Nurse Anesthetists

Administer anesthesia, monitor patient's vital signs, and oversee patient recovery from anesthesia. May assist anesthesiologists, surgeons, other physicians, or dentists. Must be registered nurses who have specialized graduate education.

Median Annual Wage: $153,780

Education: Master's degree (77%); Doctoral degree (6%); Professional degree (6%)

Projected Growth: Much faster than average (22% or higher)

Related Job Titles: Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA); Nurse Anesthetist; Associate Professor Program Director Nurse Anesthesia; Chief Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (Chief CRNA); Chief Nurse Anesthetist; Professor/Nurse Anesthetist; Senior Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (Senior CRNA); Staff Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (Staff CRNA); Staff Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist, Anesthesia Service (Staff CRNA, Anesthesia Service); Staff Nurse Anesthetist

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Source: O*NET OnLine information for Nurse Anesthetists.

More Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Careers

  • Select, prepare, or use equipment, monitors, supplies, or drugs for the administration of anesthetics.
  • Select, order, or administer anesthetics, adjuvant drugs, accessory drugs, fluids or blood products as necessary.
  • Monitor patients' responses, including skin color, pupil dilation, pulse, heart rate, blood pressure, respiration, ventilation, or urine output, using invasive and noninvasive techniques.
  • Perform pre-anesthetic screenings, including physical evaluations and patient interviews, and document results.
  • Respond to emergency situations by providing airway management, administering emergency fluids or drugs, or using basic or advanced cardiac life support techniques.
  • Develop anesthesia care plans.
  • Obtain informed consent from patients for anesthesia procedures.
  • Assess patients' medical histories to predict anesthesia response.
  • Select, order, or administer pre-anesthetic medications.
  • Perform or evaluate the results of diagnostic tests such as radiographs (x-rays) and electrocardiograms (EKGs).
  • Perform or manage regional anesthetic techniques such as local, spinal, epidural, caudal, nerve blocks and intravenous blocks.
  • Prepare prescribed solutions and administer local, intravenous, spinal, or other anesthetics following specified methods and procedures.
  • Administer post-anesthesia medications or fluids to support patients' cardiovascular systems.
  • Calibrate and test anesthesia equipment.
  • Evaluate patients' post-surgical or post-anesthesia responses, taking appropriate corrective actions or requesting consultation if complications occur.
  • Select and prescribe post-anesthesia medications or treatments to patients.
  • Insert peripheral or central intravenous catheters.
  • Discharge patients from post-anesthesia care.
  • Read current literature, talk with colleagues, and participate in professional organizations or conferences to keep abreast of developments in nursing.
  • Request anesthesia equipment repairs, adjustments, or safety tests.
  • Insert arterial catheters or perform arterial punctures to obtain arterial blood samples.
  • Instruct nurses, residents, interns, students or other staff on topics such as anesthetic techniques, pain management and emergency responses.
  • Disassemble and clean anesthesia equipment.

Source: O*NET OnLine information for Nurse Anesthetists.

  • Critical Thinking - Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
  • Speaking - Talking to others to convey information effectively.
  • Active Learning - Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
  • Monitoring - Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
  • Active Listening - Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
  • Complex Problem Solving - Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
  • Social Perceptiveness - Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
  • Service Orientation - Actively looking for ways to help people.
  • Science - Using scientific rules and methods to solve problems.

Source: O*NET OnLine information for Nurse Anesthetists.

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