WHAT IS A NURSE ANESTHETIST & Exactly What Do They Actually Do?
Nurse Anesthetists have actually been practicing in the country for more than a century, however, the formal title of Certified Rn Anesthetist didn’t exist until 1956.
CRNA’s are responsible for the delivery of anesthetics to patients in role a bit like the traditional Anesthesiologist. They provide a number of the same services as an anesthesiologist, and they bring this specialty to much of the United State’s rural hospitals and health professionals. This allows these areas that often can not afford a staff Anesthesiologist. The Nurse Anesthetist afford them the ability in these areas for the facilities services from those experiencing Trauma, outpatient surgeries, and obstetrics.
CRNA’s can also be found in other medical care facilities in the United States, in both Rural and Urban areas. They perform their duties in conjunction with anesthesiologists, dentists, and other healthcare professionals that have to utilize their services.
The Nurse Anesthetist has a great deal of responsibility for the patients care before, during and after being anesthetized. The result of this responsibility is compensation that exceeds most traditional nursing careers.
A CRNA’s Daily Duties may consist of:
•Patient Assesments Prior to being Anesthetized
•Providing a step-by-step plan for the Patient Prior to be Being Anesthetized.
•Monitoring the Patient During their procedure to ensure that proper levels of sedation and pain management
•Bringing the patient back from the anesthetized state, and providing post-operative care.
EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS TO BECOME A CRNA
A program of study most is comprised of the following:
•A Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing from an Accredited University
•Currently hold a License to Practice Nursing
•A least 2 years experience in a Critical Care and/or an Acute Care area
•Completion of an Accredited Graduate School of Nursing Anesthesia Program and obtained a Master’s Degree
•Satisfactory finishing of all Clinical Coursework
•Pass the National Examination for Nurse Anesthetists
The suggestions above points are not indicative of all CRNA programs in the United States. You should consult the accredited program of Study that you’re eager about leading up to application. It should also be noted, that a majority schools require applicants to have between 1-2 years of experience within a critical care environment. GPA admission requirements also vary from school to school.
It takes around 7 years to become a CRNA. You have approximately 4 years of Undergraduate work, along with approximately 3 years of the Nurse Anesthetist program which includes many clinical hours. During the graduate studies of a CRNA program, most students find that the program is so time-consuming, that work outside of the program isn’t possible, and most schools discourage it.
After completion of the Program, prospective CRNA’s will have to pass a National Board Exam for licensure.
Once you achieve licensure, and complete the CRNA program, a continuing education component is required each year. Currently, you must have a minimum of 40 continuing education hours annually.
According to the American Association of Nurse Anesthetists, as of October 2011, there are 112 CRNA Programs exceeding 1,800 clinical sites in the United States. Traditionally, these programs are operated through a health science or nursing department of a University.