Nurse anesthetists work with patients before, during, and after surgery by preparing anesthetics, monitoring vital signs, and bringing patients out of anesthesia. They typically work in clean operating rooms under the direction of doctors and surgeons. To become a nurse anesthetist, one must earn a bachelor's degree in nursing, obtain registered nurse licensure, complete a year of acute care nursing experience, and graduate from an accredited nurse anesthesia program. The demand for nurse anesthetists is expected to grow as technology advances allow more medical issues to be treated. Average salaries range from $115,000 to $160,000 depending on experience.

1. My Career Write up: Nurse Anesthetist By: Beverly N. Gause

2. Nature of Work Nurse anesthetists work with patients to ensure that they receive the appropriate levels of anesthetics. These nurses are important before, during, and after surgery. Before surgery; they must mix and put together the appropriate concentration and mixtures of anesthetics. During surgery; they must maintain the patients vital signs. After surgery; the nurse must bring the patient out of anesthesia and ensure that the patient is responding well.

3. Working Conditions Nurse anesthetists work under the direction of doctors and surgeons and in conjunction with the nursing and operating room staff. They usually work in well-lit and clean places. In this career a nurse may care for individuals with communicable diseases, to prevent the spread they follow strict infection control guidelines. Nurse anesthetists usually spend majority of their time on their feet, and may stand for many hours at a time during an operation.

4. Employment Nurse Anesthetists work in every setting in which anesthesia is used. This included places such as; traditional surgical suites, obstetrical delivery rooms, critical access hospitals, ambulatory surgical settings, dentists’ offices, and also outpatient surgical center.

5. Training, Qualifications, and Advancement In order to become a Nurse Anesthetist, one must first earn a baccalaureate degree in nursing. They then have to hold a current license as a registered nurse, and they must have at least one year of acute care nursing experience. After all of that is completed the person must graduate from an accredited nurse anesthesia education program.

6. Job Outlook The American Association of Nurse Anesthetists (AANA) says that the demand for CRNAs will continue to grow over the next few years. This demand will be brought on by technological advances in patient care, which permits a greater number of medical problems to be treated.

7. Earnings Earnings for a Nurse Anesthetists vary with the amount of experience, job duties, employer, and also their geographic location. According to the AANA, in 2001 the average reported salary for nurse anesthetists was $113,000 a year. Today, depending on the amount of experience the nurse has, the average salary is between $115,000-$160,000 per year.

8. Related Occupations The occupations that are closely related to the work of a Nurse Anesthetists are; surgeons, anesthesiologist, podiatrist, registered nurses, and doctors.

9. Sources http://www.payscale.com/research/US/Job=Nurse_Anesthetist_(CRNA)/Salary http://www.spcollege.edu/Central/Career/OCDS/Briefs/Briefs/Brief662.PDF