Nurse Anesthesiologist Job Description – Salary, Education and Career Guide for Becoming a Nurse Anesthetist

Nurse anesthesiologists are among the highest-paid nursing specialists in the medical field. Nurse anesthesiologists – or nurse anesthetists - are registered nurses (RNs) trained to administer anesthesia to patients undergoing medical, dental and obstetrical procedures.

Job Description

While nurse anesthesiologists usually work in hospital operating rooms as members of a surgical team, their expertise, and the widespread need for anesthesia, allows them great latitude in the positions they choose. They often can be found outside hospitals, in dental offices, plastic surgery centers and working for OB-GYNs, to name a few.
 
Here are some of the daily tasks that nurse anesthesiologists are asked to perform:
  • Be the physician's eyes and ears. During anesthesia, nurse anesthesiologists monitor the patient's appearance and vital signs and communicate that information to the doctor.
 
  • Know how anesthesia will affect each patient. Nurse anesthetists must interpret pre-surgical tests, which determine how anesthesia affects the patient. They must also have an adequate blood supply on hand for emergencies.
 
  • Manage the airway. Nurse anesthesiologists administer oxygen, manager artificial airways and work to avoid patient surgical shock.
 
  • Prepare the operating room. Nurse anesthesiologists get supplies and equipment ready for surgical procedures.
 
Nurse anesthesiologists work under the supervision of a physician, but the physician is sometimes not the only person whose questions they must answer. Often, an important part of a nurse anesthesiologist's job is to relax the patient by explaining the procedure, gaining trust and fostering confidence.

Salary Guide

Certified nurse anesthesiologists can expect a highly competitive salary in comparison to other registered nurses - even nurses in advanced practices. The average annual certified nurse anesthesiologist salary is $103,200. Salaries range as high as about $150,000. Even first-year anesthetists can make over $110,000 annually.

Education and Training

Nurse anesthesiologists need a combination of education and on-the-job-training before becoming certified. Necessary qualifications for becoming a nurse anesthesiologist include:
  • At least one year of critical-care nursing experience prior to entering an accredited program. Experience in acute settings, such as intensive care units, is desired. Some programs demand more than one year of experience.
 
  • B.S. (Bachelor of Science) in nursing and an RN license
 
  • A passing grade on a mandatory national certification examination.
 
  • Selected prerequisite science courses similar to pre-med courses. This is only required by some programs.
 
  • Two to three years in an accredited program of anesthesia education. These programs, offered by colleges and universities, combine theory, rote learning and clinical learning.
 

Even after gaining employment, nurses must satisfy continuing education and recertification requirements every two years.

Prior Work Experience

One year of acute-care experience as an RN is the minimum requirement for becoming a nurse anesthesiologist. Since there are more qualified applicants than there are positions as nurse anesthetists available, it usually takes several years of nursing plus specialized education in nursing or other healthcare fields to be accepted.

Career Advancement

Since nurse anesthesiologists among the nursing elite when it comes to education, responsibility and salary, there is not much potential for advancement in the nursing field. The best plan for a promotion-minded nurse anesthetist is to earn a Ph.D. to move into administrative and supervisory roles. A nurse anesthetist can also become an anesthesiologist.

Related Associations and Groups

  • American Associationof Critical Care Nurses
  • American Association of Nurse Anesthetists
  • American Nurses Association
  • American Society of PeriAnesthesia Nurses
  • Council on Certification of Nurse Anesthetists
  • International Anesthesia Research Society
  • International Federation of Nurse Anesthetists
 
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