By: Kylie Gomes
Edited by: Maya Adam
To be a CRNA or work in any job in healthcare, you need to be passionate, accurate, and responsible. You need to be passionate about what you do because it’s a tough job to fulfill and can be very stressful. You need to be able to take on all the responsibilities. You can’t do your job halfway done when people’s lives are in danger. You also need to be accurate because one small mistake can easily take someone’s life or put them in harm’s way. Working in the medical field isn’t all sunshine and rainbows, so you must be willing to put yourself in tough and demanding situations. CRNAs have many jobs and responsibilities, including administering anesthesia and providing care before, during, and after surgery. But they also need to discuss with the patient before any surgeries about possible medications they are taking and their allergies so the anesthesia can be administered safely. They also give patients anesthesia for procedures and surgeries and monitor their vitals during surgeries. In 2023, a rough total of 49,900 people held jobs as CRNAs. As I said before, working as a CRNA or in the health industry in general can be very physically and emotionally demanding. Because CNRAs are on their feet and always lifting patients, they are vulnerable to injuries. The stress of the job can also lead to vulnerable states of mind and maybe even neurological disorders. If a CRNA is working in a physician's office, they work regular business hours, but if they work in a healthcare facility, they may work 6, 12, 18, or even 24-hour shifts. With this, they can also work night shifts and on holidays.
To become a CRNA, you need a master's degree, usually specifically a Master of Science Degree in Nursing. Starting in 2025, you will need a doctorate to become a CRNA. First, however, you will need your Bachelor of Science and Nursing degree, which usually takes 4 years to become a registered nurse. Then you need 1-2 years of work experience in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU). After that, you can apply to programs to receive your master's degree, which can take anywhere between 1-3 years. As previously stated, you will need a doctorate to become a CRNA in 2025, which can take around 3–8 years. In general, CRNAs need a nursing license, need to pass a national certification exam, and have a CRNA license. CRNAs need to maintain their license through the Continued Professional Certification. Knowledge gained from health assisting could benefit someone seeking this career because it already teaches the basics about patient care and other basic healthcare topics such as different types of safety, infections, and medical terms. This class also teaches people about certain skills they need to achieve and how to manage things. It teaches people how to be productive and independent and to manage time. It offers you great skills that will help you become a CRNA and in other environments.
In May 2023, the annual wages of CRNAs were around $212,650. CRNAs get paid hourly. Most advanced nurses work full-time as well, and in Massachusetts, they can get paid anywhere between $50 an hour and $210 or more depending on how much experience they have and how long they have been working. There are also many benefits to becoming a CRNA. One of them is the pay. When becoming a CRNA, you have the potential to make a good salary. Despite the work hours and schooling, it’s not completely a waste of time when you look at something like this that will benefit you. Careers like this one will always be in demand as it is essential to the workforce. There are always going to be hospitals that need your efforts and talent. One last benefit is that you can work in multiple different settings as a CRNA. You can work in labor and delivery units, physician's offices, operating centers, critical care units, and clinics. You have the choice to decide which setting you work in best.
The specific organization that is dedicated to this profession is the American Association of Nurse Anesthesiology (AANA). Some schools that offer education leading to these careers are Duke University, Northeastern University, and Simmons University. There are a lot of great schools that offer a variety of programs that are dedicated to this profession. You can explore your options and see what’s best for you.
Works Cited
American Association of Nurse Anesthesiology. “Become a CRNA.” Aana.com, American Association of Nurse Anesthesiology, 2023, www.aana.com/about-us/about-crnas/become-a-crna/.
Schlette, Jennifer. “13 Pros and Cons of Being a CRNA.” Www.nursingprocess.org, www.nursingprocess.org/crna-pros-and-cons.html.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. “Nurse Anesthetists, Nurse Midwives, and Nurse Practitioners.” Bls.gov, 6 Sept. 2023, www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/nurse-anesthetists-nurse-midwives-and-nurse-practitioners.htm.
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