Nurse anesthetists give anesthesia and watch the patient through surgery, labor, and other procedures. They are advanced practice registered nurses with national certification.
Hospitals, surgery centers, and anesthesia groups employ them. Rural hospitals often depend on them for most anesthesia care. A missing anesthetist can close an operating room for the day.
The work
You meet the patient, review the history, and plan the anesthetic. Then you induce, monitor, and adjust until the patient is safe in recovery.
Some days are a full surgery schedule. Others include labor epidurals or call. The supervision model depends on the state and the facility.
License and training
A nurse anesthetist needs an RN license, a graduate degree from an accredited nurse anesthesia program, NBCRNA certification, and state recognition as an advanced practice nurse. Supervision rules vary by state and facility. Confirm your state board's rules before you hire or start.
Questions
How does someone become a CRNA?
They start as a registered nurse, gain critical care experience, finish an accredited nurse anesthesia program, and pass the NBCRNA exam.
Do CRNAs work without a physician?
It depends on the state and the facility. Some states have opted out of the federal Medicare supervision rule, and others require physician supervision.
Metros
- Birmingham, AL
- Daphne, AL
- Dothan, AL
- Florence, AL
- Huntsville, AL
- Tuscaloosa, AL
- Phoenix, AZ
- Fayetteville, AR
- Little Rock, AR
- Los Angeles, CA
- Riverside, CA
- Denver, CO
- Hartford, CT
- New Haven, CT
- Washington, DC
- Cape Coral, FL
- Crestview, FL
- Deltona, FL
- Gainesville, FL
- Jacksonville, FL
- Miami, FL
- Ocala, FL
- Orlando, FL
- Panama City, FL
- Pensacola, FL
- Tampa, FL
- Atlanta, GA
- Augusta-Richmond County, GA
- Columbus, GA
- Macon-Bibb County, GA
- Boise City, ID
- Idaho Falls, ID
- Pocatello, ID
- Chicago, IL
- Peoria, IL
- Indianapolis, IN
- Des Moines, IA
- Wichita, KS
- Lexington-Fayette, KY
- Louisville, KY
- Baton Rouge, LA
- Hammond, LA
- Houma, LA
- Lafayette, LA
- New Orleans, LA
- Shreveport, LA
- Slidell, LA
- Bangor, ME
- Lewiston, ME
- Portland, ME
- Baltimore, MD
- Springfield, MA
- Detroit, MI
- Flint, MI
- Grand Rapids, MI
- Lansing, MI
- Muskegon, MI
- Saginaw, MI
- Duluth, MN
- Minneapolis, MN
- Gulfport, MS
- Jackson, MS
- Columbia, MO
- Joplin, MO
- Kansas City, MO
- St. Louis, MO
- Lincoln, NE
- Omaha, NE
- Manchester, NH
- Atlantic City, NJ
- Buffalo, NY
- New York, NY
- Rochester, NY
- Utica, NY
- Asheville, NC
- Charlotte, NC
- Fayetteville, NC
- Greensboro, NC
- Hickory, NC
- Raleigh, NC
- Wilmington, NC
- Winston-Salem, NC
- Fargo, ND
- Grand Forks, ND
- Akron, OH
- Canton, OH
- Cincinnati, OH
- Cleveland, OH
- Columbus, OH
- Dayton, OH
- Mansfield, OH
- Toledo, OH
- Oklahoma City, OK
- Tulsa, OK
- Portland, OR
- Salem, OR
- Allentown, PA
- Erie, PA
- Philadelphia, PA
- Pittsburgh, PA
- Scranton, PA
- York, PA
- Charleston, SC
- Columbia, SC
- Greenville, SC
- Myrtle Beach, SC
- Sioux Falls, SD
- Jackson, TN
- Knoxville, TN
- Memphis, TN
- Nashville, TN
- Austin, TX
- Dallas, TX
- Houston, TX
- Longview, TX
- San Antonio, TX
- Texarkana, TX
- Salt Lake City, UT
- Charlottesville, VA
- Richmond, VA
- Virginia Beach, VA
- Seattle, WA
- Spokane, WA
- Charleston, WV
- Huntington, WV
- Morgantown, WV
- Appleton, WI
- La Crosse, WI
- Madison, WI
- Milwaukee, WI
- Wausau, WI