What Does it Take to Be 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.
List of Nurse Anesthetist Job Duties
- Request anesthesia equipment repairs, adjustments, or safety tests.
- Calibrate and test anesthesia equipment.
- Perform pre-anesthetic screenings, including physical evaluations and patient interviews, and document results.
- Perform or evaluate the results of diagnostic tests, such as radiographs (x-rays) and electrocardiograms (EKGs).
- Administer post-anesthesia medications or fluids to support patients’ cardiovascular systems.
- 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.
Related Job Titles
- Associate Professor Program Director Nurse Anesthesia
- Senior Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (Senior CRNA)
- Doctor of Nurse Anesthesia Practice (DNAP)
- Staff Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist, Anesthesia Service (Staff CRNA, Anesthesia Service)
- Nurse Anesthetist
Nurse Anesthetist Employment Estimates
In 2016, there was an estimated number of 41,800 jobs in the United States for Nurse Anesthetist. 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. The BLS estimates 2,800 yearly job openings in this field.

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.
Nurse Anesthetist Salary
The typical yearly salary for Nurse Anesthetists is somewhere between $116,820 and $208,000.

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?
Although they’re not necessarily needed for all jobs, the following technologies are used by many Nurse Anesthetists:
- 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
How do I Become a Nurse Anesthetist?
Education needed to be a Nurse Anesthetist:

How many years of work experience do I need?

Where Nurse Anesthetists Are Employed

The table below shows some of the most common industries where those employed in this career field work.

Other Jobs You May be Interested In
Are you already one of the many Nurse Anesthetist in the United States? If you’re thinking about changing careers, these fields are worth exploring:
References:
Image Credit: Aleksahgabrielle via Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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