The document discusses the career path of becoming a certified registered nurse anesthetist (CRNA). It outlines the educational requirements, which include obtaining a bachelor's degree in nursing, gaining at least one year of experience as an intensive care unit nurse, and completing a master's degree program in nurse anesthesia. It also provides details about the history and roles of CRNAs, the salaries they earn, and examples of anesthesia for nurses programs in the author's state that she is considering.

1. +
A Career in
Anesthesia for
Nurses
Emily Young
Health 4190
Clemson University
May 20, 2016

2. +
Introduction:
After graduating from Clemson University, I
hope to attend an accelerated nursing
program to get my Bachelor of Science in
Nursing. After I am a registered nurse, I
hope to attend an anesthesia for nurses
program to become a certified registered
nurse anesthetist (CRNA).

3. +
What is a Nurse Anesthetist
(CRNA)?
A nurse anesthetist is an advanced practice
nurse with a masters in anesthesia for
nurses. Nurse anesthetists provide
anesthesia to patients in a wide variety of
settings. Nurse anesthetists collaborate with
surgeons, anesthesiologists, dentists,
podiatrists, and other healthcare
professionals.

4. +
History of Anesthesia for Nurses:
Nurse Anesthetists have been performing
anesthesia services in the United States for over
150 years. CRNAs became popular in the mid to
late 1800s. CRNAs took part in the care of civil
war soldiers.
The earliest existing records documenting
anesthetic care of patients by nurses were those
of Sister Mary Bernard. Sister Mary Bernard
worked as a nurse anesthetist at St. Vincent’s
Hospital in Erie, Pennsylvania, in 1887.

5. +
History Continued:
Nurse anesthetists are the main
providers of anesthesia for the military.
They provide different types of
anesthesia for soldiers in combat
areas.
Nurse anesthetists are also the primary
anesthesia providers in rural areas of
the United States. In certain states,
nurse anesthetists are the only
providers of anesthesia in rural
hospitals.

6. +
Salary:
Average Salary for CRNAs in 2015: $160, 250
 This salary may vary based on the type of work
environment CRNAs work in.
 The highest paid CRNAs work in specialty hospitals,
which can range from $175,000-$210,000
 Highest average salaries by state:
 Nevada
 Wisconsin
 Wyoming
 Maryland
 District of Columbia

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Job Growth Statistics:
 Projected job growth for nurse anesthetists between 2012-
2022: 25%

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Different Work Environments:
 Emergency rooms
 Various types of intensive care units
 Cardiac care units
 Hospital surgical areas
 Ambulatory surgical centers
 Dental offices
 Oral surgery offices
 Outpatient medical offices
 Private physicians offices
 Military

9. +
Qualities/Skills Needed to Make a Good
CRNA:
 Effective communication skills
 Efficient at multi-tasking
 Detail oriented
 Critical thinking
 Problem solving abilities
 Adaptive
 Organized
 Reassuring
 Excellent concentration
 Ability to remain calm under pressure

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My O*Net Results:

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O*Net Results Continued:
 1. Social Occupation (score 37):
 Enjoys working with people
 Enjoys informing, enlightening, helping, training, or curing people
 Skilled with words – effective communicator
 2. Investigative Occupation (score 32):
 Problem solving
 Scientific inquiry
 Work that has to do with ideas/thinking
 3. Conventional Occupation (score 17):
 Paying attention to details
 Follow directions well
 Work with data
 Ability to follow a strong leader at times

12. +
Why Anesthesia for Nurses is for
me?
 O*Net Profile Results: Social, Investigative, Conventional
 CRNA:
 Social: Working with people, speaking effectively , listening attentively,
professionally sympathizing with patients feelings/fears, and providing support
 Through volunteering at Rosa Clark Medical Clinic, shadowing Dr. Ed Murphy,
and participating in the SCRUBS mentoring program, I have learned professional
social skills that will help me with all of the above social needs of anesthesia for
nurses as a profession.
 Investigative: Figuring out problems, analyzing issues and taking care of them,
critical thinking
 During the SCRUBS mentoring program I watched many nurses run into
problems and deal with them accordingly.
 Conventional: Attention to detail, ability to follow a strong leader
 I am a very detail oriented person, and I think this will help me in the long run as
a nurse anesthetist. CRNAs collaborate with other doctors and must be able to
take advice from others, such as the head anesthesiologist. I think the
conventional side of me will excel in that area.

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Steps to become a CRNA:
 Obtain Bachelor of Science in Nursing
 Pass the NCLEX and obtain state licensure as a registered nurse
 Work in an intensive care unit for at least one year before applying
 Do well on the GRE – score over 300, must be in at least the 5oth
percentile
 Attend a program for anesthesia for nurses to obtain masters degree in
nurse anesthesia
 Pass the NBCRNA exam and become a registered nurse anesthetist
 Maintain current state licensure
 Obtain a minimum of 40 hours of continued education every 2 years

14. +Medical University of South Carolina
Accelerated Nursing Program:
 16 month program
 If already obtained a Bachelor’s Degree in another area then the prerequisites are:
 Lifespan Human Growth and Development: 3 hrs.
 Human Anatomy: 4 hrs.
 Human Physiology: 4 hrs.
 Microbiology: 4 hrs.
 Statistics: 3 hrs.
 Science elective: 4 hrs.
 After this summer, I will have completed all of these classes.
 All of these classes will be very relevant to not only my career as a registered nurse, but also as a CRNA.
 Microbiology, Anatomy, and Physiology will be helpful to understand the human body and how it operates.
 Statistics will be helpful later if we are measuring disease patterns or medical stats.
 Other Requirements:
 3 references
 Resume
 100 word essay
 Tuition: $7, 587 (4 semesters total)
 How I will pay for it: I receive State of South Carolina Tuition Assistance for Certain War Veterans Children Waiver. This waives
any undergraduate tuition when completing a bachelor’s degree, even if it is your 2nd bachelor’s degree.

15. +
Graduate Record Exam (GRE):
 Types of Questions:
 Verbal Reasoning — Measures your ability to analyze
and evaluate written material and synthesize information
obtained from it.
 Quantitative Reasoning — Measures problem-solving
ability using basic concepts of arithmetic, algebra,
geometry and data analysis.
 Analytical Writing — Measures critical thinking and
analytical writing skills.
 Cost: $205
 Length: 3 hours and 45 minutes – 6 sections (30-35 minutes
per section) with a ten minute break after the 3rd section

16. +
Anesthesia for Nurses Programs:
 Average length: 28 months
 Can vary 24-36 months
 Must have a Bachelor of Science in Nursing
 Must have worked in an intensive care unit for at least one year
 Most require Graduate Record Exam
 Out of the current programs, 60 are private and 48 are public institutions.
 Tuition: Median cost of the public CRNA program:$37,243 vs. median cost of
private program: $61,345
 Median tuition plus fees for all nurse anesthesia programs is $50,077.
 CRNA programs near me:
 Medical University of South Carolina, Anesthesia for Nurses Program
 USC PRMH Graduate Program in Nurse Anesthesia
 Duke University, Nurse Anesthesia Program
 East Carolina University, College of Nursing, Nurse Anesthesia Program

17. +
Medical University of South Carolina:
Anesthesia for Nurses Program:
 Have a Bachelor of Science in a basic or appropriate health sciences field
 Be a licensed RN
 Minimum of 1 year full time experience in a critical care setting (ICU, CCU,
SICU, MICU, etc.) at the time of application
 Minimum cumulative GPA of a 3.0
 If have a cumulative GPA below a 3.6, must take the Graduate Record Exam.
GRE must have been taken in the last 5 years.
 Required Prerequisites: General Chemistry, Anatomy, Physiology,
Pharmacology, and Statistics. Recommended Prerequisites: Organic
Chemistry, Pathophysiology, and Microbiology.
 Tuition for in state students: $7, 647 per semester (7 semesters total)
 How I will pay for this: I plan to save as much as possible during the time I work as a
nurse before starting CRNA school to help pay for it. I will also take out loans if need
be.

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Conclusion:
 I hope that I will be able to obtain as much knowledge of the
nursing field through my internship in Fall 2016. If all goes as
planned then my ideal career goals will be:
 Attend Medical University of South Carolina’s Accelerated Nursing
program (16 months)
 Get a job in an intensive care unit for at least one year
 Attend Medical University of South Carolina’s Anesthesia for Nurses
Program (28 months)
 Get a job in South Carolina, North Carolina, Georgia, Tennessee, or
Alabama as a CRNA in a critical care unit or obstetrical delivery room

19. +
References:
 About CRNAs – Preferred Sleep Anesthesia, LLC.. (2016). Preferredsleepanesthesia.com. Retrieved 17 May 2016, from
http://www.preferredsleepanesthesia.com/?page_id=433
 Anesthesia, S. (2016). Anesthesia for the CRNA, SRNA and MDA. Simplyanesthesia.com. Retrieved 17 May 2016, from
http://www.simplyanesthesia.com/blog/
 Become a Certified Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA). (2016). RNtoBSN.org. Retrieved 17 May 2016, from
http://www.rntobsn.org/careers/certified-nurse-anesthetist/
 Become a CRNA. (2016). Aana.com. Retrieved 17 May 2016, from
http://www.aana.com/ceandeducation/becomeacrna/Pages/default.aspx
 Center, N. (2016). Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) Program. Academicdepartments.musc.edu. Retrieved 18
May 2016, from https://academicdepartments.musc.edu/nursing/academics/undergraduate/
 Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA) Career Profile. (2016). Villanova University. Retrieved 17 May 2016, from
http://www.villanovau.com/resources/nursing/certified-registered-nurse-anesthetist-career-outlook/#.Vzpgd7yyXUE
 GRE Revised General Test: About the GRE revised General Test. (2016). Ets.org. Retrieved 17 May 2016, from
http://www.ets.org/gre/revised_general/about/
 Nurse Anesthetist. (2016). Nurseanesthetist.org. Retrieved 17 May 2016, from http://nurseanesthetist.org
 Nurse Anesthetist | explorehealthcareers.org. (2016). Explorehealthcareers.org. Retrieved 17 May 2016, from
http://explorehealthcareers.org/en/Career/80/Nurse_Anesthetist
 O*NET Interest Profiler at My Next Move. (2016). Mynextmove.org. Retrieved 17 May 2016, from
http://www.mynextmove.org/explore/ip
 Stitely, L. (2016). Nurse Anesthesia. Academicdepartments.musc.edu. Retrieved 18 May 2016, from
http://academicdepartments.musc.edu/chp/afn/