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Nurse Anesthetist - Career Profile |
Career OverviewA nurse anesthetist is trained to administer general, regional, and local anesthesia or sedation before and during surgery or obstetrical procedures.
They are trained to care for the patient during the surgical or obstetrical procedure, monitoring bodily functions and vital signs and responding to any changes with appropriate changes to medication to ensure the safety and comfort of the patient.
Nurse anesthetists administer more than 65% of the 26 million anesthetics given to patients in the United States every year. They have the freedom and training to choose an area of surgery or obstetrical procedure to focus their attentions.
There are nearly 28,000 members of the American Association of Nurse Anesthetists and experts expect that there will be over 30,000 by 2010.
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Career RequirementsTo become a nurse anesthetist, an individual must obtained a license to practice as a registered nurse. They must also graduate from a 24 to 36 month nurse anesthetist program that will expose them to both classroom and clinical experiences in the use of anesthetics, and basic anatomy, physiology, pathophysiology, biochemistry, chemistry, and pharmacology.
Nurse anesthetists also train by exposure to anesthesia techniques and procedures for all types of surgeries and obstetrics and are required to complete at least a year of acute care nursing experience before they can enter the program of nurse anesthesia.
To become a nurse anesthetist, candidates are usually required to have a Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing and it is worth noting that approximately 95% of all nurse anesthetists are certified.
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Job OutlookIn the next decade, nursing will be one of the top 10 fastest growing professions in the United States according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Health care facilities will be looking to cut back on general costs so nurse anesthetists may become the preferred alternative to more specialized medical professionals and physicians who are trained as anesthetists.
The future looks bright in the nursing field, with the number of jobs for registered nurses expected to increase at a rate far greater than that of most other jobs in the next couple of years.
Over the next decade or so, the nursing profession is expected to change as well. Nearly one out of every eight Americans is over 65 years of age and the size of the elderly population looks set to double by 2050, according to the US Census Bureau. Nurses specializing in care of the elderly will be in particular demand; however, this population change is unlikely to impact the general need for nurse anesthetists.
Hospitals are constantly downsizing, cutting back on the number of general staff, and reducing the time of patients' stay as well, however, hospitalization is and will remain and important element of diagnosis and treatment for critically ill patients, regardless of whether their conditions are chronic or acute and there will continue to be a substantial need for nurses anesthetists as surgeries will still be performed.
There has also been some discussion about dividing the field of nursing into professional nurses and technical nurses. This will distinguish between those who have four-year degrees and those who have associate degrees but in light of their advanced training, nurse anesthetists will continue to be valued in the job market.
As the field develops, there will probably be opportunities for nurse anesthetists to demonstrate leadership and to influence the direction of anesthesiology at various levels of practice.
The role of the nurse anesthetist is and will remain a vital ingredient to ensure a positive experience for patients and staff in hospitals and in-patient facilities.
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Career TrackNurse anesthetists have credentials and the opportunity to gain experience that will allow them to take on numerous responsibilities in the field of medicine to facilitate the care of patients who are undergoing surgeries and other advanced procedures that require the use of anesthetics.
The career track of every nurse anesthetist may vary considerably, because they have considerable autonomy over the type of medicine they practice but they have an excellent foundation to excel in advanced patient care or to apply their skills to an administrative, educational, or consulting position to improve the care of surgery patients in general.
Wherever your ambitions take you, the qualifications and experience of working as a nurse anesthetist is likely to help you get there. Nurse anesthetists have the opportunity to work in hospitals, in special clinics, and in general health centers, working to care for patients undergoing surgeries.
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CompensationAlthough compensation for nurse anesthetists varies according to their levels of seniority, the annual pay is generally equal to that of a nurse practitioner.
- Nurse anesthetists: $80,000 to $110,000
- Emergency room nurse: $45,000 to $70,000
- Licensed practical nurse: $35,000 to $45,000
- Nurse practitioner: $60,000 to $125,000
- Nurse supervisor: $55,000 to $85,000
- Registered nurse: $40,000 to $65,000
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