 135k a year one day, all without a high school diploma. It's hard work if you've got a family, but if you're on your own, it should be pretty quick and easy. First fill out a FAFSA, free financial aid application, pick schools you may want to attend (you have to put them on the application) and you are good to go from there. If you're just going for RN, in under 3 years you can be making $25 an hour, yes, with only a GED.
charlie36
almost 5 years ago
2 comments
I want to pursue a nursing degree but at the moment I have only got a GED. So how do I go from there?
pamelaann
almost 5 years ago
2 comments
Harvest - do you have any background in medicine? Excelsior College has online nursing programs. Good luck in moving .
Pamela-Ann
gracious82
almost 5 years ago
2 comments
im interested in nursing career but i dont know how to get start and i need more inforemations on how to start because my husband and i we are trying to buy a big house this summer.
Harvest
almost 5 years ago
2 comments
I'm a 33 year old woman living in Hawaii with my partner of 7 years and working on my second career. I've always wanted to make a difference in the world helping others and to travel the globe. I'm taking care of my partner who is terminally ill with Pulmonary Fibrosis and would 'LOVE' to go back to school, online (if possible), to work from the ground up in becoming a travelling RN or Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist. My question is... Hawaii, having very few options in higher education in becoming an RN... what would be my best option to get started, online (if possible), in becoming a travelling RN or Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA)? Any suggestions or recommendations? I'm looking for any accelerated programs, hospital based programs, anything.
My partner and I are planning to move to the mainland within the next 6-10 months, to either San Diego or San Francisco. She needs to be plugged into one of the Pulmonary Fibrosis Programs at one the 3 main UC schools; UCSF, UCSD or UCLA. I am very open minded. Again, please any suggestions or recommendations are welcome. (Thanks guys for listening)
Account Removed
about 5 years ago
yea am in high school and considering to be either a certified registered nurse anesthetist or an anesthesiologist and want to know if i can be a nurse and register to a medical school or have to be an anesthetist first
Plute_Dog
about 5 years ago
26 comments
DTurner you need to attain entrance in a technical school, jr. college, or university and complete all pre reqs reuired to enter the program. once you pass the appropriate classes you just have to ace the nclex to get your license...ps. Im a nursing student applying for the fall semester into the program if u were wondering
EmilyB
about 5 years ago
8 comments
To Rraney33...I started my nursing course when I was in my 40's..I have been a registered nurse for 16 yrs now...I would do it all over again!!!!! I love being a RN!! Now I am a traveler and wish I had started in my 30's...WOW what a great career and life!! I say ...GO FOR IT!!! You will never regret it! Emma~ PS I have diabetes too...and so do a lot of other nurses...!!
rraney33
about 5 years ago
2 comments
I think that I would be too old to become a nurse, Iam 33 years old now with diabetes, are my chances slim to acheive my goals? I would really like to become a nurse because I enjoy helping others, and taking care of people in general. What should I do?