The CRNA is a vital part of the hospital team. This individual provides the necessary anesthetics to patients who are having surgery or those who need to remain sedated due to an illness or injury. CRNA education can begin as early as high school if you already know you want to go into the medical field. You can take health education courses as well as biology and chemistry courses while in high school. Some high schools even offer AP science classes so that you can earn college credit even before you graduate.
CRNA Education Requirements
After graduating high school, you can take some basic courses at a community college, however the CRNA education requirements go beyond what is offered at this level of schooling. Some community colleges offer RN programs, but you will need to find a school that offers the specialized courses that deal with anesthesiology.
The vast majority of CRNAs hold a bachelor’s and master’s degree. This bachelor degree is often in nursing along while the graduate degree is in anesthesiology. After courses are completed, you will take a CRNA certification exam. This exam is typically upheld across the nation, so typically the transfer of a CRNA license to another state is a smooth one.
Beyond CRNA Education into the Medical Field
In order to work as a CRNA, you must have an RN license as well as the CRNA certification. Most hospitals require extensive experience, so it’s best to work as an RN for some time before becoming a CRNA. As a CRNA, you are responsible for giving the medications to patients that will put them to sleep. You need to have the ability to pay exceptional attention to detail.
In total, it takes about seven years to become a CRNA because you will need a graduate degree from a school with a nurse anesthesia program. A year working as an RN is a good idea in order to get a feel for the hospital and working with patients. Programs will also offer clinical training, however formal career training will prepare you far more. Most programs require 2,500 hours of clinical training. During the clinical training, you will work with close to 1,000 medications and learn about the effects that they have on patients.
