A CRNA (certified registered nurse anesthetist) evaluates the patients before they give them anesthesia, gives them the anesthesia and also follows up with the patient while in recovery. They are found working in private practices, in the military and the hospital. It takes about seven or eight years to become a CRNA. Becoming a certified registered nurse anesthetist is a multiple step process and the qualifications for stepping into a CRNA area require that a person has severe care clinical experience and is a registered and licensed nurse.
School Required to Become a Nurse
The first requirement is obtaining a BSN degree. The BSN degree takes four years to complete.
Before you can become a CRNA, you must complete a the requirements to obtain a registered nurse license (RN). To obtain a RN license, a person must pass the examination given. For a person to qualify for a RN, they must first earn a BSN degree.
From Nurse to CRNA
A person has to work as a nurse in an severe care setting for at least (if not more) one year. Every CRNA program identifies what exact qualifications will make you fit as a severe care nurse. Usually, CRNA programs identify severe care as working in an emergency room, a intensive care unit or an coronary care unit.
Depending on which school you go to, a nurse anesthetist program will take you two to three years. CRNA programs teach with hands-on clinical opportunities and classwork.
Time to Become a CRNA
All in all, it takes around six to seven years of education to become a CRNA. When you include the education, a minimum of one year of severe care clinical experience working as a RN (which is required before entering a program). CRNAs are well paid., according to the ANA, the average salary in 2005 was $160,000 a year. Because of the high salary, gaining admission for an education program is becoming highly competitive. RNs who want to become CRNAs mostly find that around 2-2 1/2 years of severe care clinical experience is necessary to successfully get into a program.
