The field of scientific occupations contains a vast array of professions that can be intriguing to high school students. Nursing, a popular interest, is a broad field in itself. One particular branch of nursing is specialization in anesthesia. Anesthesia is described as an insensitivity to pain that is produced by drugs and given to patients by medical professionals before performing an invasive procedure. These types of advanced-practice nurses are referred to as Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs).
CRNAs work are expected to execute a variety of challenging tasks on a daily basis. They are directly under the supervision of a qualified anesthesiologist at all times while they perform preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative …show more content…
These include but are not limited to hospital operating rooms, delivery rooms, emergency rooms, cosmetic surgery facilities, clinics, dental and specialty doctors’ offices. A CRNA’s choice of workplace considerably impacts his or her daily routine. For example, a CRNA working in a dental office would not need to participate in such gory procedures whereas a CRNA working in an emergency room should be desensitized to the sight of bloody or extensive injury. However, the assumption that CRNAs must participate in intrusive procedures still exists and is attributed to the shortage of this profession in the United States. Hence, an individual would be wise to be aware of the many available options this career offers before rejecting …show more content…
The first step to becoming a CRNA consists of attending a four-year nursing college and receiving a degree called “Bachelors of Science in Nursing” or “BSN”, which then gives the graduate the title of a Registered Nurse (RN). Then, the RN is required to complete at least one year of working in an acute-care setting before returning to school to acquire his or her next degree. During this first year of work, the RN is likely to earn $45,000-$50,000 per year. The RN is now able to enroll in a program specifically to become a CRNA. Most universities offer a four-year CRNA program that enables students to secure a Master’s Degree in the subject. However, a few select schools, such as Rhode Island College, offer an accelerated program that allows students to achieve a doctoral degree in nurse anesthesia within just two years. Nationally, the average yearly college tuition is $23,890, excluding mandatory fees, housing, book, and meal expenses. Throughout the six years of mandatory education, a nursing student would be expected to pay an estimate of $143,340 in tuition alone. However, CRNAs collect a median salary of $164,000 annually. This categorizes CRNAs as upper-middle-class citizens. Thus, despite the costly fees required by educational institutions, becoming a CRNA will place any individual in excellent financial