What Do Nurse Anaesthetistss do?
Nurse anesthetists, also known as certified registered nurse anesthetists (CRNAs), are advanced-practice registered nurses (APRNs) who provide anesthesia and related care for patients:
- Administer anesthesia: CRNAs administer anesthesia to keep patients asleep or pain-free during procedures and surgery. They can use general anesthesia, regional anesthesia, or monitored anesthesia care (MAC).
- Monitor patients: CRNAs monitor patients’ vital signs, anesthesia depth, and overall well-being during and after procedures.
- Provide pain management: CRNAs help patients manage pain and post-surgery recovery.
- Provide emergency services: CRNAs can provide emergency services such as airway management.
- Collaborate with other health professionals: CRNAs work with surgeons, anesthesiologists, and other health professionals.
- Assess patients: CRNAs assess patients’ medical history and current health status before procedures.
- Create anesthesia plans: CRNAs create individualized anesthesia plans based on each patient’s assessment.
CRNAs work in a variety of settings, including hospitals, surgical centers, dentists’ offices, and pain management clinics. They play a vital role in making medical procedures pain-free and successful.
To become a CRNA, you need to:
- Complete a bachelor’s degree in nursing or other 4-year undergraduate degree
- Pass the National Council Licensure Exam and state licensure as a registered nurse
- Complete at least 1 year of nursing experience in an intensive care unit (ICU)
- Complete a master’s degree or doctorate from a nurse anesthesia program
- Pass the National Certification Examination