What is a Nurse Anesthetist?
Nurse Anesthetist Job Description 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.
What Do Nurse Anesthetists Do On a Daily Basis?
- Insert arterial catheters or perform arterial punctures to obtain arterial blood samples.
- Calibrate and test anesthesia equipment.
- Prepare prescribed solutions and administer local, intravenous, spinal, or other anesthetics, following specified methods and procedures.
- Select, prepare, or use equipment, monitors, supplies, or drugs for the administration of anesthetics.
- Read current literature, talk with colleagues, and participate in professional organizations or conferences to keep abreast of developments in nursing.
- Evaluate patients’ post-surgical or post-anesthesia responses, taking appropriate corrective actions or requesting consultation if complications occur.
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What a Nurse Anesthetist Should Know
Below is a list of the skills most Nurse Anesthetists say are important on the job.
Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Reading Comprehension: Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
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.
Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Monitoring: Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Active Learning: Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
Types of Nurse Anesthetist
- Associate Professor Program Director Nurse Anesthesia
- Professor/Nurse Anesthetist
- Staff Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (Staff CRNA)
- Chief Nurse Executive
- Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA)
Job Demand for Nurse Anesthetists
In the United States, there were 41,800 jobs for Nurse Anesthetist in 2016. New jobs are being produced at a rate of 16.3% which is above the national average. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 6,800 new jobs for Nurse Anesthetist by 2026. Due to new job openings and attrition, there will be an average of 2,800 job openings in this field each year.

The states with the most job growth for Nurse Anesthetist are Utah, California, and Florida. Watch out if you plan on working in Wyoming, Hawaii, or District of Columbia. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.
How Much Does a Nurse Anesthetist Make?
The salary for Nurse Anesthetists ranges between about $116,820 and $208,000 a year.

Nurse Anesthetists who work in Montana, California, or Wisconsin, make the highest salaries.
How much do Nurse Anesthetists make in each U.S. state?
State | Annual Mean Salary |
---|---|
Alabama | $161,780 |
Alaska | $187,690 |
Arizona | $144,670 |
Arkansas | $186,970 |
California | $212,210 |
Colorado | $172,700 |
Connecticut | $190,480 |
Delaware | $187,860 |
Florida | $177,390 |
Georgia | $151,070 |
Hawaii | $192,580 |
Idaho | $143,270 |
Illinois | $190,500 |
Indiana | $156,580 |
Iowa | $209,130 |
Kansas | $159,600 |
Kentucky | $172,780 |
Louisiana | $159,370 |
Maine | $170,300 |
Maryland | $191,160 |
Massachusetts | $191,320 |
Michigan | $180,560 |
Minnesota | $188,130 |
Mississippi | $163,320 |
Missouri | $159,080 |
Montana | $246,370 |
Nebraska | $189,030 |
Nevada | $163,220 |
New Hampshire | $171,800 |
New Jersey | $189,150 |
New York | $191,130 |
North Carolina | $178,250 |
North Dakota | $197,860 |
Ohio | $174,380 |
Oklahoma | $176,780 |
Oregon | $205,730 |
Pennsylvania | $171,250 |
South Carolina | $164,480 |
South Dakota | $188,360 |
Tennessee | $150,880 |
Texas | $158,510 |
Utah | $161,300 |
Virginia | $187,320 |
Washington | $195,610 |
West Virginia | $183,080 |
Wisconsin | $204,820 |
What Tools & Technology do Nurse Anesthetists Use?
Below is a list of the types of tools and technologies that Nurse Anesthetists may use on a daily basis:
- Microsoft Word
- MEDITECH software
- GE Healthcare Centricity EMR
- Bizmatics PrognoCIS EMR
- eClinicalWorks
- e-MDs software
- SOAPware EMR
- Allscripts Professional EHR
- ChartWare EMR
- NextGen Healthcare Information Systems EMR
- Cerner Millennium
- SynaMed EMR
- Texas Medical Software SpringCharts EMR
- MicroFour PracticeStudio.NET EMR
- Medscribbler Enterprise
- Amkai AmkaiCharts
- StatCom Patient Flow Logistics Enterprise Suite
- Skyscape AnesthesiaDrugs
- AetherPalm InfusiCalc
- Drug database software
Becoming a Nurse Anesthetist
What kind of Nurse Anesthetist requirements are there?

How Long Does it Take to Become a Nurse Anesthetist?

Where Nurse Anesthetists Work

The table below shows the approximate number of Nurse Anesthetists employed by various industries.

Related Careers
Those who work as a Nurse Anesthetist sometimes switch careers to one of these choices:
References:
Image Credit: Aleksahgabrielle via Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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